New courses for W.E.A.

Press, 1 September 1989, Page 19

New courses for W.E.A.

The W.E.A. has a long tradition in providing community education to Canterbury people. W.E.A. offers a vast range of day and evening classes covering almost every subject. This month, the W.E.A. introduces three new courses which promise to be popular. Students interested in preserving old buildings may wish to attend a sixweek afternoon course starting on September 18. Called “The Development of Architectural History in Christchurch and Canterbury,” the course will enable participants to look at the unique architecture of the area before it all disappears. This course is timely as arguments concerning what is worth preserving in Christchurch continue while the city’s skyline changes. Arguments about historic building preservation were thrown into a new direction recently with Sir Robert Jones’s much publicised address at Auckland University. In his address he said, “Preservation of old buildings for the sake of it is pointless if they are then to become fossils, as so frequently occurs here in New Zealand.” Another afternoon course starts on Tuesday, September 12, and continues for 10 weeks.

“An in-depth look at Lyttelton,” will provide an opportunity to examine the Lyttelton Harbour catchment, its geology, botany, Maori his-

tory, early European contact, port development and the quarantine station at Camp Bay. A six-week evening class starting on Wednesday, September 13, provides an opportunity to debate topical environmental issues. “A Green Alternative” will include the topics over-exploitation of natural resources, the greenhouse effect and alternative technology.