THE EDEN DALE SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13762, 29 May 1908, Page 7

THE EDEN DALE SCHOOL.

A QUESTION OF SITES. A DKPur.vnox or residents of the Edondalo district, consisting of Messrs. 0. Stevens, J. W. Bailey, J. W. Blackweil, and R, Avery, waited upon the Minister for Education (Hon. Geo. Fowlds) yesterday morning for the purpose of protesting against the selection of Dick's site by the Education Board as the sito for the new Edendale school. The deputation was introduced by" Mr. J. Bollard, M.P. Mr. Stevens said that the Government had given a grant of £2300 for the establishment of the school, and that the Education Board had selected MV. Dick's site, the price of which was £950 for three acres and a-third. The committee of residents, however, which had gone into the question, had decided against this site, on .the ground that it was not sufficiently central, it being over half-a-mile from the tramway and some two miles from the Mount Eden school. One of the chief reasons urged for the establishment of the new school was" the overcrowded condition of the Mount Eden school, but if Dick's site were adhered to this congestion would, not be relieved. There were two more suitable sites, viz., ley's, in Dominion Road (which consisted of four acres, and which could be obtained for £1200), and the Heatherley site, of two acres and ahalf, which could be obtained for £600. The committee had. met ajid taken a. vote on the matter, with the result that 17 votes were given in favour of the Heatherley site, 14 in favour of Hedley's, and only fivo votes in favour of Dick's.

.Mr. Stevens' remarks- were supported by oilier members of the deputation, and Mr. Bollard agreed .that the school, if erected on Dick's site, would not be in a central position. : . Mr. Fowlds said that whilst he had the power to assent to or refuse a, grant, ho had nothing to do with the choice of a site', that being a matter entirely for the Education Board. He had thought that the site known a« Patterson's was the one that would have been selected, hut the Board seemed to have committed itself to' Dick's site, and he did not think that it wag likely to alter its decision. He could not see his way to delay the construction of .1 school (the need for which had been felt for a. long time) by withoiding the grant. In answer to Mr. Stevens, lie stated, that the question of erecting another school in the centre of the district., was a matter for the Education Board to take up. He would instruct a health officer to visit Dick's site and report upon it.