THE PROPOSED FOURTH CITY SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 3339, 1 November 1873, Page 2

THE PROPOSED FOURTH CITY SCHOOL.

The City Council received yesterday afternoon a deputation from the Dunedin School Committee, when the question of the site for the proposed fourth school was discussed. The proceedings took a conversational turn, and therefore hardly bear reporting. On behalf of the committee, Mr Robin stated that they hud unanimously come to the conclusion that the only suitable site available would be the one fronting Moray Place in the Octagon Reserve. —(lr. Ramsay said he, thought the School (lommittcc should have weighty reasons to bring forward, the Council having already declined their request for the Octagon site. He believed tlie Corporation looked upon it as purely a duty of the Provincial Government, not only to provide school accommodation, but also sites for schools. Apart from that, there was another reason for refusing. The Corporation did not think the Octagon reserve would be the host site for the school. It was very likely, however, that the Coipoxation would have to give way, owintr to the pressure brought to bear By the Government and the School Committee. He felt that the Government had really placed the Corporation somewhat unfairly iu this position. It was only the statement made by the Government and the School ( Gmiuittee that it would otherwise be impossible to establish a fourth school that would induce him to vest any of the (-orporatiou reserves in the School (Committee. The Mayor assured the School ('ommittee that the Councillor!} would carefully consider the question of providing a site, with the object of meeting their views.—The Committee then withdrew.—Or. Prosser thereupon moved that the Corporation should obtain a legal opinion as to their powers in the matter. This was seconded by Cr. Walter, and agreed to. The Town Clerk was also instructed to write to the Provincial Government asking whether, in the event of the Council agreeing to give the School ('ommittee a site for a fourth school, the Government would be willing to give the Corporation land of equal value in return.