TIMARU SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 817, 18 November 1872, Page 4 (Supplement)

TIMARU SCHOOL.

Aii adjourned meeting of the Cemmittee was held on the Bfch Nov. for the purpose of receiving the report of the sub-committee appointed to consider designs for school buildings sent m. The members present were the Chairman, and Messrs Healey, Sutter, Wildie, Jackson, Cliff, and Hibbard. The Chairman of the Sub-Committee, Mr Belfield, reported that, m conjunction with Mr. Hunt, the Committee hnd carefully examined all the plans sent m competition, and the conclusion arrived at was that no plan, the curryingoutof which, ranged between £1500 and £2000 fulfilled the requirements demanded. He would mention there was one plan which fulfilled the conditions, but the estimated cost of the building designed being £2,500, made it inadmissible, being far beyond the figure placed by the Committee m its advertisements for designs. The Committee, therefore, could only recommend one course, which wa3, first to get the Board of Education to' move the Government to place on the Estimates a larger grant for school purposes m Timaru than was at present set down j and should the Board elect to carry out this wish of the Committee, for the Committee to call for fresh designs, thus to give those architects who had forwarded designs within or about the advertised amount a chance of competing at the higher figure, us it would be manifestly unfnir to accept definitely a plan which, strictly speaking, should not be considered, infringing a3 it did the rules laid down by the Committee m its advertisement. After a brief discussion, it was moved, seconded, and carried — "That the Chairman be requested to write to the Board of Education, Christchurch, m reference to the cost of school buildings." The Chairman stated he had received an application from Mr King, of the Waimate for the second mastership of the school. He intended telegraphing to the Board to-morrow I to request them to authorise Mr Hunt to examine the two local candidates, and to report on their individual capabilities for the post. The meeting then separated. The following letter from the Chairman of the School Committee to the Chairman of the Board of Education m reference to the business jis above ha* been handed to ua for publication : — Timaru, 9th November, 1872. SIE, — 3?or the information of your Board, I have to acquaint you that the Committee of Management of the Timaru School has received, m answer to advertisements calling for designs, nine plans for school buildings. The Committee ha 3 carefully gone through and examined m detail the several plans, and the conclusion arrived at is, that not one of the plans which fall within the limit originally fixed by the Committee (£ISOO to £2000) is suitable. In coming to this decision, the Committee ha 3 been greatly guided by the advico of Mr Hunt, the head muster of the Bchool. Under these circumstances, I would urge on your Board the necessity of moving the Government to place on the Estimates a sum,

say of £3000, for school buildings, purchase of site, &c, m Timaru. From the knowledge now learnt from the designs before the Committee (the result of public competition by architects of Christchurch, -Dunedin, and Timaru), it is clear that a building to contain the number of children estimated to attend within a comparatively short period (say three or four Tears), viz., 600, and a building removed from the " bnrn " order of architecture cannot be built for under £2,500. Land will cost £250, and the odd £250 will be required for fencing the ground, inside fittings, and contingencies. I would poiut out that supposing a Tote of £3,000 was granted as suggested, "some £400 or £500 would be recouped the Government by the sale of the present school premises. I send to the Board by book-post the plan which, more nearly of all the others, comes up to the ideas of the Committee for a school m Timaru, the ground plans being good, and the elevation showing some considerable pretentious to architectural beauty and finish, without any unnecessary work for the purpose of ornament or otherwise. The plan is forwarded to the Board to guide it iv some little way m its decision as to the desired recommendation to the Government, and not as one to be accepted or rejected by the Board, for if the Board concurs with the Committee m this matter, and sees fit to move the Government for this special grant of £3000, the Committee m justice to those architects who sent designs within or about the advertised amount, will again have to invite designs covering the greater range of £2500, and it is quite possible that the additional money offered, may bring m designs superior even to the ono" now sent to the Board for its inspection. 1 am &c, H. BELKEIiD. Chairmnu Timaru School Committee. The Chairman Board of Education Ohristchurch.