DANGEROUS BUILDING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17061, 20 September 1929, Page 2

DANGEROUS BUILDING

A WANGANUI SCHOOL CLASSES TO BE MOVED Mr. W. M. Luxford presided over a special meeting oi_tho Board of Governors of Wanganui .technical College this week after tne arrival of Messrs. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, and 0. Savage, the department's architect, from Wellington, to consider a telegram from the Munster of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, stating that the school was unsafe and that the board must make arrangements to hold classes elsewhere. The chairman said that the telegram front the Minister was a. surprise, as the defects of the building had been known for some time. However, perhaps Mr. Strong had some special knowledge that made it necessary to vacate the building at once. iu reply, Mr. Strong stated he had been instructed by the Minister to meet the board, as tne Minister felt that after perusing the report furnished by the board's architect and the Public Works Department he must ask the ,board to make arrangements to move the classfcjs immediately. It was stated that the hoard had known for many years that" there were structural flaws in the building. The board had received letters from the Education Department in 1927 stating that the Public Works Department had advised that tho building was not very safe. Many letters had been received at different times regarding the safety of the building, so a few years ago some hundreds of pounds iiad been spent in strengthening by . the introduction of a steel frame and other devices. Mr. Strong asked if there were no fear of earthquakes. Mr: Savage said it might last a few years, but the floors were not strong enough to hold tho weight they were called on to bear, and the roof would undoubtedly have crashed in long ago if it had not been strengthened. The brickwork, however, was remarkably good. Mr. Luxford said perhaps the whole thing was a blessing in disguise, as the college was most congested. If the department meant to rebuild he hoped they would rebuild on the new hostel site". A motion that -the Minister be thanked for his prompt interest and Mr. Strong for coming to confer with tho board was carried unanimously. Mr. Newton, principal of the college, suggested that big marquees with wooden floors be erected in the vicinity, as the school could not be scattered all over the town. A discussion on the causes of. the weakness followed. Arrangements are to be made regarding the accommodation of the pupils in temporary quarters. : Discussion regarding rebuilding or strengthening will be taken later. The. Mayor (Mr. W. J. Rogers) lias offered’ the use of tho Opera House and the Council Chambers for the accommodation of the college pupils.