IMPROVING SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 16

IMPROVING SCHOOLS

MANY WORKS IN PROGRESS t FURTHER GRANTS MADE AUCKLAND DISTRICT ACTIVITY One of th© most extensive construction programmes that the architect's department of the Auckland Education Board has had to handle for many years is now being dealt with. A total of 28 works, including new buildings, repairs, alterations and removals is at present under way. In addition, a further 40 works have been authorised, but not commenced. Notification of a large number of grants for school construction was received from the Education Department at a meeting of the board yesterday. Included in these are buildings for manual training centres of standard type at the Opotiki, To Puke and Ruawai District High Schools, in the lastnamed case to replace a building recently destroyed by fire. Authority also was received for a new block of four rooms with necessary subsidiary accommodation at the Mount Roskill school to replace the old portion of th© school buildings. The design will bo similar to the two-roomed wooden block erected thero a few years ago. Among the additions for which grants were notified is a separate open-air room at th© Parnell school, to form the nucleus of a future four-roomed infant block. The block when completed will have instead of the usual corridor an open verandah along one side with folding doors into the classrooms. Additions also were authorised at the Avondale South, Kaikohe District High, Papatoetoe, Maunu (Whangarei), Ngarua (Waitoa), Otaika (Whangarei), and Puni (Pukekohe) schools, and for enlargements to the teacher's residence at Mamaranui and its removal to Kairara (Dargaville). Approval was given of the consolidation of the Omaha Little and Ti Point (Matakana) schools and'the removal of the Ti Point building to Leigh. Advice was received of a grant for the acquisition of additional land at the Taumarunui school.

"It looks as'though the recent visit to Wellington of the secretary (Mr. D. W. Dunlop) and the architect (Mr. A. B. Miller) was well worth while," remarked tho chairman, Mr. T. U. Wells.