THE EDUCATION BOARD'S NEW PREMISES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2262, 8 July 1897, Page 39

THE EDUCATION BOARD'S NEW PREMISES.

The Education Board intend to erect new premises at the corner of Crawford and Jetty streets, adjoining the Agricultural Buildings and the Harbour Board offices. The building will have two storeys, the main entrance being from Crawford street. Entering from this street, there will be a large vestibule (10ft by 16ft), to be used by the public, the business being transacted, ag is now the practice ab the board's office, through a eliding window, communicating with the clerks' room. On the right will be the board room (26ft by 19ft), and on the left the clerks' office (33ft by 17ft), and off this the strong room will be situated. At the rear will be the secretary's office (18ft by 17ft), which will communicate with the clerks' room, and behind this again will be the inspector*' room (23ft by 14ft). A store room for school appliances is provided for in the plan?, as also are lavatories, which are to be fitted up on the most modern and approved principles. Ascending the staircase, whioh is to be 10ft wide, the upper floor will be reached by two flights of stairs. This floor will practically be a duplicate of the ground floor. Two of the rooms are intended for the architect, another is to be used as a store room for the board's records, stationery, &c, and the remaining rooms axe already leased to

one of our public bodies. The room* on the ground floor will be 16ft high, and those on the upper floor 15ft. Ventilation and lighting will also be satisfactorily attended; to The building is to be built of brick with cement facings, and the brickwork is to be tuck* pointed, in keeping with the Agricultural Build -> ings. It is to be erected under the supervision, of the board's architect (Mr Somerville), and we understand there is to be very little contract work in connection with its construction, the experience of the board being that this is not tho most satisfactory way of carrying out a work. The building will have a • frontage of. 49ft lOin to Crawford street by 66ft to Jetty street, and when finished will come plete a blook of fine buildings, and add very materially to the architectural beauty of the looality. Mr Somerville anticipates that tha building will be finished by the Ist December, a start having been made with the work yesterday morning. The building viswed from the outside will be plain but, on the whole, handsome, and its accommodation will be a great improvement upon that which the board has been compelled to put up with for a number of years. The site, which has a frontage to both streets, is looked upon as one of the best in the city.