New Kaitaia D.H.S. Building

Northland Age, Volume 15, Issue 33, 23 May 1946, Page 3

New Kaitaia D.H.S. Building

“Let there be light,” may well have been the main thought of the architectural department of the Education Board when designing the new Kaij taia District High School. The one outstanding feature of the school is the many windows on both sides of the classrooms. The school is now nearing completion, and Mr. J. B. Walker, the builder, stated that the carpenters finished last week. The painters then carried on and with a full gang of men they will take approximately a month. The building has been under construction for ten months and the builders have had a trying time with the lack of suitable materials. Having a northerly aspect, the school is built to allow the maximum amount of sun to enter the classrooms. For the colder days the rooms are heated by a special hot water system, the water being circulated by a pump in the modern boiler room at the rear of the school. Outside each classroom, alcoves have been built for the pupils to hang their hats and coats. This is an excellent idea, as in older schools too often do we see coats and bags strewn around the corridors. Crowding, so prevalent in schools today, will be lessened by the many doors provided. The school comprises three main buildings. The woodwork and metal work departments are in a separate building while the domestic science block is joined to the main building by a roofed-in path. The main building contains six classrooms, a wellappointed common room, a large library and the school’s office. A corridor runs the length of the building, and separates these rooms from the conveniences at the rear. The laboratory with its adjoining preparation room is in this block, and is well equipped with sinks, taps, lockers and shelves. Facilities for the teaching of cooking, dressmaking and housekeeping will be provided in the domestic science block, which will be laid out in the form of a modem flat. The building is self contained and very bright and airy, again due to the large number of windows. The woodwork and metalwork departments are spacious and well appointed. Forges, anvils and benches are to be fitted, and spacious store rooms have been built in the wings. Two basketball courts are to be laid down in front of the main building, but doubt still exists as to wether a full sized football field can be fitted in. The school is built entirely of wood with a tiled roof. The weatherboards are to be painted cream, the window frames ivory, with white sashes and all the doors orange. A building worthy of the district, the new Kaitaia District High School is a credit to the builders and those responsible for its erection.

Consternation reigned amongst the smokers on the platform at Wellington the other day when the Hutt train drew up, minus a smoking carriage. However, there were two cars labelled “A” and “B” respectively, and somebody, pipe in mouth, exclaimed, “B” is for baccy!” jumped into the “B,” all the other smokers following suit. Presently someone asked, “If ‘B’ is for baccy, what is ‘A’ for?” “For abstainers, of course!” came the reply. Everybody laughed. Precious few abstainers from the weed nowadays! Well, there’s no harm in tobacco, so long as it’s pure and pretty free from nicotine. Our New Zealand brands are almost entirely free from the poison. That’s why you can smoke them (even to excess) with safety! The explanation is they are all toasted, and toasting gets rid 6f the nicotine. It also wonderfully improves flavour and bouquet. Popular brands : Navy Cut, Cavendish, Cut Plug No. 10, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold; also tailormades. They’re all good, and the only toasted tobaccos J manufactured. 649 !