Page 205 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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MI L L F I E L D S C H 0 0 L

(vii) 30th October 1901 - William Craft , minor repairs -
£14.10.0. ($29.00).

(viii) 17th January 1902 - William Craft, further minor
repairs - £24.0.0. ($48.00).

Following a strong complaint by the local School Board concerning
the quality of drinking water, on 31st March 1902, Solomon Morton was
engaged for a fee of £19.0.0. ($38.00) to supply a new tank and new guttering.

Joseph Head of Lambton, on 7th April 1908, made repairs to the school,
residence and weathershed which included brickwork, woodwork, plumbing and
roof-flashing. For this work he was paid £60.5.0. ($120.50).

Late in 1912, Inspector W. Cornish reported on the condition of the
Millfield School in these terms:-

"The school buildings are the most wretched I have seen
for some time.' Fifty years ago it was a public-house -
now out of repair, badly ventilated and badly lighted,
they are nothing better than a tumbledown."

The Department agreed with the recommendation. On 13th February 1913, tenders
were c~lled for the erection of a new classroom twenty (20) feet by eighteen
(18) feet with a verandah twenty (20) feet by eight (8) feet, to house thirty-
five (351 pupils. Two contractors submitted prices:-

W.L. Morris of Cessnock £195.0.0. ($390.00)
£210.0.0. ($420.00)
J.J. Ryan of Cessnock

The Department's works' section estimated that their staff could erect the
classroom for £167 .0.0. ($334 .00). The section was authoriser.: to pr·oceed
with the construction. Under~ the super·1ision of the foreman Mr-. W. Mc:...ean,
the school was completed and ready for occupation on 2nd July 1913. Actual
costs reached a total of £201.19.6. ($403.96). The new classroom was sited