Page 219 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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MOUNT VIEW SCHOOL

supplied by Collins Bros. Company of Sydney. These were transported by steamer
to Newcastle; rail to Maitland; coach to Cessnock and carrier to Mount View.

The first teacher, James Bourne, held his first class on 1st June
1881. In his first report to the Department of Public Instruction dated 7th
July 1881, James Bourne advised his school enrolment as being nine (9) boys
and twenty two (22) girls - a total of thirty one· (31), and the daily average
attendance for the first month had been twenty five (25).

Plans for a weathershed sixteen (16) feet by seven (7) feet by eight
(8) feet high, were drawn up by Miss E. Kempe, the Government Architect.
Her design was for the shed to be constructed of split timber slabs with a
shingle roof. She estimated the cost at £20.0.0. ($40.00). William McGann
completed the project on 9th January 1882.

The classroom and reside~ce received some minor repairs and a repaint.
A separate kitchen twelve (12) feet by ten (10) feet by eight (8) feet high,
was also added. William McGann of Mount View was again the contractor with
his quote of £52.0.0. ($104.00). Work was completed on 23rd September 1885.

Early in 1886, a complaint was made by Mr. T. Lacock against the
teacher, Mr. Alfred A. Holmes, about his conduct and his control of pupils.
An enquiry was held by the following Board:-

Georg2 Brown (Chairman)
John Chapmnn
L.H. Stephens
Robert Carroll
John McDonald
Jchn Deasy.

The teacher pleaded Not GuiltJ. ~ fter hearing evidence this 2oa rd found that
the charges were unimportant ar.d ~~ivolous.

During April 1889, th£: fo llowing per:ion:3 signed a p•::"',itlon 5tating