SITE OF THE BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1272, 16 April 1878, Page 3

SITE OF THE BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL.

The following correspondence appears in today's " Press ": Sib,—l forward for your information a copy of a letter received by me from the Education Department in reference to my letter on the Bubject of the site of the Boys' High School published by you on the 19th March last, and forwarded by me to the Minister of Education. This letter encloses a statement from the chairman of the Canterbury College of the reasons which influenced the governing body in deciding to place the High School of what will doubtless be the most populous city and district in New Zealand upon one acre of ground, and in close proximity both to the Girls' High School and the College. I'rom Mr Ballance's letter you will learn that the Government coneider the explanation of the Board satisfactory, I don't. Yours, &c. W. ROLLESTOK. Linwopd, April 13th, 187,8.

Education Department Wellington, sth April, 1878. Sir,—l have tho honor b'y the dhvction.of the Minister of Education to forward herewith for your information copy of a letter from the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College upon the subject of the site of tho Boys' H igh School, and in reference to the letter published by you in the Press of 19th March last. Mr Ballance directs mo to state that tho Government consider the explanation of the Board satisfactory. I have the honor, &c, (Signed) E. 0. Gibbs, for Secretary. W. Eoheßton, Esq., M.H.E., Christchurch.

Canterbury College, April 4th, 1878. Sir.—ln reply to your letter of 21sfc March, in which you state your willingness_ to receive any explanation the Board rcay desire to give respecting the site of the Boys' High l have the honor to forward for your information a copy of the resolution adopted by the Board at a M& biV'|Ke •28fcb.'March s ftfeottielflM a plan gfettwing the relative dobl-

Schools, also the position of the entrance to the Christ's College Grammar School. At this school there are now 193 boys, and you will observe that the distance of the main entrance of this school from that of the girls' school is almost exactly the same as the distance from tl:i latter to the proposed entrance to the Boys' High School. Yon will observe by the plan that there is a right of-way between the Canterbury College and the Gifts' H gb. Bchuol, that ri .'lit-of-way leading down to the site of the Boys' High School. The respective boundaries of the schools will be securely fenced, and the gate from the right-of-way to the boys' school site wilt be locked. Both schools wiil be day schools. The Christ's College Grammar School is a boarding and day school. The Board gave the question of site for the Boys' High School very careful consideration before coming to a decision. The objection raised by Mr Bolkston respecting the proximity to the Girls' High School was not considered by the Board as of much the distance between the entrances being eleven chains, imd the entrances being in two parallel streets. If there were any reasons to object to the Boys' High School being only oleven chains from the girts' school, the same objection would apply with equal force to the girls' school being the same distance from the Christ's College Grammar School,

The objection to the size of the site has some weight, and while the Board was very desirous to obtain a larger space for school grounds, it was decided, taking everything into consideration, that the site selected was the best. The anv.amt at the disposal of the Board was inadequate for the purchase of a sufficiently large site within the limits of the town, and to build the school at some distance outside the town would prevent many boys from attending. Being intended for a day school only, the size of the playground is not a matter of such moment as if the school were for boarders ; and as the Dorn in, of upwards of 300 acres in extent, is less than a quarter of a mile from the school, the boys can play cricket and football there. .It ia in contemplation to have a gymnasum and a swimming bath on the school site if there be sufficient funds after defraying the cost of these buildL gs. In conclusion I may state that this part of the town is a favorite locality for educational establishments, many private schools being located here, and this fact had some influence with the Board. I have, &c, (Signed) W. Montgomery, Chairman. The Hon. the Minister for Education. At a meeting of the Board of Governors held on the 28th March, 1878, the following report of the College Committee was adopted : REPORT OF THE COLLEGE COMMITTEE. The committee reports having read and considered a letter from the Education Department relative to the site of the Boys' High School, and passed the following resolution thereon — 11 That the Board previous to deciding on the site of the Hoys' High School, having given careful consideration to the objections now brought forward by Mr Rolleston, the committee se?s no reason for departing from the decision arrived at. (Sigued) F. G. Stedman, Kegisti-ar. RECREATION GROUNDS. Sib, —The fact that the Park and Domain is to be used as a football and cricket ground for the Boys' High School surely points to the necessity which exists for enlarging the recreation grounds which will be available for the future population of Christchurch and its suburbs—a population which will not consist exclusively of boys or of the lovers of cricket and football only. More land for the purpose cannot now be acquired, except with great difficulty and at a large expense ; but what is difficult and expensive now will be impossible hereafter, when the few blocks of land which are now open have been cut up for building sites. The lease of the Church property at the east end of the city —some three hundred acres—will shortly fall in, and, no doubt, this, as well as the neighbouring land, will be subdivided for building purposes. In connection with the canal reserve and the banks of the rivers Heathcote and Avon, it would still be possible to obtain a good site with great natural advantages for a recreation ground. I cannot but think that in the interests of health and happiness money might be borrowed for this object as legitimately as for drainage or other sanitary purposes. The idea is not a new one, but the time for giving effect to it is passing by. I have, &a , W. KOLLESTON. Linwood, April 13th, 1878.