SCIENCE LAB. OPENED AT B.H.S.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 9

SCIENCE LAB. OPENED AT B.H.S.

MUD EPIDEMIC IS WORSE THAN INFLUENZA. Mud, like influenza, is one of the prevailing troubles. Influenza is not so bad. That is the case at the Boys’ High School, at any rate, for the attendance is practically normal again. The school, in common with the rest, suffered from the malady, but has now recovered. It has not done so in the case of the mud epidemic. This is at its height, or depth ; but. as in the case of influenza, the school is not to blame. It is suffering it with due resignation, hoping with the poet that “ If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind? ” The epidemic was caused, though not primarily, by the putting in hand of the work of levelling the ground at the rear of the school, where the sun seldom shines in winter. Loads of soil arc being carted from the higher levels at the rear of the ground and spread on the part that, if the original plans for the completion-of the building are adhered to, will probably form the quadrangle. The path to the front entrance has been gravelled, making a decided improvement; but at the rear gravel gives place completely to soft earth and mud. This is' of the same species as that said to be common on certain city roads, in that it has a great liking for sticking to boots. It follows the boys into the classrooms, and waits there until the caretaker’s broom challenges- its bona fides. Ejection follows, until the following morning.

The work of levelling the ground at the rear of the building has been put in hand so that paths may be laid down. Whether some of these will be permanent or not will depend upon whether the original plans for the completion of the school building are adhered to. The plans provide for a manual training and art wing at one of the rear ends, with an assembly hall adjacent, at a total cost of about 20,000.

THE NEW LABORATORIES. The proposed wing and assembly hall will form a quadangle with the new science laboratory, which has been open* ;d near the eastern end of .the school. The laboratory is of brick and concrete, like the main building, from which it is detached. There are two stories and in each are rooms 3Gft by 24ft and 30ft by 24ft respectively. Though the building is not completely fitted yet. work is being done in two* of the rooms, and it is hoped to have next term a laboratory for chemistry, two for physics and one for electricity. Botany will be studied in one of the physics rooms. The ground floor of the new building will be devoted to physics. The larger of the two rooms is already fitted for this, while the other, which can be converted into a demonstration room, will be furnished shortly with cupboards, benches and sinks. Similar arrangements have been made upstairs for the study of chem-

.stry. The larger of the rooms is being used, and the other, to be used for the science of electricity, will be brought into commission when equipped. Already several electrical appliances have been installed. The rooms are modern, airy and well open to the light, and their general arrangement is calculated to produce the best results. The building, >vhich cost £9OOO, houses a small rofarv power pump capable of running 600 gallons of water per hour into the main tank of approximately 3000 gallons.