DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 3563, 24 July 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Dunedin School Committee was held in the Secretary’s office. Princes street, last evening ; present— Messrs 0. H. street (in the chair). E. B Cargill, E. Prosser, B. Stout, A. K. Hay. Livingston. Wright, P. Sherwin, and Robin. The Secretary reported the average attendance at, and fees received from the various schools as follows :—Midole District S°Moo « 2 ? 9 10d 6d > Nortb School, 022, L 199 Is 3d; South School, 372, Ll3l 4s 5d ; and the Fouith School, 64, L 8 Os 9d. Lhe attendance has very materially increased during the past ha f-year, no loss than 107 having been added to that of the North aonool.

-dr Ma*on’s opinion on the subject of the s ate of the Middle district School bpildiim was received, containing the following suggestious; 1. 1 o protect by a substantial retaming wall the face of the cutting, which would otherwise be gradually worn away by the effect of the weather, and ultimately undermine the foundation of the building, >nould this course be determined oa, the retaining wall should be built as the cutting proceeds. 2 To lower the building with tke section of the proposed level of Bowline street and York Place. 3. To pull down the present building, lower the site, and erect a new and commodious school. Mr Mason S'.rougly recommended the third suggestion. as any accident to the building that might .-ccur would, in all probability, take place during the progress of the Corporation works, he thought it desirable that some other provismn should at once be made for the children until the works were completed Mr Livingston, oa behalf of the Sub-Corn-mittee, reported that the cutting at the Dowling street side of the District School was 27ft. deep, within 7it, of the found** tion He believed the plaster was broken m some of the rooms. The children had oeea removed to the Robin Hood Hotel, but it was occupied by several families, and would nob prove a suitable place fpr children; the Committee advised Mr Halliweß to dismiss the children at once, as the school was dangerous, They then proceeded to the Wesleyan Church, and the Chapel Steward agreed to call a meeting of the Committee of Management that evening and arrange about letting the large hall for the use of the classes.

Mr C Anti ill thought it would be mere folly to build upon a precipice 27 feet high. I hey would have to pull down that school and build another.

Mr Sherwin remarked that some members of the City Council had that day inspected the building and thought it dangerous. 6

A ensued as to what Mr nalliwell, the matter, should have done. Mr Livinosion thinking he should have complained before, and pommunioated with the Secretary to the Committee prior to reportuxg to the Education Board. Mr Stout advised Mr HalUwcll to take the responsibility of dismissing the school, and then bring the matter before the School Committee. •

A letter was read from Mr Halliwell, stating that he had been requested by Mi* Hislop to address the Education Board on the subject.

Mr Livingston said the Sub-Committee Lad at once set their faces'against the Robin Hood f >otel, as it was not a suitable build* « g ‘ ad r v,aed HalUwell to dismiss the children for a week, but he had announeed that the Kobin Hood Hotel was to be the school Mr H alii well’s instructions v ere given clearly enough, and the Sub-Com-mittee felt disinclined to act, as their orders MTK . r T gnißed * Mr Livingston moved lhat the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr Halliwell, shewing X w plaint of the Suh-Oummittee, and asking conduct n, ’ leUiaa t0 BIVG an account of

fco ot her occasions when Mr Halliweil had not carried out the Committee s instructions.

, M^, Cargill thought that Mr Halliwell should make an explanation of his having departed from the instructions of the Committee; he would also suggest that Mr Halliwell be instructed to dismiss the chdurea from tile i obia Hood Hotel He then moved a resolution similar to that proposed by Mr Livingston, which was carried. Several accounts, amounting to about L 260 wer* passed for payment * f J Mf3S te «\ Whl , ch the closetß belonging to ferJd to Th ° 8 Waß rerrtd to. The Secretary reported that he h v£S3WV! ma l ter bnder the notice ef Halliwell, but that gentleman had ex pressed some delicacy in interfering A motion by M r Stout “ That the Seora. tary be instructed to write to tha .a i mUt* 1 ’ 8 ’ Ca^‘ Qg th6ir attention to the Com'