THE OCTAGON SITE FOR A FOURTH SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 3384, 24 December 1873, Page 2

THE OCTAGON SITE FOR A FOURTH SCHOOL.

A deputation from the Dunedin School Committee, consisting of Messrs Street (chairman), Stout, Robin, D. R. Hay, and James (secretary), waited upon the Superintendent this morning, iu reference to the above. Mr Stovt explained that the matter stood in the same position as it did some time ago. He traced the negotiations with the City Council for a site in the Octagon, which culminated in the Council’s letter of the IBth iust,, to the following effect ; In reply, I am to inform you that since the date of my last letter to you, on this subject, the Provincial Government has intimated to the Council its preference for the site which you suggest, viz., the Octagon market reserve, fronting the Royal George Hotel. The Council has been, and still is, very anxious to meet the wishes of the school committee and of the Government as regards a site for a fourth school, but ranch regrets being able to comply with the suggestion as regards granting a portion of the Octagon market reserve. At the last meeting of the Council a motion was adopted to adhere to the resolution aa conveyed to you in my last letter,' dated December 5, to the effect that the. Government be to suggest some other site iu Dell ward, in the event of the sections at foot of Hanover street, on the \Y'harves and Reserve, being regarded as unsuitable. The Committee was unanimously of opinjop that the site at the corner of Hanover and St. Andrew sheets was not at all suitable

for such a school as it had been intimated the Government intended putting up. The Committee had bad no real or substantial reason given why the Corporation refused to grant the Octagon site. The opposition appeared to come principally from the surrounding publicans, who seemed to think that they bad a rested right in having tbe market place put there, for the sake of prospective profit.. '} he deputation came to his Honor to ask if the Government would aid the committee in any way, as it was given to understand the title of the laud was still vested in the Crown, and was not made over ■. o the Corporation, His Hunok : I am under the impression that it has been. I think it is in just the same po-ition a- the other reserves ; that the Corporation cannot let it without the sane* lion of the >uperinieudent. This is all tbs pull we have got over it at present. Do you Know if the City Council is unanimous in that determination ? Mr .stout ; tsomc of the Council are in favor of the Octagon site. His Honor : i know the Mayor is.

Mr Stout said the Council asked that some equivalent should be given it: that the hj ire Brigade site should be left vacant. His Honor : I quite agree that the Octagon is the most desirable site. We have had it up in the Executive repeatedly, and that is tbe general opinion, it is proposed to erect somewhat extensive buildings : to connect the school of arts with it. We may as well go in for the whole thing while we are about it—both district and normal schools and schools of arcs. It would be a great improvement to that part of the town ; in fact, an ornament to the City. Mr Hay : a normal school in the Octagon would conveniently connect with the University, and students would attend. Mr Stout : Something must be done by the Octagon, unless we are to depend upon Canterbury for our teachers, Canterbury has gone to an expense of LI 7,000 for a normal school. His in Chriatciiurch for it. We can get the Octagon site by legislation, and if that is necessary probably the best way would be to wait until the Council meets. Mr feTKEKT pointed to the pressing necessity for additional school accommodation, and said some of the committee did not see their way to admitting any mote pupils to the school. His Honor ; How would it do to erect a chool at Behchet Bay to relieve the District pending the necessary action being taken to acquire the Uctagou site? The Government are just as much vexed at the delay as you can be. We have goo the money and the vole, and the building should be m hand by this time. Mr Kobin believed if his Honor went up to the Middle District School and saw the crowded state of the rooms there, he would it once say there must be some action taken immediately in the ma ter. What was wanted just now was a school in the vicinity of the v-ctagou to re’ievo the Middle District more than the Worth Dunedin School. Me bad ueen met by some members of the Provincial Council, who said if the Octagon site was not given up by the Corporation, the Government ought to take action in the matter, and they were sure they would be supported by the Provincial Council in the steps they took. His Honor ; There is very little doubt >bout that; at the same tune, that is a step that should not be taken unless we are absolutely driven to it. Mr mout ; It is better to have some amicable arrangement with the City Council.

His Honor : Even then, I do not think it is right to anticipate legislation. Mr Logan informs me that he believes the Octagon has been conveyed to the City Council. However, 1 will have it inquired into to see what can be made, and will bring the whole subject before the Executive to-day. My impression is that it will be better to make provision for tne immediate necessity of the case by building a school at Peiichet, Bay, pending the necessary action being taken to get the Octagon for the purposes of a normal school, school of arD, and primary school, for it is clear all will be wanted. The opinion of the deputation appeared to be that only a side scnuol was wanted at Peliohet Bay. His Honor : It has been urged by several parties that the Government should proceed at once to build these schools. I have no doubt it would be right enough in the long run; still we must have legislation first. The deputation then withdrew.