SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 1

SIGNS OF PROGRESS.

EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS BEING ENLARGED. ACTIVITY OF COLLEGE AUTHORITIES. At the present time three of tho chief educational institutions in tho city ure being considerably enlarged, iiitd when the work has boon finished they will be mucu better fitted to carry out the valuable work for which they wero designed. The throe institutions referred to—Canterbury College and tho Boys' and Girls' High Schools—are all controlled by tho Board of Governors of Canterbury College, and that, body has certainly set . itself; to bring them quite up to date. Yesterday a "Lyttelton Times " reporter had a look over the work", and with the consent of the contractors inspected the plans. The additions to* Canterbury College are being made at the northern end of the * building, facing Worcester Street. The 'engineering section of the college is located there in a modest one-story building, with tanks andsomo machinery on tho' roof. This building is to be added to considerably, and to carry out the work it has been found necessary to shift the old armoury _of the Boys' High School -'.*o a position nearer Hereford Street. On the site thus mado. available a, large laboratory will be erected and devoted principally to freezing machinery and petrol engines. It will be 32J. feet long by 28 feet, and will be connected with the next floor by means of a lift. The first floor-r-for the building when finished will bo three storeys high—will provide a-large workshop, over the new laboratory and will enclose the, tanks and machinery at present, on the roof of the dd building. The dimension;; of tho workshop will be 33 feet ,by '2B feet. The third floor' will contain, five lecture* room's, ranging in sine from 15 feet by 14 feet to 23 feet by "6 feet, a preparation room, a large room for - anplied mechanics and a library. It will be reached by means of two stairways, and spacious landings have bfeen provided for. The design of ! the new buildings harmonises with the, main body of the college, and when completed will give the college a much more imposing appearance, especially when viewed from the east.'

The contractor for the extension to Canterbury College } Mr H. Pearce, is ! also carrying out the work at the Boys' 1 Hijjli School. The new addition Avill be situated at the back, of the west wing and will be Wo storeys high. 'ln addition to fhe new building great improvements aro being, made in the ''basement," a sort of recess room, and the lavatories'and cloak-room are being; considerably improved. A passage will lead from the foot of the main staircase past tlie cloak-room into the hall of the new building. On the ground floor will bo a splendid laboratory, a visitors' room and a large store.; room. A large staircase will lead to the upper floor, where another, large laboratory, 43 feet, bv 22 feet, is to be provided, together with a new class-room. The plans provide for the fitting of the two laboratories with numerous benches, cupboards, black-1 boards, and so on. Special attention has been paid to the lighting. The new buildings have nfade it nocessary to; alter th©' fives- courts "a--little, -'«j U-Jiicy, will'not encroach to any oxlght'on the playing grounds'. The design follows that" of the ; old' buildings, and .when completed the buildings: should add, greatly to the successful working of the school.

At the Girls' High School, the new wing which is being built to face Montreal Street will reduce the playgrounds to a minimum. Indeed, it. is difficult to see where the scholars are to go during the luncheon or other .recess. The new buildings will provide for, the efficient teaching of cookery and dress-making, and will make the ordinary work of tiro- school easier, but it will leave barely standing roomin the grounds for the scholars. The new wing will be three stories high. On the ground floor provision will be made for two large class-rooms, a laboratory, teachers' cloak-room, and a darkroom. The hall will be a spacious one, and a cellar is to be made beneath the stairs. Then on the first floor there will be three more class-rooms about 24 feet square and the stair landing will be a large one. On the third floor it is intended to have a cookery room 37 feet by 24 feet 8 inches, together with a pantry and store-room/ a dress-rriak-ing room 34 feet by 24 and a fitting room. The cookery room will be fitted with several-sinks, gas stoves and a blackboard, and it will enable this, important . branch of the school's work to.be carried out under splendid conditions. The buildings will be of brick with Oarnaru stone facing, and a stairway will be erected outside the building on its western side for use in cases'of emergency. Messrs Nightingale Br<is. are the contractors for the work, and rapid progress is being made.