GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2496, 8 May 1909, Page 6

GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE QUESTION OF A SITE!

A meeting of the Gisborne High School Board of Governors was held at

.Mr. C. A. deLautour’s office yesterday afternoon to discuss various matters in connection with the school management. There were present: Messrs C. A. •deLautour (chairman), E. H. Mann, J. W. Bright, J. Coleman, and W. Morgan (secretary). •The only question of importance to the public which was brought forward was the effort to obtain a site for a •school building. The chairman said the following letter had been sent to the Hon. James Carroll:

Sir, —The attendance at this -school has gone tip to 96. This is a •Jar' larger attendance than was anticipated. The numbers will very rapidly Increase, and there is every prospect that the school will become a large one. An assistant master has been appointed And also a female teacher, particularly qualified to teach commercial subjects. The headmaster, who came to ns from Stratford with high qualifications, is entirely justifying his appointment. It becomes very necessary to arrange for buildings on a separate ground. _ The present arrangement is not fair to either the High School or to the Primary School. As you are aware,vwe have no site for buildings. In 1595, when -our special’ Act was passed, our then member was unable to do more than earmark a few reserves in the town and district, the profits of whicli should be paid to us by the School Commissioners as they received them in Auckland. I can see no reason why these reserves should not be vested in the High School Board. The Beard gets the profits. Why should not they have the management? The members are far better able to manage these to advantage than 5s a Board in Auckland. In 1885 Auckland members were exceptionally sensitive about any interference with reserves in the Provincial District. That feeling has long since died out, and no one" could reasonably object to reserves which benefit Poverty Bay being administered locally. So long as these reserves are vested, in the School Commissioners the Governors cannot build upon any of them. The 'Commissioners are bound to lease them io the best advantage. The reserve marked as playground on the right of the plan is -one of these reserves, and would do for a school site. As it is very sandy it is not very suitable for buildings,' but would do better for a rough football ground. It could he nsed for such a purpose without loss of rental for grazing purposes. The reserve on Stanley Street is not one of those marked for High School purposes in 1885, but it held for primary education. ' The value of £2OOO put upon it by the Commissioners is an absurd value. It is also sandy, hut it has a high hank running up it which makes it suitable for buildings. _ I would suggest that we ask the Minister for Education to allow us to introduce a

local Act next session to effect the following purposes: (1) Vest in the High School Board of Governors the reserves from-which it, now draws the rents and profits' through the Commissioners. These are the reserves described in the schedule to the Gisborne High School Act of 1885. (2) Vest in the Board for building a High School the education reserve in Stanley Street. (3) Give the Board powers to borrow upon the security of its endowments for building purposes to a sum not exceeding £sooo—or preferably any sum required for buildings approved by tbe Minister. (4) Increase the sum which the Board may spend upon buildings—fixed in the special Act at £3OOO. Will you consider the matter and advise. The Government has some fund from which, in special cases grants'are made in aid of High School buildings. Perhaps that source is open to us. It would certainly simplify our .finance. Under the present system of financial support it does not much matter from what source the building fund conies. If we knew what the Minister would approve I think the Board would be

prepared to get every preliminary to the erection of a building at once put in hand, so that no time might be lost in getting a contract let after a site is made sure. I regret having to trouble you at such length. The importance to the district of establishing a good secondary school is my only justification.—l am, yours faithfully, C. A. deLautour, Chairman Gisborne High School Board.” The Chairman stated that Mr. Carroll had replied acknowledging the receipt of the letter, and promising to do all he could to assist the Board. He had also referred the matter to the Minister for Education. Mr. deLautouv added that he had, while in Auckland a few weeks ago, placed the position before the Hon. George Fowkls, and had since received the following letter from the Education Department: - “Sir, —With reference to your telegram of the 30th April, and to previous correspondence regarding the reserve for a site for the Gisborne High School, 1 am directed by the Minister for Education to say that the Board may prepare a Bill in this matter and submit it for the approval of the Government. —I have the honor to he, Sir, your -obedient servant, E. 0. Gibbcs, Secretary for Education.” ... • As a result of that letter, Mr. deLautour said, a Bill had been prepared for presentation to Parliament, and it would lie forwarded as soon as possible. The Bill covered all the recpiests sent to the Hon.'James Carrol!, but while Hie Stanley Road site was asked for as a building site, there was a proviso -that the Board might choose an alternative site for the building. The Bill would be discussed with Mr. Carroll

-on his- visit to Gisborne. - On the motion of Mr. Bright, the Board approved of the .Bill, and deci--ded to meet the Hon. James Carro l in -conference .this morning.