MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1968, 12 November 1889, Page 3

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS AT GERALDINE.

Immediately on the report of the doings of the South Canterbury Board of Education at their meeting on Thursday last becoming known in the Geraldine district an advertisement was despatched to this paper calling a meeting of householders for Saturday night to consider their action anent the Geraldine School. The result was that a very full meeting of householders took place in the schoolroom at the time advertised, half-past seven. Mr W. S. Maslin, Chairman of the School Committee, and convener of the meeting, occupied the chair. He said the question they had to consider was a very important one—namely, the action proposed to be taken by the Education Board with regard to the Geraldine School. It was so important that he considered it only right that the householders should have an ; epportunity of considering it, and of

i' expressing their opinion upon it. Most of them knew the steps that had been taken re getting a new school for Geraldine. It was not now a question of site. The Enabling Bill had been passed, and the eife upon the Cemetery road had been settled, and could not be altered. The question was whether after fighting so long for a school it would not be to the interest of the householders to wait a ■ little longer, and try to get a new school of the most-approved pattern and latest design instead of moving the old school, which had been so often condemned, to form part of the now. The meeting was called owing to the report In the papers ;of the board’s proceedings, which report .s he had taken the opportunity of verifying. At the board’s last meeting the architect

presented his report on the Geraldine School, wbi6h report, recommended the Utilising of the two class-rooms of the old aohool and of the main school in building the new structure., (The : chairman also • read the' report of the Rev. 6. Barclay and Mr Fearpoint to the board at their last meeting re the Geraldine School.)

The opinion of the committee in the past had been that the present buildings were ,sb£of .sufficient soundness to warrant their removal, and that any expenditure of money in removing or repairing them would be entirely thrown away. After reading the following resolution, passed by the.committee May 11th, 1887, moved by Mr Fearpoint, seconded by Mr A. S.herratt,'and carried : “That the chairman and ! Messrs Sherratt, Taylor, and the mover be appointed a sub-committee to work up the various details required,

and to make oat a strong case to endeavor to obtain a new school,” and also otber resolutions passed condemning the state of the school buildings, he went on to say that Messrs Pearpoint and Sherratt and himself wore appointed to draw up a report to the board setting forth the age of the present buildings, their unsatisfactory character, etc., and to urge upon the board the erection of an entirely new school. The board realised at that time that a new school was necessary, and allocatad the sum of £3OO for the erection of the building. The board, finding the school becoming the worse for wear, spent £7O or £BO last year in repairing the buildings, the details of which the chairman mentioned. He thought that whether after all this and the expenditure of this money last year it would now be for the interests of the district that the buildings should be pulled down and transferred to a new school, thus forming two-thirds of the new building.—[Mr Pearpoint; “ Question.”] The old buildings had now been up 14 years, and it was for the householders to say whether they • would wait a little longer, and endeavor to get an entirely new building. There was now from £6BO to £590 set apart for the purpose. Proceeding to read further resolutions proposed by Mr Pearpoint, that gentleman objected to his name being mentioned so often in connection with these resolutions. Mr Markham wanted to know where the chairman, would like the new site to be.

The chairman again explained that the question of site was settled, and could not be altered, Mr Tayler thought it would be as well for the householders to secure the £590 while they had the chance. With that and what would be realised by ..the sale of the reserves, etc., they would have enough to build a school in either brick or wood. He considered there was as good timber in the present building as any that could be bought. The chairman pointed out that the architect's report proposed to cut a foot off the studs of the present building.

Mr Pearpoint ; “Nothing of the sort, gentlemen; entirely wrong.” Mr A, Sherratt asked how many children were upon the roll at the present time, and r was told 261. Mr Sherratt: ’‘Then according to the report they are going to build a new school with less than the present accommodation,” Mr Pearpoint was told, in reply to a question, that the average attendance was a little over 200.. ' Mr Sherrat t said the new school should accamodate'SOO or 350 at, least. Geraldine was growing' in children, if in nothing else. (Laughter.) .He thoeght they should look forward and make ample provision for the district,. As the? had waited so long, they should wait a little longer and endeavor to get a building of brick or stone. He contended that the present building was now in far better repair than it bad been for years past, and they could afford to wait a while. Mr Cunningham asked the probable cost of the mixed building, but the question could not bo answered. The ebairmain said the probable saving would be £2fo dr £3OO. Another question was, what were they to do with the children while the school Was being removed and the new school building ? Mr Taylor said they could have a holiday. Mr Shiers thought if they did not embrace the opportunity of getting the school now they had no guarantee that the money would be available when they wanted it. It was only secured by resolution, and that might be resciaded at any time. Mr Pearpoint said it was earmarked, but the ears might be cat off at any moment. Mr Shiers was in favor of moving the new portion of the present building, but not the main building. If they came to cut the studs, pull up the floor, etc., of the old' portion it would be very little *.gcod, and be considered it would sell better as jt stood. The great danger was they might lose the money it they '‘'waited longer.

