DUNEDIN SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1419, 1 February 1879, Page 20

DUNEDIN SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION.

Messrs K. Ramsay, J. Robin, the Revs. Dr Stuart and J. TJ. Davis, accompanied by the Secretary of the School Committee, Mr Sydney James, wailed upon the Hons. J. Macandrew and R. Stout, in reference to the necessity for further school accommodation in Dunedin.

Mr Keith Ramsay said the deputation had been appointed by the public meeting held the previous evening in the Temperance Hall, to lay before the hon. gentlemen the resolution then passed, and to urge its acceptance by the Government. He read the resolution, as follows :—": — " Whereas, the school accommodation is inadequate for the number of school children in the city, so that children have to be turned away from the present schools, the Government be urged to grant the Supreme Cpurt immediately for the use of the Committee." He said he believed if the School Committee could get the building mentioned, they would be able to put the compulsory clauses of the Act into force, having then sufficient accommodation for the whole of the schoolgoing children in Dunedin. With a few alterations the building would suit tbe purposes of a echool admirably, and the situation was a good one.

The Rev. Dr Stuart could endorse the remarks of Mr Ramsay. He was aware from his own observation that the childreu of Dunedin could not be accommodated at the existing schools. It was painful to see boys of about 12 years of age driving carfcs through the streets, and being put by greedy parents to other kinds of day labour that stunted them in growth, ?nd robbed them of the advantages of schooling. It was a great gain in a new country to get all their boys and girls, up to the age of, say 13, seufc regularly to school. It would be an immense advantage to education if Government could see their way to give possession of the

building asked, as in that neighbourhood & number of factories existed, the workmen, at which lived in the yicinity, and every street and alley teemed with children. If the building could be granted for five years only, when, perhaps, sites on the reel dmed ground could be secured for new schools, itwould be an immense advantage.

The Hon. Mr Macandrew said, as they knew, some time ago the question cam. before him, and he thought then that of the building might temporarily be de voted to school purposes — but purely temporarily, however ; and he had goae ho far as to give instructions to that effect. Bufc, it had since appeared that the whole of the* building would be required for railway pur*poses, and that the two things were income patible, to have the .Railway Department and a school in the building at the one time Sl . even temporarily. The question resolved iiselt into a money one* If they gave the* building for a school, they would have tenput up a fresh one for railway offices ; and they might as well give the money for a, new school direct as do this. There was. no doubt it waß the proper site for railway offices. He reminded the deputation, too, that the Government had recently handed.', over to the Committee a new school site at Kensington. The .Rev. Dr Stuart pointed cut that this* school was beyond the bounds of Dunedm*. and would meet the wants of a separJK* district. The Hon. Mr Maoandrew said, as far as;, the Supreme Court building was concerned* it would all be required for railway purposes, and the fitting of it up for such had!, only been deferred until he visited Dunedin^ although now, owing to Mr Conyers' acci* dent, he did not know whether anythißg;, would bo done in the matter at present. The Hoa. Mr Stout reminded the depu* tation that under the Act the Educations Board had the power to sell school sites nofc. required, and he thought if the vacant sites ! at ¥ork place aad Stuart street were sold,, it would realise a sufficient sum to go a longway towards the purchase of a new site and. the erection of a new school. Besides, he did', not see that the Supreme Court was a goo®, situation for a school ; it was too close to* the railway.

The Hon. Mr Macandrew said he sup. posed some of the children would be absorbed by the Kensington school. As regarded getting the Supreme Court building,, t he was afraid the thing was out of the; question. Mr Ramsay said a great difficulty in the* way of getting a new school was that of securing a site. The old Committee had! been over Dunedin again and again, and?, failed to get one. The reserve spoken of byMr Stout in York place was vested in thfrj Education Board for the general purposes o£! education throughout the province, and he> was very doubtful if they would allow it togo for the benefit of Dunedin simply. TheCommittee had thought, if they could get, the Supreme Court building, that the Government might get a site on the reclaimed ground at cost price for railway purposes — athing a School Board would noi he likely tamanage. The Hon. Mr Maoandrew said a new building for the Railway Department woul&t involve the expenditure of some thousands,, and the Government could not afford that,, just now. Mr Ramsay believed a new site and schcoll would cost not less than £8000.

