Page 133 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

140.

• DAIRY ARM SCHOOL

Some difficulties were evidently being experienced in having
a teacher in attendance. The records show that Katie Dixon was appointed
teacher at Dairy Arm School on 23rd August 1889. However, on 1st
September 1889 at 3.27p.m., Inspector T. Dwyer found a need to despatch
the following telegram from Cessnock Post Office to his Chief Inspector
at the Department of Public Instruction office in Sydney in these terms:-

I11 request an immediate appointment of a
teacher to Dairy Arm School that I may
have opportunity to inspect i t 11

Signed T. Dwyer.

The telegram of 27 words had cost Inspector Dwyer one shilling and seven pence
(0.17¢). The reply was prompt because the Departmental records show that
John Cameron was appointed teacher at Dairy Arm on 3rd Septe~ber 1889.

During the vacation at Christmas 1889, repairs were made to
Dairy Arm School. These were made by G. T. Mc Mullen and were completed
on 28th January 1890. Mr. G.T. Mc Mullen was paid £11.6.0 ($22.60) for
this work. The specification set out the following items:-

1. Repair floor.
2. Provide a table (3 feet by 2 feet) with a

drawer, lock and key.
3. Erect a lavatory.
4. Repair the fireplace.
5. Provide a book press, similar to that at

Laguna School.

When school resumed, the school enrolments were as follows:-

Dairy Arm had 16 pupils with a daily attendance of 13.
Mount Finch had 11 pupils with a daily attendance of 10.

Inspector T. Dwyer recommended that these two schools sr.ould ag3in
become 'half-time' schools sharing teacher Alex Lochrin. This took
effect from 19th February 1890.