The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-15 00:00:00

Natal anb !strict Vetus.

THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

The. adjourned meeting of the above Board
was held in the ante-room of the Corn Exchange,
on Monday evening last. There were present
Messrs. Dillingham, Stringer, and Prescott.
In the absence of Mr. McEwen',
.Mr. Dillingham proposed that Mr Stringer
take the chair, which was seconded by Mr.
Prescott,
The Clerk read the minutes of the last meet-
ing which were adopted on the motion of Mr
Dillingham, seconded by Mr. Stringer.
The Clerk announced that he bud not as yet
received any reply from the Education Depart-
ment, in answer to his communication.

Prescott said the plans which were pre.
pared by Mr. Smalrnan Smith were for 120 boys,
120 girls, and 160 infants, thus making 41)0;
which at the rate of £lO per child would cost
£4,000. Tun Department had shown that the
plans in reality provided for 88 more than the
architect was ordered to make provision for by
that Board, and nearly 200 more than the 311
children for which the Education Department
had declared there was a deficiency of accommo•
dation.

The Chairman said he thought that question
was now pending between the two architects.
Mr. Prescott said it seemed to him that the
plans had got muddled.

The Cle—rk said that arose from the discrep•
ancy in their architect's way of making the
figures, and that of the Department.
Mr. Prescott asked if, as the architect had
planned to build the schools at the rate of E.B
per child, the ratepayers would have been paying
on that amount, for the 88 children over and
above the number which the Board intended to
make provision for.
. . _

The Chairruau said he thought they had better
leave that queetion as it was.
. . . _

Mr. Prescott said in Kidderminster the Board
school bad cost .E 8 per child. If that was so,
was it right that they should pay for 88 more
than they intended?

Mr. Ilillingbam said if there was anything
wrong in the twitter the fault was not with the
Board, but with the architect.

Mr. Prescott said supposing they had gone oh
to build upon the pans furnished by the urrin
tect, if the discrepancy had not been detected
would the ratepayers have been paying £lO per
child upon the 488.
the Chairinah said it was a question between
the two architects.

Mr. Prescott said it was a very expensive
building, and the people of the town were very
angry about the expense of the tower. Of
course, he (Mr. Prescott) did not wish to depre-
ciate the talent displayed, but he thought it was
useless going to so much expense when the class
of children for whom they were to provide was
taken into consideration. Against it was built it
would cost £6,000.

Some desultory conversation ensued, and it
was stated that in many of the National Schools
there was a provision wade for class rooms, hut
that the other rooms were made smaller to allow
for that.

- .
The NOT-et then dropped.
The Chairman proposed that the Clerk should
Convene a meeting for the first suitable night for
which notice could be given, after he had re-
ceived a reply from the Education Department.
This was carried, and there being no other
business, the meeting terminated.