AUCKLAND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 531, 11 June 1909, Page 4

AUCKLAND NOTES.

IBT TIUtOnirH.—SPBSUt COR!I!S«rONHStfT.| ? Auckland, Juno 10. At last night's meeting of.the Liberal an 4 Labour Federation, a lottcr was received from Mrs.. Emily Nieol,' protesting against •what'she termed the "two o'clock day" adopted_ by. .the public schools lit ibis City, and which, in her opinion, was detrimental to the health of the children in tho infant departments. Tho salaries of the- head teachers in' the, Stato schools wero based upon the-avorago attendance of soholars. It was necessary, therefore, in tho teachers' interests, that the roll should bo called twioo a day. If it happened to bo a wet or •threatening day, these infants wero obliged perforce to remain at school from 9.30 a.m. until 1.30 or 2 o'clock, in order to call the second roll, the majority of them having no lunch. Tho writer had interviewed several modical men upon tho justice or otherwise of keeping these children bo many hours without food, and in many instances in wet. clothca, and they one and all condemned it strongly. A resolution was passed concurring with the.views set forth, and also to lie offset thai the federation was of opinion that it was high time that the "pernicious" system was abolished) and in order'that tha salaries of teachers should not suffer, tho federation considered that the morning roll* call should suffice for the full average attendance on' wet days. Tho great Grafton Bridge' construction work has been'brought to an . interesting stsge by the completion of the temporary • wooden structure which is to. aid in tho erection of tho huge forro'-concrete arches across the Cemetery, Gully. A representative ofthe Forro-Concreto Company of Australasia stated to-day that the now bridge will .in all probability be open to pedostriana about tho end of November, and to vehicular traffio. by the end of the year. This will just bring it within tho contract time of, two years, although further time will be allowed for extras, such rs the additional span of 43ft. at the hospital end of the bridge. The middla span across tho deepest part of the gully, S2OH. in length, and the largest ferroconcrete span in tho world, is now in course of construction. Tho framework of the largo aroh wings on cither side has been placed in position ready to rcceivo the concrete, which work will bo done within the nest three weeks. Two-thrust-plates have been laid on the Symonds Street side, and thoso at tho opposite end of tho bridge will be concreted m to-day. About sixty men are on the work, and tho contract is being facilitated to tho fullest extent. The-great' amount of work entailed in the erection of a ferro-ooncreto is illustrated to some extent by tho /ict that- before the construction of tho concrete pillars and arches can be carried <nt a temporary wooden structure has to bo built to bear tie full weight of the concrete. In this case the temporary bridge'is cinaWa of crying 5000 or 6000 tons, although 'ho ¥££Sl ° will onlv bo .ibout 1000 tons. The bridge already prints an imposing appearance. ; '