OBJECTIONABLE EDUCATION BUILDING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10044, 14 May 1910, Page 5

OBJECTIONABLE EDUCATION BUILDING.

LIKENED TO A STABLE. DEPUTATION TO TRUST LANDS TRUST. borne time ago the Trust Lands Trust offered the lease, at a peppercorn rental, of a section of land near the Masterton Srhonl to the Education Board, on condition' that it was planted wich suitable trees and fenced. The object was to beautify the sits which already contains the Museum, in the interests of the scholars. Subsequently the Education Board for some reason erected a shed on the site—still unfei.ced and unplanted—for the purpose of teaching the scholars of the wood working classes connected with the school. The building was of such an ugly appearance that the chairman, Mr C. E. Daniell, had heard it publicly described as stable. No permission had been given by the Trust for the erection of the building, and trouble and correspondence ensued, the result being that the Education Board were peremptorily asked to remove the building.

At last night's meeting of the Trust Lands 'trustees, Messrs A. W. Hogg, M.P., and W. C. Buchanan, M.P., attended as a deputation, and explained that the building bad been erected under a misapprehension. They asked that it should be allowed to remain under certain conditions.

Tlje chairman said that in the direction of planting indigenous trees for the purpose of educating the children the Trust had offered the land to the Education Board on condition that it should be fenced. The object was to beautify the spot, and cultivate the beautiful in the children. Suddenly it was found that a building which was more like a stable than anything else, had been erected on the ground. This had been done without consulting the Trust, which resented the action taken by the Board.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., said the Board took no exception to the attitude of the Trust. There had been a misapprehension. With regard to the erection of buildings, it was usual for the Board to consult those interested, and in the present cass it would have been better if this had been done. What really happened was that the contract had been let, and Mr McDougall, Government clerk of works, hsd given no instructions for the contractor to go on with the work. The latter ha. l , however, through mistaking his instructions, gone on with the wurk. The clerk of work 3 had merely advised the contractor to see Mr Jackson and ascertain whore the site was. . Personally Mr Hipg woul'i have liked to see. a better buildinc, although the present one was well lighted and commodious and in course of time it would be hidden by foliage. He admitted that the Trust had had cause for com plaint. The Board, it would be found, would in due time fence the site and comply to the very letter with every request of the Trust. The trouble just at present was want of funds. -1 Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., re**d a letter from the Board which showed that there had been no intention on the part of the Board to go on with the work of erecting tht building without the consent of the Trust. The objects of the Board and "the Trust were identical, and it would be a pity if they should clash. The chairman announced that" the I lease had not been completed be i tween the Board and the Trust. ', The building by its very plainness was objectionable. Mr Robinson thought the best way out of the difficulty was to grant the request of the Board. "Let them paint it and let it remain," he added. After further discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Pragnell, that if the Education Board undertook to fence the ground, paint the building, and plant the site with trees, the terms of the lease would be carried out and no further action would be taken. In reply to the chairman, Mr Buchanan said he could not undertake to fix a time by which the fencing and other repairs would be done. Several members thought the Board ought to be tied down to a definite date—say three months. , Mr Hogg said they had no power to give a promise. The Board would, as in the past, carry out its promises honourably, and he had no doubt that the improvements would be carried out much sooner than the members of the Trust expected. He asked that no time be specified.

Mr Euchanan said that when the qdeputation reported to the Board the exceedingly friendly way in which hey had been met the matter woul d e promptly attended to.

The matter then|dropped and th e deputation, after returning thanks, withdrew.