NEW TE ARO SCHOOL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 6

NEW TE ARO SCHOOL

PREPARATION OF SITE. NEED FOR EXCAVATION. The excavation of the site for the new Te Aro School to be erected in place of tho old Terrace Gaol was the subject of a letter from the Education Department, read at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board. In reply to a communication from the board, the Director of Education (Dr W. J. Anderson) stated that an officer of the department had visited the site with an officer of the Public Works Department, and, according to their report, it did not appear desirable that at the present stage any steps should he taken to excavate the site beyond what was necessary for the infant school. If tho site of the women’s quarters was cleared a larger playing area would be available than if it were excavated to its permanent level. Further, when the main buildings wero removed the spoil could be more easily transferred to the place where it was required. The Minister could not see his way to approve of a grant for further excavation at the present time if payment was to be made at current rates. He, therefore, asked the board to forward an estimate for making tho area previously occupied by the women’s quarters suitable for a playing space. The cost, he pointed out* must be reasonable if a grant was to bo approved. Prison labour might be used for the work if tho cost was reasonable. On tho motion of Mr J. J. dark, it was decided to urge tho department to carry out the excavation to the level of the infants’ school, and suggest that the work should be proceeded with while the prisoners are still engaged on the site.