Contract Let for New North School Building at £32,000

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26780, 25 May 1948, Page 3

Contract Let for New North School Building at £32,000

North Otago News

The Otago Education Board has accepted the tender of Williams and Winsley of approximately £32,000 for the demolition of the existing stone portion of the present Oamaru North School, and the reconstruction of a new building in wood and stone. The whole of the inside framing will be of Oregon pine and the outside to a height of about 9 feet will be a veneer of Oamaru stone. The walls of the main structure above this height will be weathei boarded. The architecture is unusual inasmuch as all the corridors will be of flat roof, with a corresponding projection continuing around the remainder of the building. Above this will be 4 feet of weather boarding, finished with tiled hip roofs, which will tend to give the school an imposing appearance. The whole of the flat roofing will be of the bituminous type. The inside wall and ceiling linings will be of wallboard and plywood to suit the requirements of the various departments, complete with modern type windows.

The class rooms will be situated on the south side of the school grounds (Torridge street), and will extend from the eastern boundary right up to the existing school with the corridor on Torridge street and the windows of the rooms facing north gaining full advantage of the sunshine. The main entrance will be into the administration block from Torridge street, with the girls’ cloak room on the right and the administration block, including office teachers’ room, and surgery on the left. A corridor due north from the main entrance will lead to a general purpose room and library. The administration block and general purpose room will be of similar dimensions, 52 feet by 27 feet, and will form a quadrangle of 57 feet by 47 feet facing Reed street. There will be seven class rooms 26 feet by 24 feet. The new baths have been deleted from the plans in the meantime because of the present shortage of necessary materials, but if these are available before the completion of the main contract, they will be proceeded with according to the plans. In an interview Mr W. R. Williams, a partner in the contracting firm stated that the sub-contractors wire:—Joinery, McCallum and Co., Ltd.; plumbing. Slater and Co.; painting, Mr A. H. Wilson; masonry, Mr P. Docherty; electrician, Mr Bruce Steven; and plastering. Mr S. Ashton. The heating system, he added, was not included in the contract.

One June 10, 1872, the first Oamaru North School was opened in a house in the western corner of Thames and Exq streets. On April 16, 1873, the first request was made for a new main school, and on December 6, 1873, the school’s architect, the late Mr Thomas Forrester, was instructed to prepare plans and specifications foi« the erection of portion of a new school on the corner of Reed and Torridge streets. On February 7, 1874. the tenders of Messrs H. Munro £429 (masonry), and R. Hewat £6BO (carpentry), were accepted, and the new building was opened about September 4, 1874. During the Christmas vacation in 1892 an infant room was built, and further additions and alterations were later made to the school building. During 1927 the school was partially reconstructed and completely renovated, the infant room being extended to three rooms, and a heating system installed. Two years later a heating system was installed in the main school at a cost of £325 10s, and in 1931 the school was furnished throughout with single chairs and tables at a cost of £341.