Page 239 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

262.

MU L B ·R ING S C H 0 0 L

the bones were causing a smell nuisance at the school.

An Inspector, Mr. J. Waterhouse, made an investigation and in his
report to his superiors the Inspector advised that Mr. S. Dodds' teaching was
up to the Department's requirements. From his enquiries the Inspector found
that Mr. Dodds worked his property at weekends. As to the bones at the school,
Mr. Dodds told the Inspector that he knew that many local farmers killed beasts
for their own use and that the bones often laid around farms. Mr. Dodds had
asked children to bring to him, at the school, old dried bones for him to use
on his vineyard and orchard.

Inspector Waterhouse instructed Mr. Dodds to remove the bones from
the school and to avoid criticism, not to have bones brought to the school.
Inspector Waterhouse reminded his Department that there may have been some
'spite' in the complaint, dating back to the sale of the old school site.
Mr. Hector was advised by the Department that steps had been taken to re~ove
part of his complaint. Further, the Department was satisfied with Mr. Dodds'
teaching performance. Certainly the Department showed its approval to Mr.
S. Dodds, because he had a stay of some eleven (11) years as the Mulbring
teacher, the third longest stint.

Mr. J.B. Rooney of East Maitland, on 26th April 1889, repainted the
school internally and externally. Also, in his quote of £31.10.0. ($63.00),
some minor repairs were included. On 7th May 1890, Mr. Thomas Latter completed
forty (40) yards of gravelling the playground. His contract price of supply
was l/6d. ($0.16) per cubic yard of gravel.

On 17th August 1890, Thomas Latter was paid £16.8.0. ($32.80) for
erecting a new fence and re-positioning the school lavatories. The purpose
of this work was to provide an area for the teacher to give practical lessons
in agriculture. Because of his 'weekend' farming interests, Teacher S. Dodds
was well equipped for this subject.

During August 1890, when Mulbring School had a daily average attendance
of fifty _two (52) pupils, Teacher S. Dodds was given assistance by the Depart-