A Pressing Need.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2, 10 July 1912, Page 33

A Pressing Need.

A BIG PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR AUCKLAND—WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN CHRISTCHURCH

By

W. Wilson, M.Sc.

©NE of the largest secondary schools in New Zealand. King > College, situated at Remuera. Auckland, is on the eve of a development which will make it similar in nearly every respect to the great English public schools. such as Eton and Harrow- The scheme is an ambit ous one. but is now on the way to achieve* ment. In view of the present movement it will be of interest to glance over what has been done in this respect at Christ s College. Canterbury, an institution resembling closely the future King’s, ami one which has played no small part in moulding the characters of the men of Canterbury and in preparing them in mind and body for their place as citizens of a British countrv.

Unlike her northern sister. Christ’s College is of quite a venerable age. for it wa* founded by the pilgrims on their arrival in ISSO and furnished with an ideal site and with the forerunners of the present buildings. The Canterbury community included an eminent architect. Air C. J. Mount fort, whose splendid Gothic handiwork has done so much to dignify the older buildings of ( hi•’Kchurch. It was he that designed tlie original college, and also the later additions until the time of his death, about a dozen years ago. since when his son has carried on the work. Thus it will be seen that the school was assured of an appearance eminently in k eping with the noble function it was to fulfil. There are altogether about two hundred and fiftv bovs attending the South-

ern college, so that the Auckland institution will be on a somewhat larger scale. However, the component parts and the general arrangement will very likely be much the same in the two cases. About twelve acres altogether are taken up by the school buildings and grounds, which are situated next the Domain and the Botanical Gardens, and washed by the river Avon. To this should be added the lower school, and also the cricket ground, which is dis tant about ten minutes* walk through the intervening gardens, and is one of th * largest in the city. The main entrance to Christ’s College is in Rolleston Avenue, near the Univer-

*ity College, and lead* directly into the big quadrangle of about an acre and ahalf of tin* green turf, round which are grouped tin* principal school buildings. The most prominent of the*e is the new headmaster’s house, a large three-storey editice of dark-bluish stone, erected about three years ago by the Old Boy* at a cost of about t’SihMi. This is th' largest boarders’ house, and contains not only the dormitories, but also the ’lin-ing-hall. studies, ami all the accommoda tion for between titty and a hundred boys. On one side <»f it is another board inghouse. known as ••Bourne’*” also complete in itself, while on the other side is the school librarv. followe I bv the hi '

school, a most picturesque old pile with old-world lattice windows and an immense roof surmounting the low stone walls. The big school can accommodate all the pupils, both day boy, and boarders. for morning prayers, and it is also used as a da—room and for school socials and gatherings. The interior is covered with rich panelling recently completed a, a gift by the Old Boys' Association. Then follows another boardinohotise. known as "CondeH's." and at right angles to this and Bourne’s house, comes the school ehapel, a beautiful little church of yellow-grey volcanic stone. It is cruciform in shape, and in the transepts are pews for parents and friend- of the boys. Inside, the light is dim by reason of the stained glass tilling nearly all the windows, memorials of past scholars who have worshipped there. Many brass tablets have been placed on the walls with the same end in view, and the organ chamber, with a good two-manual pipe organ, was also added as a memorial. Here services are held on Sundays and Saints' days for the whole school, and daily for the boarders. The principal class.rooms come next the chapel. Four of them, to hold thirty or forty boys each, make up a two-storey stone building, the design of which harmonises with that of the ehapel. The college offices and two masters’ houses complete the circuit. No game- are played in the quadrangle itself, except occasional snow-fights, it being reserved for drill ami presentation of trophies on Sports Day. A passage between the big school and library leads past a double row of room- comprising the locker room (where

the day boys store their books and other j essions . the armoury, rive classrooms. and the chemical laboratory. The path then emerges into the football ground, of about five acres, in corners of which are situated the workshops, fives courts, and the fine big gymnasium. The latter is a high w >oden structure with an elevated sky-light, where the mast and four climbing ropes ascend.

Beside the main room there are dressing rooms and a gallery for spectators, and altogether it is probably the finest of its kind in the Dominion. At the other end of the field is the swimming bath, thirty yard- in length, surrounded by a most artistic brick wall lately provided by the Old Boys. The -ports are held in the football ground, which contains a quarter-mile oval track and a two hundred yards straight one. The smaller boy, are taught in a separate building, the lower school, which.

with Merton's House, is about five minutes' walk away along the river bank. They have their own playground and gymnasium, an 1 only visit the upper school for instruction in swimming and for ehapel. Perhaps the most noticeable feature, to an Aucklander, in the design of the various buildings, is the abundant provision of bold though graceful chimneys, bring-

ing home to us the mildness of our own climate, where artificial heating is less important than in the South Island. All the parts of the college are alike in th? calm dignity of the architecture, even including the old office building, which is a unique example of Gothic design, executed in corrugated iron. A very loyal and active Oil Boys' Association keeps alive the memories of happy school days among its members, and watches over the affair- of the "present” boy- who are foil >wing in their footsteps. Christ's College has much to thank the Old Boys for. as may have been partlv gathered from their

benefactions already mentioned. In addition, they are about to undertake the replacement of Bourne’s House, and later on the other parts of the school

st.ll composed of timber. The handsofllC main gates were presented by an individual old boy, and the ornamental gas fittings.in the chapel by another, and io the tale goes on. It is a most gratifying sign that our younger Auckland College has also its old boys who are grateful and patriotic, and whose a’” l 13 to make their old school second to none in the colony. All honour to them in their efforts, and to the memory of the large hearted citizen whose bequest, lias furthered their work. May they meet With the success which is the just cud Of their endeavours-