Page 253 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

276.

NEAT H SCH0 0 L

investigation and reported to his Department that there were at Neath Village
thirty three (33) small children between the ages of five (5) and seven (7)
years, who did not attend school; that fifty one (51) Neath children were
enrolled at Abermain School - seventeen (17) of these were in first class;
twenty one (21) in second class; and the balance in third, fourth and fifth
classes. Still, the Department declined to move towards a school for Neath.

Another petition dated 15th December 1910, was forwarded by Mr. Walter
M. Smailes. This petition had been signed by sixty five (65) families and
indicated that .there were one hundred and ten (llO) chilcr_en of school age.

Joseph Sumner of Neath, wrote to the Department of Public Instr.uction
on 5th June 1911, advising that a citizens' meeting had been held the previous
night, at which the citizens demanded the establishment of a school. Another
Inspector, Mr. Cornish, made a further investigation. In his report dated
26th September 1911, Inspector Cornish advised that there were at least seventy
five (75) infants ready for school and secondly, there were two premises, the
Methodist Church Hall and Neath School of Arts Hall, available for renting as
a school.

The Department of Public Instruction finally agreed to establish purely
an 'Infants School'. Through Joseph Sumner, the School of Arts Hall was rented
on these conditions:-

l. Rental to be 5/- ($0.50) per week.

2. The School of Arts to pay for water connections.

3. The Department of Public Instruction to pay water rates.

.'• The Department of Public Instruction to pay for

construction of one (1) lavatory.

The Department, during December 1911, supplied the following furniture:-

30 Infants Dual Deszs
2 Presses
1 Small Table
2 Chairs.