Page 148 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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Mr. C. Caban, on 25th March 1901, made repairs to preserve the
plastering of the brickwork on the residence. He was paid £13.10.0 ($27.00)
to perform this task and to repaint the repairs. Mr. C. Chapman, on 24th
June 1902, made repairs to the guttering and erected a new tank and stand.
His fee was £8.0.0 ($16.00).

When Mr. John Norton M.L.A. complained about the condition of
the school residence, he was supported by James Crawford, Secretary of the
. Local School Board. Mr. C. Chapman was engaged to make urgent repairs. ·
His payment was £18.18.0 ($37.80). These were completed on 29th October
1902. The same contractor made further repairs to both the school and
residence on 16th August 1905. His work included new school floor joists,
a new blackboard, a new house tank, kalsomining two bedrooms and the dining
room and white-washing the ceiling and the walls of the kitchen.

The Ellalong Public School was destroyed by fire between 2a.m.
and 4a.m. on 4th March 1908. The fire had been found by Henry Bridge.
The local policeman, Senior Constable Nowland, suspected arson. He suggested
to his Police Superiors that because the Department of Public Instruction's
inspector was making a tour of this local district and having fared poorly
the previous year and fearing yet another bad report, the teacher Thomas
Lyons Williams, had wilfully burnt down the school. He was suspended pending
a hearing. Coroner Charles Morley held an inquiry and when he brought down
an open verdict, Mr. Williams was cleared; shortly after, he was declared
bankrupt. He was transferred from Ellalong in June 1908 and replaced by
Mr. P. Mc Mullen.

School continued in a hall at Ellalong Village, rented from William
Snape. The monthly rental was six shillings ($0.60¢). Old desks and forms
were shifted form Sweetmans Creek by Henry Bridge for £1.10.0 ($3.00).
A new school had been built at Sweetmans Creek late in 1905 and new des~s
had been supplied.