Australian Town and Country Journal at KellyGang 14/9/1872
A Tour to the South.
[BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT]
ON THE MURRUMBIDGEE (CONTINUED)
ON the day after my arrival (Tuesday) I visited the Hay Public School. It is the best public building in the town, is constructed of brick, and has a galvanized iron roof. There is ample accommodation for 120 scholars, but on the day of my visit, the teacher, Mr John Hunter, informed me that the school was closed that day, in consequence of the approaches to the being place in such a boggy and sloppy state that the children could not attend. The site of the building is a very good one, and in wet weather the approaches are nearly impassable; still it seemed to me that somebody was to blame, and that a few hours work, and a few loads of earth, would have rendered the place accessible if not comfortable. But this was not all; for owing to some misunderstanding or difference of opinion, locally arising as to the merits of the present teacher, not more than half the number that the school is capable of accommodating were enrolled, that is taking for granted that the school registers were correct. It is but fair to say that tho teacher is acknowledged, by the large section of the inhabitants who condemn him, to be a fair scholar, and he tells me that he holds a University degree. The average registered attendance was forty scholars; sixty names are on the roll. The gentlemen forming the local board are Messrs W E Twynam, T E Blewett, George Loughnan, P G Milne, W Threlkeld, J M Gordon, J É Blake, George Butterworth, and Alfred Tartakover.
The Hay Commercial School, under the mastership of Mr E C Hyde, assisted by Mrs Hyde, is held in a wooden building, also in a bad position as regards approaches. It was crowded with an attendance of over fifty scholars. The number on the roll was sixty. The work of the school was vigorously carried on in all the branches. In English, including elocution, the pupils showed considerable proficiency, and their writing was neat and clean. Much attention was evidently paid to singing, which tends in my opinion to create a better feeling in schools than would exist without it. Altogether Mr and Mrs Hyde deserve success for the creditable manner in which the school is being conducted.
The wants of the sick are not neglected in Hay, for there is in course of completion a fine hospital. The charitable inhabitants of the town and district have come forward with liberal subscriptions, and a capital building will be ready in a few months.
The plans and specifications were prepared by Mr F A Franklin, the resident engineer for the bridge, and are regarded as being admirably adapted for the purpose; none the less acceptable for being the gift of Mr Franklin, for he refused fee or reward. Messrs Witcombe Bros. are the contractors to erect tho building for £1236. Mr William Threlkeld is the hon. clerk of the works. The main building will be in the Grecian style, having a pedimented facade, with main and string cornices in bold relief, furnished with quoins, architraves, and base courses in imitation stone. The principal entrance will be protected by a neat portico, with projecting mouldings. On either side of the main building there will be wings, having covered verandahs throughout. The walls of the main and wing buildings are to be finished in tuck pointing on a tinted ground. The entire length of the front elevation will be sixty-six feet, and the height of the central portion to the apex of the pediment, twenty feet. The internal accommodation will be spacious, economically arranged, and all well ventilated. Mortuary and other necessary offices will be provided. The building will be an ornament to the town. The president is Mr J E Pearce; hon. treasurer, Mr James Macgregor, junr.; hon. sec., P W Reed. Dr Gordon is the resident medical practioner of the district.
An instance of the neglect of Riverina by the Government is evidenced by the disgraceful buildings in which justice is supposed to be dispensed, and prisoners retained for safe keeping. For positive wretchedness those at Hay crown all others that I have previously visited. I should have appended a sketch of the interior, if I thought that the readers of the Town and Country could be persuaded that I had not wilfully caricatured these Government buildings. The court-house has a woe-begone appearance. The ceiling has nearly all fallen in, and the furniture is as shabby as the building. The gaol is in the same building and contains two cells, eight feet by ten feet. When women are locked up, one of these cells is set apart for them; on one occasion there were seven prisoners in one cell, while two females were locked up in the second cell, divided by a thin partition. It is clear that some one deserves censure for this state of things - Mr J E Pearce is Police Magistrate, and Mr Blake, Clerk of Petty Sessions.
The police were at the time of my visit under the charge of Inspector Creaghe, an efficient and highly respected officer, who distinguished himself in the old bushranging days, in an encounter with Clarke's gang, when one of the bushrangers was shot dead. Mr Creaghe has since been removed to Grafton, but before leaving Hay, was entertained at a public dinner; and presented with a handsome testimonial and address. The solicitors in Hay are Messrs. W E Twynam, and F W Wood.
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