LAND TRANSFER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 17

LAND TRANSFER.

BLENHEIM, December 10. The Land Board to-day resolved to grant a transfer of a Crown lease in defiance of the departmental ruling that by section 35 of the new Land Act all applications to transfer must be submitted to the Minister. The Commissioner of Crown Lands dissented from the hoard's decision. The action of the board will probably have the effect of bringing the matter into the Supreme Court for interpretation.

OTAGO UNIYE&SITY. NEW SCHOOL OF MINES BUIEDING, 1 The counoil of the University of Otago J is calling for competitive designs for the; new banding' for the School of Mines, which institution has lone outgrown tho accommodation of the old iron structure!-* The, proposed new school is to consist ofi a basement and two storeys, and is to£ be situated facing-- Union street, "between, the Water oJMfcieith and the pretest School! of Mines. The council has in view tho] at jsome future^ IW»e of the sire&ei\^> buildings, ending at th« Medical^ §s&sdt, ajailg~ the Leitn street hpntage' f*rTym6ti'%r«et, and when this eventuate*' theVFntveraity Buildings will be of uniform, structure, forming two sides of a quad^ rangle^.and will have an imposing appear* , ance. In addition, therefore, to the de-. sign for the Mining School, the competing^ architects are asked to design an arohwavj for oarriages adjoining the school and tha. - eWattoa of the future extension to Leith street The building is to be of stone, itt .conformity With the existing University* buildings. Mr Waters, of the School ot\ -Mines jktaff; haa prepared a very fino^ sltetoh' "plan of tha requirements for the new school Wilding, giving all neoeasarvv ' details," \nd these axe at the disposal of>. aT^liftSctfe. " The schedule provide* for Area ' studies" not* less than 12ft by 12ft; two" lecture rooms, each about 28ft by 17ft ;| „one . ifetoM,,, TOom, about 22ft ,by 24ft ;j' T^r»tt%r pawing; 22ft by 17ft; zoologw ,«al jsueun¥, 'rfbq&t 22ft by 20ft; wet assay-] ingjWom, about 24ft by 22ft; metallurgist's' latwratory, about 15ft by 10ft 6in<; photo-J graphic dark room, 12ft by 12ft; phato-^ jiayKft -hlbof***?. 2Zft by 15ft* firrn*ce room, about 24f4 by 22ft; and a number, of othar -details, ail going to show that' | tha staff has gone moat thoroughly into the details and is desirous of having the new Mining School up to date in every respect. 1 ; The entrance* to the building are to be' from the inner side, and not from Union,' street The eneoessful architect will be; paid a premium of 50 guinea*, and , should be be entrusted with the carrying 1 lout of the work he will be paid a com,, * mission of 6£ per cent, on the value of the i work executed 1 . This commission, is to be f payment in full for all the. services rendered'by tfe» architect, inatading all neces-' [ sary drawings and tracing* for the oon^l tractor, specification!, tttperintendence/ attendance on works and at committee meetings. The architect most not receive any payment or commission from the con-,' tractors, sub-contractors, or any others interested in the supply of materials for, the erection of the building. Designs, plans, and specifications are to be, in not later than Monday, January IS, 1908.