KYEBURN DIGGINGS SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1417, 18 January 1879, Page 19

KYEBURN DIGGINGS SCHOOL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) AV>ut 18 months ago cur School OomraUtea, backed up by the Good Tomplars, who wanted a convenient room to lii»M their meetings in, succeeded in jetting the new building, wbiuh was intended for a central school, phc^rl so far from the crnfcre of the netfclemeirifcj and in fo unsuitable a place, that it never has, and I venture to think never will, answer tho purpose for which, it was intended. Not content with this, ft few interested parties at Upper Kynburn have suddenly found out that tho teaelur reqni'eft a n«w residence. That this would be very desirable none will deny ; aad if the unusual inter>Bfc the committee have taken ia tbe matter proceeded from a desire to increase the te&ober's comforts, their action would be biglily com mend ahlo. But it v qnite apparent that the welfare of the teacher in this cobo, as was the convenience of the children in the mattpr oi tbe school buil'Hnff, ia of but a secondary considevst'on, and for this reason. The f rasher. A3 ia often the case in small coranaunitioß, ia aho poafcmwtter, and ib baa occurred to tho parties referred to that by getting the proposed new residence placed alongside of the school they would, thereby bring the post office a mile j nearer their own doors, as no other suitable ! pe^soa ceutrally situated could be found ; willing to undertake the duties for the small , Hilary attached to it, viz , £5 per annnm. j The factihat residents o£Jow©r Kyebutnand ! tho adjoining Hundred would luve to walk, an extra mile for their letters, »h the children > will now havotodo to attend school, doea not appotur f o he cousidf red. and I am led to believe , that the toachor would much rather put up

with the eld building, around which he irar a good garden, than be compelled to livefint the Chinese headquarters, where a gardeil i&. an impossibility. That the school, to fulfil. its purpose, must sooner or later be removed: to a more central position will hardly admit; of doubt, and it will be cheaper to remov« one building than two. It is possible la' have it so situated ha to bring the whole o£ the children within the two miles prescribed as limit within which attendance may he. compulsory, and to so place it would probably have the effect of inducing some of thetr children from the adjacent hundred to afctend. As it is there are a number of cbKi dren beyond the prescribed distance, same? of whom would now be attending, bat foit the unnecessary distance to, and unsavoury surroundings of, the school in its presents location. 1 feel qaite satisfied that if thefacts of the case were known to the Education Board it would, ia the present low sfcat*- ; of the funds at its disposal^ hesitate before: throwing away any more money or» the p*e~ sent school site.