Building Notes

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 1 August 1918, Page 294

Building Notes

AUCKLAND. The Minister of Education stated at Pukekohe that if the citizens would find the land he would do his best to get the Government to make the monetary grant necessary to build a Technical School. The new Infant School was opened last month in the presence of the Minister of Education. The new structure has been erected at the head of Gillies Avenue on a commanding site of four acres, overlooking the present school, with a view of practically the whole of Newmarket and portion of the harbour. The building is said to be the most up to date of its kind in the Dominion, and to embody the latest improvements, recommended by educationists, in buildings for the teaching of children in the primary classes. Constructed of red pressed brick with plaster finishing, and roofed with Marseilles tiles, it comprises four commodious classrooms, a large porch, teachers’ room, and cloak room, all finished in plaster. Casement windows make the building practically an open-air school. There is a blackboard dado round each room, and the latest type of individual desks and seats has been provided. The building, which has been erected by Mr. G. A. Jones to plays prepared by the Board’s architect, Mr, J. Farrell, is capable of accommodating about 250 children. The cost was approximately £2,700. Further accommodation is required at the Technical College, and the matter was brought under the notice of Mr. Hanau recently. The proposals involve the establishment of engineering rooms apart from the main structure, and the conversion of the present engineering quarters into four classrooms. It was stated that the adoption of the proposals would enable 120 additional pupils to be accommodated. Flans are in hand for a large chocolate factory to be erected for an English firm.

CHKTSTCHUECH. The final plans for the new Canterbury Hall, to replace the building largely destroyed by fire, have been approved by the directors and shareholders of the Canterbury Hall Company and the City Council. The plans have been prepared by Mr. H. R. White, of Auckland and Wellington. The facade with its two towers will be left standing, but there will be a dome in the middle. Slight alterations only will be made to the towers. The doorway to the Alexandra Hall will be the same sis the doorway to His Majesty's Theatre, each possessing a large portico. There will be a wide entrance to H. Theatre, giving a side-opening into the stalls, which wall be entered by three doorways. H.M. Theatre wall hold about 2,000 people. It will comprise in addition to the ground floor, two galleries, a dress circle, and an upper circle similar to His Majesty’s Theatre, Wellington. Access to the dress circle will be by means of a flight of stairs, and then by a double landing on to a foyer. There will be six boxes on each side of the stage. ■ • The new Alexandra Hall will possess a dancing floor of greater dimensions than the old hall, with a gallery aboye and two boxes on each side of its stage. ,It wall hold over I, people, and will be used for concerts and other performances. The stage will be fitted up in the same way as H.M. Theatre, scenery, etc., being provided. The Nurse Maude District Nursing Association called for tenders through the architects, Messrs. England Bros., for premises in Madras Street. The same firm called for tenders

for extensions to a wool store for Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Moorhouse Avenue. The City Council will have to erect a building to accommodate electric vehicles requiring to be charged, according to the Electrical Engineer’s recommendation. A special committee has been set up to go into the matter. The Orthopaedic Hospital, which it was proposed to build, will be accommodated in the new Chalmer’s Ward recently illustrated in these pages and erected to plans of Messrs. Collins and Harman. An additional temporary ward may be erected accommodating 50 or 60 patients in the hospital grounds. Provision for a gymnasium, therapeutic and balneological rooms, is also to be made at a cost of £I,OOO. Also a new workshop costing £3OO, and other minor alterations. Early this month Mr. J. S. Guthrie called for tenders for additions and alterations (brick and stone) to Agricultural College, Lincoln. In accordance with a notice of motion Councillor Ell, at a recent meeting 0 f the Christchurch City Council, moved:—• "That a Town Hall Committee should be appointed to report on a site for a Christchurch Town Hall, and on the estimated cost, and that the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Architects’ Association should be asked to appoint a committee from its members to make recommendations. That the Town Hall Committee should consist of the Mayor (Mr. H. Holland), ex-officio, the Hon. H. E. Wigram, M.L.C., and Messrs. A. E. G. Rhodes, W. Reece, H. J. Beswick, and J. .1, Dougall (ex-Majors), Crs. A. S. Taylor and W. Nicholls, the chairman of the Works and Reserves Committees of the City Council, and presidents of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch Beautifying Association, and Canterbury Trades and Labour Council." Speaking in support of his motion, Cr. Ell said many citizens were opposed to the Victoria Square site. He (Cr. Ell) favoured the site of a certain private property near-by. In the course of his remarks he referred to the Council’s proposal to erect additions on the present municipal offices site.

Or. Flesher: Wait and see. Cr. Ell: I am prepared to block your Bill when it goes before Parliament next year. Cr. Ell agreed to move the first part of his motion only, deleting the reference to architects. Cr. Hayward seconded the motion. Cr. McKollar considered the Council was quite competent to go into the question of a Town Hall itself. Cr. Howard favoured the erection of municipal offices before the Town Hall building was erected. These offices should be erected at once. He suggested the building of them on the section opposite the present municipal offices and connecting the two buildings by an archway. He agreed with Cr. McKellar that the members of the Council were quite competent to select sites, etc., without calling in outsiders. Cr. Williams said he held similar views. He moved, as an amendment: —“That a committee, consisting of the

Mayor, the chairman of all committees, and Cr. Howard, he set up to consider the Town Hall question, and report to this Council. ’ ’ Cr. Herbert seconded the amendment. The Council’s present offices must be enlarged first, he said; they were a disgrace to the Council. He hoped the Council’s Bill on the subject would pass Parliament next session. Cr. Ell; On the river-bank here'? Cr. Herbert: Yes, wo have been hung up long enough. Cr. Beanland said he did not think any definite site had been selected for the Town Hall. The Mayor (Mr. H. Holland) hoped the lesser would not be over-shadowed by the greater. He hoped the Town Hall, which was a luxury, would not overshadow the municipal office accommodation, which was an urgent necessity. The offices down below were like dog boxes. If Cr. Ell added the names of the whole of the members of the Council to the names of the gentlemen on the committee he had mentioned, his motion might meet with success. Cr. Ell immediately agreed to this, and obtained permission to alter his motion accordingly. The amendment was, however, carried by 9 votes to -i, the voting being as follows: For: Crs. Loasby, Peek, Herbert, Wells, Howard, Burgoyne. Beanland, McKellar and Williams. Against; Crs. Hayward, Ell, and Nicholls. FEATHERSTON. So popular has the Salvatioin Army Hostel at Featherston proved that it has been found necessary to extend it. A new building, to contain 2.4 bedrooms, is being erected, and the dining-room is also being enlarged to accommodate 100 people. The new building is expected to be available within a few weeks. TAUMARUNUI. During last month a loan of £25,000 was made to the Taumarunui Hospital Board by the Public Trustee, repayable in 361 years, for the purpose of erecting a new hospital. TE ABOIL A. Mr. E. G. Gillman called for tenders for the erection, of a residence at Hethcrton, Thames river. WELLINGTON. An artificial limb factory is to be built near the old To Aro "Railway Station to cost £2,762. It will be under the control of the Defence Department. A proposal is being considered to provide hostel accommodation for girls in Wellington. The Management Committee of the Teachers’ Institute have the matter in hand. Messrs. Clere and Williams called for tenders early this month for the erection in brick of an S-roomed house with large hall, gymnasium and garage.