Page 69 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

76.

B UC HANAN S C H0 0 L

Plans for the construction of a new school were delayed. In
January 1882, John Leggett of Buchanan complained to the Department of
Public Instruction about the condition of the old school building and
the very poor accommodation for the sixty-three (63) pupils and pressed
for the plans to be speeded. Miss E. Kempe, the architect for Public ~
Schools, agreed and recommended that because of the 'white ant' problems
of the area, both the school and the residence should be of brick
construction. The plans were also to provide W.C. closets and a
wea thershed. On 9th October 1882, the tender from Mr. William Humphreys
of Wallsend was accepted. The price was £1 ,650.15.6 ($3,301.56) for a
brick school and a separate brick residence. The school was to have
two classrooms, one to accommodate sixty (60) pupils and a smaller
room to hold thirty-five (35) pupils. The residence was to have four
rooms.

After beginning the school, Mr. Humphreys became insolvent and
work came to a standstill. Some attempts were made by the Department
of Pu~lic Instruction to finalise the project utilising sub-contractors
under the Humphrey's contract. Some of these are covered by the following
authorities for payments:-

Thomas Ormond £23.0.0 ($46.00)
John Grant £29.9.0 ($58.90)
Thomas Burke £31 . 5. 0 ($62. 50)
James Quinn £10.2.0 ($20.20)

But these naves did not prove satisfactory. Finally, on 20th May 1883,
Mr. James Pritchard of East Maitland, agreed to take over the contract
at the original tender price of £1 ,650.15.6 ($3,301 .56). The work was '
completed in May 1884.

On 11th August 1887, an Evening Public S~hool was commenced.
It had an enrolment of ten (10) pupils. The teac~er was Willirun B.
Steinbech. It was not successful and attendances were always poor.
The teacher, in January 1888, requested that the evening school should