A SURPRISE VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 11

A SURPRISE VISIT.

COIiiBGE AND ITS FIBS ESCAPES.

(By Telezraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

The authorities at Christ's College were astounded to-day wu-.-, :he Chief City Inspector stepped i:i,„ meir office and told them that ho _• instructed to inspect the fire escapes in the school buildings, which include a o.jj;diug-house, because it had been reported they were inadequate. The college is on ground | that once was part of iiagley Park, and its governors have always strongly and successfully opposed tbe inclusion of the area in the city, but now they have been outwitted by the merest accident. A very peculiar position has arisen from a mistake in a gazette notice of June Ist, defining the city boundaries. Tho inclusion of the North Linwood area in the city necessitated the gaz&tting of all the boundaries. The western boundary ought to run along Rolleston-avenue, which, hitherto, cut off the domain, the museum, Christ's College, and Hagley Park from the city, but the officer who drew up LUc latest inuti-ee probably worked on an old schedule, in which Antigua-street would represent the more modern Rolleston-avenue, and leaving out ■the name of the street altogether, he has made the boundary follow the course of the Avon, and the Gardens, the Museum and Christ's College have been brought into the city. The Mayor to-day received a letter from a medical man stating that tbe provision for escape from the dormitories of the college houses was not adequate, and he promptly ordered inquiries to be made. Bishop Julius, who is warden of the college, and the Bursar of the Institution, Mr. W. G. Britton. both say that tljey are strongly opposed to incorporation in the city, and Mr. Brktain his refused to admit the city's right of control. £o far as fire escapes arc concerned, he states the college is exceptionally well equipped. In the headmaster's house, containing 31 boys, there is a complete and efficient alarm. It is tested occasionally, and the last time a surprise alarm was given at 11 o'clock night, the building was cleared in a minute and ■three-quarters. The people interested •will take immediate steps to h-ive the gazette notice rectified, and the city will Hot suffer, as none of the property it has fortuitously acquired is subject to r?.tes.