BRICK SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20179, 6 March 1931, Page 10

BRICK SCHOOLS.

—_ INSPECTIONS TO BE MADE. , EARTHQUAKE BISK, SOME RECONSTRUCTION ' MAY BE NECESSARY. Of the 400 schools in the Canterbury Educatiodjßoard's district, only about 80 are built in brick or stone, and are included, therefore, in the inspection against earthquake risk ordered by the Minister for Education (tho Hon. 11. Atmore). Whilo most of these school buildings will be deemed safe provided minor alterations are made, it is anticipated .that in one or two cases, particularly that of the .Normal School, christchurch,' almost & complete reconstruction may be necessary. Tho three high schools under the control of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College are included in * the Minister's order, and it is presumed - that all pri-, vat'e schools will also have to submit to the inspection. Judging by -the probable cost in Canterbury alone, the work of making properly earthquakeproof school buildings throughout the Dominion 1 is likely to deniand many thousands of .pounds. All the brick schools in the Canter- 1 ! bury district are being inspected by tho District Public Works Engineer ! (Mr F- Langbein) on behalf of the Government and by the Board's architect' (Mr O; Penlington) on behalf of the Canterbury Education Board,' During the last three days they have Visited schools at Timaru, Wairaate, Tcmuka,' Geraldinc," Ashburton, Elffelton, and FairlJe. Buildings at Akaroa, Hororata, and Rangiora will now be inspected, then the City schools, and finally' the schools on the West Coast.

ft Good Condition. v The brick schools in the south , are all stated to be in fairly good condi? tion, although certain, suggestions aw, to bo'made for imprpving exits and strengthening the buildings where this' can be done at a small cost. , 'v The three main faults that liaVe Jjeen ( discovered in brick, construction are i_n« sufficient mortar, insUfß,oient cement in the mortar, and the us|<3>f dry bricks. The absorbent pWer pf bricks is very considerable, avd when they are placed in npsition in a dry they at once d?aw all moisture fropi the mottftr it ceases to be binding. A,B the •moTtar, frequently > it'ia used p'nly round the edges of the brick*, Jeavjoghollow spaces in the middle. Again, the mixture pf mortar is varied, chiefly, by the insufficient use, of cement, TWtil ,the ; bricks* are unable : to withstand' any but a direttly downward strisss. - , Earthquake Drill. Some ago, it is recalled, .following a rather sovprq ehotk, ,the Christi church City Councy took up the <juep--1 tjon of safety in school buildings, and requested, in order to,expedite the exit of school children, that'no hat 'or coat pegs should be placed in corridors. For : some years alqo, fire and earthquake drill far schools has fteen advocated in some quarters, but bab befls perjisfcexitly { opposed op account of the strain it ** said to impose on tho nerves of bo*h Children and tea(A*W.. <A iurther attempt jnay jiflyr'be made to institute, this drill, and is hoped that, wi£h proper supervision, tho children nw»}* attain coolness and discipline even in the most hurried exit. Thft Normal 'Sohopl w<¥i opened, in 1874 and is no;w vory much out of date botp in cawriars£tiqn arid in the veptil*tion and light which* it' tMWfi.' It* wconstruction has nrged ,fof .ssunq voars but has boon hold np by the D®;

piKtmenif ( throsigh Jack; "of xfUulSr Ihe, I building is jaia to have very littio resistance to earthquake, and flrutfo. M.cOnstraction' way bo rie6wß«ipy ifUt-iia to meet tho Minister's demands. ' ~ pf Ji|g#JJcJWKis ', /-, Of the thlrue high schooW "vadei' •eontrOj of tho College' Board of '£overnors, Wo—the Boys' High School ,and Avonsulo • Girlh' pchool-r-ftre of recent construction. The-chairman.' of the Board (the Hpn. Or. J.-Smith, M,L.0.) has,art tanged £or an ewsainatlon of tlje, t|wee buildings ,to bo made by Fftfertov-, J*, % I/. Cull, Professor of Civil ing and the BuiWiag Be#* latlons Commit W whieh the Gove lament recently appointed, and by Ht ij* OoUiuß, architect to Board: .