PROPOSED NEW DRILL HALL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 158, 29 July 1909, Page 4

PROPOSED NEW DRILL HALL

Tliu Education lJonrd yesterday considered tlii' following letter from Colonel Okcy:-

"As I'xti'iisive' repairs to Hie Drill Hull will probably havu to lie cili'ctcd in the iii'iir future, ;i si-hi'inc lms lii'on suggested which in my opinion would prove lu be an advantage both to the MiliiiiUi'i-, iiiul to the children attending the Central School. It has been suggested, sifbject, of t'Oui'Sii, to the approval of all parties concerned, that the present Drill..Hall site should be sold nail (hat a larger and moro up-to-date building lie erected on St. Michael's Square. Ii is also proposed that a certain portion of the 1 lin front of the new building should ; ,c , , t .oscd as u parade ground. The building and grounds would be available an a playground for Hi,. children during the dav and for v.lnnlcer purposes during the .veiling and uccasionnllv on holidays. If this suggestion is earried out the Hoard will lie able to provide at no eosl to theaisclves a larw eovereil-i,, plavurouu.!. wlih-li should prove a great I' i !').■ liie children in wet weather. The 1.1:1 V dillieultv would be tile question of (he title of th,. sit.', and if r.ie Migges; ion is adopted it w ill probably be iieei ssnrv to get Parliamentary sanction t.i vest tile .property in trustees lor the parlies eoneerned. As the present Drill Hall site is vested in the Defence Department it yvill be necessarv to obtain their sanetion before anyiliing cm be done. My ohject. however, in 'writing i« to know whether the Hoard would favor nnv such suggestion. If the Hoard views the matter favorably T do not anticipate that there will he nnv great diflicultv in seeing the scheme through." Member* were opposed to giving away the rights of the Board in nnv portion of the. land.

Mr. Trimble moved that (lie request be not granted. Mr. Kennedy was opposed to giving away auv portion of the freehold of St. Michael's Sipiare, but thought the Board could grant a lease of the area required for 11 number of years. It would, he roinlcd out. be of great service to the Hoard both as a eliclter-slied and also n drillshed for the cadets.

The chairman suggested llml a committee lie appointed to confer with Colonel Okey and others on the question. If the matter could lie arranged in any way it would lie a. great benefit In ilie Hoard anil the Central School. The r.oaiil could mil. .however, part with any poll ion of I he freehold. Colonel Okey waited on the Board in conned ion with the m atter, and eventually «r.i*ic!eralion was deferred until a future nieeliiig, so that fuller information iniglitThc put before the Hoard.