THE PARNELL SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20131, 17 December 1928, Page 10

THE PARNELL SCHOOL.

NEGOTIATIONS FOR NEW SITE MAORI COLLEGE PROPERTY. The acquiring of'the present site of tho St. Stephen's College for Maori Boys in Parnell for uso for a new primary school for Parnell is aimed at by tho Auckland Education Board, which has approached the Diocesan Trust Board. Tho St. Stephen's College site has been coveted by tho board for some time as a desirable position for a new school in Parnell, tho present school being unsuitable in many ways. The board opened negotiations with the Trust Board some time ago, but no agreement was reached.

Tho Education Board then acquired a sito in tho vicinity, but the Education Department considered this unsatisfactory on account of tho heavy expense which would bo involved in improvement work and accordingly instructed the board to again approach the Trust Board for the purchase of the St. Stephen's College site. With tho removal of tho college to Bombay in the immediate future tho board seized the opportunity to do this, and the position at present is that the Trust Board is investigating tho board's proposals.

"It is the most necessitous case in Auckland," said Mr. A. Burns, chairman of tho Education Board, yesterday, referring to tho need of a new school at Parnoll. Tho present school was entirely unsuitable. Tho buildings were antiquated, and thero was little play groupd. Smoke and . noiso from nearby factories created a great nuisance. Mr. Burns said tho school in its present position constituted a death-trap to pupils. Busy streots, which carried fast-moving vehicles, surrounded tho site, and pupils had to cross these going to and leaving school.