Mr Fearpoint said that, as the only member present, be would like to make an explanation. The chairman had used his name considerably that be aa one of the committee had brought forward resolutions that the present buildings were rotten. He said that at that time one could not shut the door, etc., wlihouc the plaster coming down. Be could also tell them that the playground round the main building bad been so made up from time to time that meat of the plates were 12io. under the ground. But when the chairman said that they were going to make all the new building from the old one he was entirely and decided wrong. Mr Fearpoint placed upon the table a pencil sketch of the new buildings. He pointed out that the whole of the front facing on the Cemetery road was to be entirely new, and that not one iota of timber found to be unsound would be used. The architect had visited Geraldine, and had said that the class-rooms could be moved bodily and put into position. The roof could be taken apart in sections with very little loss of timber. He said the report in the Herald of the board’s meeting was not in accordance with what traaspirod. The architect, on being asked, said that the skateh arranged for 250 children. He was told that 300 was the smallest number it should accommodate, when he said that was meetly a nutter of detail, and could easily be arranged for. Mr Fearpoint asked those present bow much the present buildings would fetch if they were put up to auction. The board bad allocated £SBB, which with interest came to about £595. This, with the sale of reserves, etc., might give them altogether about £llOO. Mr Shiera had hinted at the possibility of their losing the money allot'ed. Mr Fearpoint then detailed the probable expenditure the board would be called upon to meet, and the very insnfie’ent amount they had to meet it. Be could assure the meeting that they ran a very great risk of losing the money, and if once the board had a ebance to get this money back again the householders would have very little cbance of getting it again for a long time. Ha said be could not quite understand what was at the bottom of all (bis fuss about moving the old school, but he was convinced that there was something at the bottom of it. As to a brick building, be had always stuck up for a brick building, and he did so now j but he thought if they could not get that they should take what they conld get. He pointed out that the school would be so built as to admit of additions being put to it whenever required. An [argument took place between Mr Fearpoint and the chairman as to how much of the old building would be used, the chairman declaring that more than half would be used.

Mr Pearpoint said it was not the intention of either the architect or the committee that any of the timber should be used that was found to be ansound.

In reply to Mr Altken Mr Pearpoint said that Ike plan before them was not final by any means, He also pointed out that the Enabling Bill made provision that the proceeds ef the sale of the reserves and old building should be spent in erecting a school on the Cemetery road site.

The chairman pointed out that the original Bill sent up by the board did this, not the amended Bill only. Mr Cunningham proposed—“ That the Board ot Education be recommended to sell the present site and buildings, rather than make use of the old material in building a new school,” This course had been followed in Temuka, and they had got a fair price for the buildings. He thought that if they got a fair price for the present bnildinge they would get a better school than by using the old buildings. He moved this to teat the feeling of the meeting.

Mr Dunlop seconded the proposition. He thought the Board might well be recommended to do that. He thought £llOO would go a long way towards building an entirely now school, besides the extra money from the present buildings. Ho thought they would sell well as they stood. Besides there would be the trouble with the children while the buildings were being removed. Ha thought a holiday during that time, as bad been suggested, would be rather a long one. He was in favor of trying to get an entirely now school, and letting the old buildings remain as they were till the new one was built.

Mr Pearpoint pointed out that the board would require the money for the new school.

Mr Dunlop said the old building could be sold, but possession not given till the the new one was built.

Mr Pearpoint said the closing of the school during the erection of the new building was obviated, as the Volunteer flail had been arranged for. Mr Dunlop thought no place was so suitable for carrying on the school in the meantime as the present building. Mr Pearpoint said the architect bad stated that it was not a question of pulling the present school down, as the new class rooms could be removed in sections without pulling to pieces. He instanced the Presbyterian Manse as an instance of how easily a building could be moved m that manner. Mr Cunningham said his reason for moving the resolution was that the present buildings would sell for far more as they stood than if the class rooms were taken away, and the building made incomplete. Mr Maalin said that the money obtained by the sale of the present buildings would purchase a great deal of timber, and any carpenter wou'd rather work the new timber than the old, and consequently do the work cheaper. Mr Huffey here moved as an amendment—“ That the action of the board be carried out in its entirety, according to the plan before them,” Mr White seconded this, Before the vote was taken Mr Pearpoint said he would like to make one observation. If they shelved the question now they might have to wait a very long time before they got the money again. They would run a great risk of losing it, as some members of the board wanted to it back. He asked them to consider this before they voted. Mr MundiTl hoped that all those who had the interests of Geraldine at heart would vote for the amendment, and back up their members of the Board of Education.

The vote on the amendment was then taken, and carried by a very large majority, ell, with the exception of about a dozen, walking into the class room cheering and waving their bat*.

The chairman declared the amendment carried. His only desire had been to g*t the opinion of the householders, as he thought it right for everyone to express an opinion. His desire was to ascertain the will of the majority, and then, as far aa lay in his power, be was always ready to support and cany out that will, The expression of opinion that evening was in favor of pulling down the old school and using the material in building (ho new school, and he would have much pleasure in forwarding that resolution to the Board of Education. A vote of thanks to the chairman and the members of the Board of Education terminated the meeting.