THE MIDDLE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 4028, 25 January 1876, Page 2

THE MIDDLE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

This morning a deputation from the 1 'unedin School Committee, consisting of Messrs G, Bell, K. Ramsay, Robin, Sherwin. Street right and .lames (secretary), waited upon the Superintendent with reference to the Middle District School. Mr Ramsay said that certain people had thrown the blame of the present state of affairs in connection with the school upon the Corporation, but it was understood when the cutting was undertaken that it would result in the erection of a new building or in the removal of the old one to a different site, fn return for the L 2.000 voted by the Government for the work the 1 orporation gave them about an acre or an acre and a-half of land, which was vested in them as an Educational Reserve. The pre sent school buildings were entirely inadequate, and though it had once the largest attendance of any of the district schools, there was now a considerable falling off, and if satisfactory pro vision was not made in the matter of accommodation even more children would be taken away from the school. The upper part of High Ward contained more children than any part of the city, and it would be a great annoy ance and hardship to parents if the school were not re-erected on the old site.

His Honor said the Government were fully alive to the necessity of something being done. A site had been set aside, the Cemetery Reserve, and all that was wanted was the money to erect the new building with. That they must wait for, as the vote for last year was exhausted, and it would probably be March 3 i before the Government would be in a position to do anything. As soon as they were able he could say it was their intention to go on with the erection of the school. Mr Ramsay : Do you think the Government will then be in a position to do so ? His Honor : Oh, yes ; I think so. Though there are many other demands from schools throughout the Province, and it will take L3O, jo to supply the requirements that are absolutely necessary. Mr Bell : In this case, your Honor will observe, it is not the building of a new school that the money is required for, but actually the re-erection of an old i ne. Mr .1 A wes said the Committee had actually laid out money - n the school, the benefit of which they had now lost. His Honor : Do you not think the Corporation would advance the money pro tern ? Mr Ramsay : They have no power— it would be illegal. Mr iSiiERWiN ; If the Government were to lease their : iece of land it would b ing in almost enough to re-erect the school. His Honor said it was not necessary to do that; they could find the money legitimately. Besides, Government would only have power to lease it for three years. Mr Bell said the Committee were under the impression that a specific vote had been made for the erection of the school.

TTi-.i Hi-n -h thought not Robin a ked if the Government coaid not raise money on the Education Reserves. His Honor : No-~I have been trying to get that power for years. There should be no difficulty in doing so. Mr .Ramsay thought enough c uld bo borrowed on the piece of lan I near the school to re-erect the entire building. Mr W sight said this was not the only school that required increased accommodation; South S bool was crying out, and there would soon be demands for a new school for each Ward. Mr Rost - said another difficulty the committee had to deal with was the complaints made by the teachers at the reduction made iu their salaries by the decreased attendance. Tuoy had to put up with a considerable loss. His Honor said L2\ooo was voted last year for educat onal purposes, and all of it had been soent. He would bring the matter introduced by the deputation before the - xecutive to-day, and see if it could be accelerated. The moment the Government had t; e legal authority to spend the money a commencement would be made.