MAKING A START

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12612, 24 November 1926, Page 12

MAKING A START

SCHOOLS FOR BUTT VALLEY WAIWETU BUILDING READY VERY SOON EDUCATION BOARD’S PLANS By February Waiwetu will hare a school of its own which 300 children • ill be able to attend. Plans are now leing prepared for the building, and it is expected-that with a prompt decision On 'the subject of the letting of .lie work the erection will commence it the end. of December, and the uilding be ready for occupation two ..ninths later. The site of the school is on the back • aiwetu road, and it will be just due ust of the new railway station to- • ards which Massey avenue is to lead, nyo other streets give access to the section, but both are as yet unnamed. Che area itself is not yet surveyed, out this work will be done next week, and all will be ready for tenders. There will be six classrooms in the new. building, and a cloak room and teachers’ room besides. Four of the classrooms will measure 24 feet by 21 ieetr, one will be 22 feet by 21 feet, and the other 24 feet by 22 feet 6 inches. Provision will be made for additions, and there will be erected play shelters for boys and girls. As the school will be built before the surrounding land has been developed and settled temporary provision will, be made !“r water supply and sanitation; o..sites . .ms marks the lustp step in the Wellington Education .Board’s, ambitious scheme of development in the Butt Valley. With settlement proceeding at the present rate the board ’ must look to the future, and it proposes to erect other schools as the need arises. The Waiwetu building will give relief to Eastern Hutt, which now has a roll of H 9. and which needs additions. The board originally thought of erecting a building on the Mandel Estate, east of Gear Island, but decided, that the needs of Waiwetu were more urgent, and obtained accommodation for children round about the Mandel block in the refreshment room of the Hutt racecourse where about 70 scholars now receive their daily lessons. When this was. opened the first day's attendance was 17, the second 50. However, the board possesses a site ruu.-U about here, and will construct a school as it becomes necessary and finance permits. Another school which, is to be gone on with immediately is on the other side of the river. Plans are also being drawn. up for an infants’ school at Petone West, and this is expected to haTe come into being by Easter next. There will be four classrooms here, and 200 children will be able to ittend.

There is still another site which the iducation Board owns on the baok IVaiwetu road, about three-quarters of a mile from where the new school is being erected.