Page 332 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

363.

STANFORD MERTHYR SCHOOL

the school walls were about twelve (12) feet high, Inspector McClelland
thought the room could be erected from inexpensive upright wallboards with
a galvanisd corrugated iron roof. He considered that the room could be
left unlined since the sun should not affect it. The Chief Inspector over-
ruled this recommendation because in his opinion the increased school attendance
at Stanford Merthyr required an addition of a substantial character. The
Chief Inspector's recommendation was for an additional room twenty two (22)
feet by twenty (20) feet to be built at the end of the existing structure.
His recommendation was approved by the Under Secretary on 1st October 1903.
On 9th December 1903, the Minister of Education approved only a verandah lean-
to, not to exceed an estimated cost of £75.0.0. ($150.00).

The East Greta Coal Mining Company, principal shareholder of Stanford
Merthyr Colliery, through its administration controller, planned to build houses
for its colliery management staff, as well as lesser dwellings, to provide
cheaper accc s~odation for its miners and other colliery e~ployees. Mr. H. Brown,
the school teacher, was unable to find housing in Stanforc Merthyr and had been
promised a colliery house. When this was completed in t-2.y 1904, Mr. Brown
considered it to be unsatisfactory and declined it. He was granted, by his
Department, 5/- ($0.50c) a week tra velling expenses and a rent allowance of
£50.0.0. ($100.00).

The new Kurri School was completed and ready for occupancy on 28th
September 1904. The Department of Public Instruction closed Stanford Merthyr
on 1st October 1904 and transferred the teaching staff and pupils. Mr. H.
Brown was appointed Headmaster of the Kurri School. Pupils residing in Stanford
Merthyr village were given a choice - Kurri School, which was ninety eight (98)
chains (l~ miles) distant from Stanford Merthyr, or Pelaw i~in School, which was
eighty two (82) chains (just over 1 mile) distant from Stanford Merthyr.

A public meeting had been held in Stanford Villa:::;e on 10th March
1904, from which a protest had been sent to the Department of Public Instruction,
objecting st~ongly to the rumoured suggestion that the Department proposed