Page 202 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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alight the sleeper bearer. In order to extinguish the blaze, it had become
necessary to open up the floor and fireplace brickwork. Even with his first
report, Teacher A.M. Wellwood had requested immediate repairs. With continued
very cold weather the teacher made further requests for the completion of the
fireplace. The actual fire had frightened the Wellwood family from having any
open fires in the building. Perhaps due to this lack of warmth, Mr. Wellwood's
youngest son caught a chill and died on 10th August 1882. The fire repairs
were made by Edwin Hinchcliffe of Millfield at a cost of £17.0.0. ($34.00) and
were completed on 26th October 1882.

Walter J. May, a Millfield teacher who took up his appointment to this
school on 24th January 1883, made an application on 3rd October 1883, for the
erection of a school weathershed. When forwarding this request, G. Hinchcliffe,
a member of the local School Board, added his suggestion. His idea was that
if the building used as the teacher's buggy shed, fowlhouse and stable had its
sides removed, it should make a most suitable weathershed. The Council of
Education declined to follow this course and advised the teacher and local School
Board that the school verandah should be sufficient weather protection. A furtht~ .
attempt for a weathershed was led by Edwin Hinchcliffe on 1st May 1884. He
obtained a petition from some of the parents. This proposal caused considerable
frictions and upsets. On one such occasion, Mr. Hinchcliffe punched the teacher
W.J. May. For this assault he was fined £5.5.0. ($10.50). However, the request
was again denied.

Possibly as a result of the differences between the Hinchcliffe family
and the teacher Mr. May, Mr. Hinchcliffe threatened to re-open an old road which
ran on the south side of the school but which had been fen'ced as being .part of
the school ground. Although it was proved that he had not used the road for
at least thirty years, Mr. Hinchcliffe indicated that he now required it as access
to obtain water and the road was on the portion of land belonging to him.
Inspector T. Dwyer made an investigation and reported in these terms:-

"Hinchcliffe is up to his old games and I
recommend that the Department block him".

On 20th April 1886, the Government Surveyor John Bush, resurveyed the