OTAKI NATIVE COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 10

OTAKI NATIVE COLLEGE.

BUILDINGS ALMOST COMPLETED. The buildings 'which are beinc erected at Otaki for the Porirua Trustees, for the purposes of a Native college and hostel, are almost complete, and present a handsome appearance: Mr. E. Coleridge is architect for tho buildings', whioh have .been erected by Mr. Jas.. Craig, at a cost of <£5400. Tho building for tho hostel has a frontage of 100 ft. and ah avorago depth of 50ft., and is two stories high. A verandah 80ft. long and 10ft. wide runs along the east side of the building,, with both, ends closed in with glass. A patent petrol gas has been introduced for tho lighting system, which may be used for heating and cookirig purposes if, required. A small: hand lift connects the linen room upstairs with a well-equipped laundry.bolbw. All the interior • woodwork, with the exception of that in the pantry, bathrooms, and three rooms which aro painted ivory white, is of picked riniu, oiled and finished with copper fittings. 'Modernised old-fashioned open fireplaces have been introduced into tho principal rooms. ; Tho college building is near tho old Maori Church, aiid will contain an assembly hjtll, 40ft. by 85ft. ,two largo class rooms, teachers' '.rooms, etc., and will accommodate 100 pupils. Both buildings stand upon concrete foundations, and tho roofs aro finished with'asbestos, slates. It is , rather rcmarbablo that where red pine was specified for the long lengths (being in tho country), tho contractor asked to bo\ allowed to use Oregon instead, as lio was unable to procure tho rimu. Tho Oregon used'had to 50 over 47 miles of railage from Wellington without extra cost to tho contract. ... ' •