The Hon. Mr Stout thought the lower part of the York place Reserve would bin admirably suitable for a school. The distance between it and the Court house was &. mere nothing.

Mr Ramsay pointed out that it would be~ too close to the present Middle District; School,

The Hon. Mr Stout considered all the? Committee had to see to was that the sites-, were sufficiently convenient for tbe childrenlikely to attend. Within a radius of 10&> yards of the Supreme Court there were very lew children, and when theyv,enfc outsidethai-, the York place aite would be verymarly as close. Mr Ramsay said it was in Cumberland, and Great King streets moat o£ the children lived.

The Rev. Mr Daws said school accommodation would never be properly supplied until a large sum of money was borrowed, to» be repaid over a term of many years. The Hon. Mr Stout believed ihe plan hebad suggested in the Provincial Council, of a* twopenny building rate, would have been altogether the most satisfactory. Mr Robin said he had set bis heart on tbe> Supreme Court building for a school, but if " to get it waa impossible, then he would be> glad to accept the lower end of the York. place reserve as a site, and he believed ife> would be highly suitable. The Rev. Dr Stuabt said he did not see* why a new school should not be built on a* leasehold site.

The Hon. Mr Stout said there waa nothing in the Act limiting the Board toteiilding on freeholds. ' The Rev. Dr Stuart thought a goodi leasehold site might be procured, perhaps from the Church trustees, though he di<& not know whether they had anything suitable on hand at present. The rectory was*. built on leasehold.

The Hon. Mr Stout mentioned tbat' aiv very suitable site might be beyond where the toll-bar used to stand, on a triangular unoccupied piece of ground near the Botanical Gardens.

The Rev. Dr Stuart considered thafc would be a capital site. The Hon. Mr Stout said it was a portion of the Town Belt, but it was in such a position that it was never likvly to be usecE for anything.

Mr Ramsay was certain the granting of ifc for school purposes would be opposed by the City Council.

The Hon. Mr Macandrew said it was o«e aot of Ma career as Superintendent that had ever since been deeply regretted by him, that he had caused the various town reserves to be handed over to the control of tho Town Council, so that now it was impossible toget hold of them when required for publics purposes.

Mr Ramsay supposed they were to understand with reference to the SnprTneConrfc that they were not to get it. Would the Government undertake to vest the site spoken of on the Town Belt, at the Water-of-

Leith, in the Committee for school purposes ? The Hon. Mr Macandrew, so far as he was concerned, saw nothing against that ; and Mr Stout expressed himself to the same effect. The latter gentleman, however, said he believed the site refeired to was now under the control of the Domain Board. Mr Stout went on to say that he considered if a leasehold were obtained for, say 42 years, with a valuation clause, that should be as good as a freehold. It was pointed out by the Secretary to the Committee that no valuation could be obtained for a school building.

Mr Robin considered that in a young country like this, it would be a shame to erect schools upon leaseholds. Freeholds should be procured for all public institutions, and they were as likely to be got as favourably now as ever after. The Hon. Mr Stout said it should be remembered that some of their wealthy men •would be leaving school Bites to posterity as time went on.

Mr Robin remarked that Mr Stout should set a good example in this way. — (Laughter). The Hon. Mr Macandkew mentioned the Old Cemetery Reserve. It waß one of considerable extent, and he thought there would be no difficulty in getting portion of it for a school site. The Rev. Mr Davis thought a school there would in no way relieve the wants of the Flat.

Mr Kobin considered it would be an excellent site. He did not think it mattered much that it was bo close to the Middle District School. It was no great distance from any portion of the town. The Hon. Mr Macandeew considered there would be no hardship in ask ; ng children to go up there from the Flat. He believed it would be highly suitable for a school site. from its healthy situation, and proximity to the Town Belt, &c. After some further remarks of an unimportant nature, the deputation withdrew.