New Modern Workshop Rises From Ashes Of Centre Fire

Chronicle (Levin), 2 October 1948, Page 4

New Modern Workshop Rises From Ashes Of Centre Fire

In one of this district's biggest fires, a large wooden building at the Boys' Training Centre, Levin, was razed just over a year ago — the night of Ttiesday, September 30. Both the staff, Jboys and Levin Fire Brigade did all that was humanly possible to save the building and its contents, but to no avail. Besides the loss of £6000 which the building and its contents represented, the authorities feared a serious setback to the development of the centre, for the building was principally its technical workshop, which had then just been remodelled, and contained much valuable equipment. Now, however, a mere 12 months after this disastrous fire, a brand new workshop, one of the most modern in the Southern Hemisphere, stands in its pl'ace.

How this was brought about is a story of hard work and endeavour by the staif and boys. All but ,the electrical work,- plastering and part of the joinery was done by the boys under the supervision of the centre's .instructors, the manager, Mr. E. j. Stanley, told a "jQhronicle" reporter who visited the " centre recently. Lack of the necessary tools -prevented them from 'doing this 'work. A 15-year-old boy Was responsible for the plumbing — no easy task considering that he carried it out entirely on his own and that many technical difficulties had to be surmounted. Prior to his entering the centre he had had no previous experience at plumbing. The building, which is l&rger than the previous one, is excelle'ntly fitted out and perfec'tly finished. Even master tradesmen who have seen it had admitted that, sai'd Mr. Stanley. It is 152 feet by 36 feet and. the. plans Were also drawn up by the feoys. "Ttthe alchitect wa§ thrilled with them*" said the manager. The laybiit WaS also entifeiy different afid the whole bfiifding was surmbfinted by

a 34-foot single span roof — a difficult COnstructiOnal problem. The interior was sq constructed that the whole of the workshop could be supervised from a glasSwindowed office. A modern welllit draughting rbom was also included. The Various instructors interviewed were all loud in their praioe of the boys' keenness and ability. At the rear end of the bUild^w was a new gafage in which th Y> was the body of a new truck, tf/e last one having been lost in the fire. A tray for this Vehicle is to be built by the boys. A feature o'f this garage is the mechanics' pit, electrical leads being taken into it under the C'oncrete floor and shelves installed, facilities which are not ifeen in many garages. The boys are taking great pride in their building and its equipment, and th'e ahthorities afe pleased with their efforts not only for the fact • that they have buil't cheaply aii additional1 fasset to thfe centre, but also b'ecaiisfe nothing in the way of technical training has been lost during the. 1-2 months When the Centre ha§ "been deprived bf its workshbp.