SANITARY FITTINGS FOR SCHOOLS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5715, 20 June 1879, Page 6

SANITARY FITTINGS FOR SCHOOLS.

[Bir ous Special B*«>*i**.] Th* readers of the LythUo* 2W wJU doubtless have noticed, in *{to {bO meetings of the Local Board of Health, that the Chief Inspector of Nuisance* ha* onmotq than one occasion called attention to the veri Imperfect sanitary arrangements of some PI our largo schools. Without doubt the subject is a highly important one, and, aswastobe anticipated, it has since received a largo amount of attention at the hands of School Committees, and others who recognise the fact that the health—and .the eenie of decency—of tho rising generation was concerned- One of the first Committees to take notion for securing , a better *tate of thing* than had previously existed, was that of the Colombo road schools. Acting on behalf of this Committee, Mr J. W. Whltolaw, architect, Hereford street, prepared detailed plan* and specifications, and submitted them to the, Education Board. Did the state of the Board’s funds permit, there is no doubt that the proposed scheme would bo acted upon, for the plans show, in a remarkable degree, that very much thought ha* been devoted t° the task, that the requirement# have been fully grasped; and that.Mr JFhltolaw has most successfully Sefßfc with, a somewhat dimcult subject. Mr WhitelaW’s explonatoryi notes to his detail drawings are as follows —i

“ Cleanliness, simplicity, separation of sexes,! and a fair provision for the school’s increase,j have been the points aimed at in getting out the plans. Concrete and oast iron are the, principal! materials, these being much less absorbent of effluvia than bricks, timber, or asphalts. The closets and urinals are in-; tended to bo kept flushed at all times with; water. The supply will be from an artesian well, tho distribution being regulated by a self-acting apparatus, and not subject either to the neglect of attendants or to the interference of tho scholars. The removal of the ordure will proceed on the system at present in use, but in the event of a sewerage system being provided in the district, the proposed 1 closets are capable of connection therewith,; without any alteration whatever of the works; now proposed. The walls are open at the, top, and the roof project* three feet beyond them to keep out the rain. Perforated panels; are provided all round the walls, for ventilating and purifying the atmosphere at the floor. Circular openings, filled with strong, rough-plated glass, are inserted in the wails, for fighting the lower part of the building. The building is divided into four separate compartments, each having its own entrance ’ door, and opening into one of three divisions of the play-ground. No external doors are intended. One closet in each external part is intended for teachers. Doors are intended lor each of the girls’ closets, and also for those of the boys. Tbs internal fittings are of oast- < iron plate, one quarter-inch thick. The troughs are continuous, and raised atone end sufficiently to ensure their easy discharge through the outlet valve, and to the outside of the building, when required. In order to allow of the admission of a bucket or pan under the end of the outlet pipes, the floor is raised about sixteen inches above the ground. The water will run through each trough until the external valve be shut, and until the trough has been filled to such depth as may be required for flushing.”

From these notes it will be seen that the materials maiulj suggested are concrete and cast-iron. The concrete admits the possibility of what may fairly be termed ah ornamental structure, and Mr Whitelaw claims that it may be used more economically than is generally supposed, since, under proper supervision, a perfectly durable five-mob wall can be constructed. The more important point, however, is the non absorbent nature or concrete with regard to till avia, and in this Mr Whitelaw is borne out bv good authorities. The Same property can be claimed for the cast-iron plates suggested for some of the internal fittings. The provision for separation of the sexes is a matter of structural detail, not calling for special comment. The most important feature in Mr Whitelaw's scheme, wmoh, by the way, is applicable to any large institution, is the provision of the sloping iron trough, and its valve outlet, with a self-acting arrangementforregularand abundant flushing. The drawings make it evident that this system would secure the greatest possible cleanliness, and that there could not be any hitch by reaepn of negligence. The opening of the - - - - *** w bU(i tv.. - * - «*• trough would turn on the full flushing power of the artesian supply, and the closing of the valve would again shut off the surplus water. Connection with the system of underground sewers would be the simplest possible matter, and Mr Whitelaw has—m view of such connection—prepared a simple and efficient device for a self-acting water service. The plans of this scheme deserve inspection and consideration, and they may wuh the utmost confidence be commended to the notice of Chairmen of School Committees, to the proprietors of hotels, and indeed to all who have large establishments to deal with.