Page 306 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

337.

RICHMOND VALE SCHOOL

A local resident, John Leggett, complained early in 1896 to the
Department of Public Instruction, that the Richmond Vale school teacher James
Mitchell, had been improperly leasing the school grounds to hold travelling stock
and inferred that for this Mitchell was receiving a monetary benefit. The
Department replied to Mr. Leggett that the teacher had earlier obtained the
Department's permission to allow Mulbring butchers' stock to occasionally eat
out grass in the schoolgrounds and thereby remove bush fire hazards. The
Department added that it approved the teacher's actions in this matter.

Further repairs and improvements to the school grounds were carried
out by Mr. George Latter during August 1897. He was paid £29.5.0. ($58.50)
for this work.

On 26th April 1898, Mr. John Leggett was again a correspondent to the
Department of Public Instruction. On this occasion he sought the Department
to construct a new weathershed 2t the Richmond Vale School. In his letter Mr.
Leggett informed them that:-

"The only weathershed no1•..; is a dirty old house, the old
residence, which has been standing, from my own knowledge,
over forty (40) years".

The Department did not accede to the request for the erection of a weathershed.
However, later in the same year, on 4th October 1898, it directed Mr. John Birch
of Mulbring, to add an open verandah to the school building. Mr. Birch was
paid £5.12.0. ($11.20) for the addition which was thirteen (13) feet long by
six (6) feet wide.

'White ant' damage at the school required attention during October
1899. Mr. George Latter, on 21st October 1899, pulled up the floorboards to
remove some nests. His quote had been £4.10.0. ($9.00). Again, on 11th March
1901, Mr. Latter made repairs to white ant damage in the residence, his fee being
£8. 5 . 0. ($16. 5C ) .

On 23rd April 1903, the school closed. Inspector H.D. McClelland