THE IMMIGRATION BARRACKS

Evening Star, Issue 3330, 22 October 1873, Page 2

THE IMMIGRATION BARRACKS

The damage done by fire at the Immigration Barracks, at Caversham, some months ago, has been completely repaired by the construction of a new laundry and closet system in the place of that which was burnt. The building, now nearly completed, with the closets at each end, is 53ft in length, and, including tho urinals, the ground covered extends over 69ft, by a width of 24ft. The wash houses are divided from the ironing rooms ; the portion of the building appropriated to washing being 20ft long, divided by a wall, leaving each room lift wide within. The old wash-tub system is discarded for a very superior arrangement. In each washing room are eight metal washing troughs, enamelled, 20 inches wide, arranged round two angles. They arc provided with pipes, conveying hot and cold water, so that the washers can regulate the temperature according to their requirements. From the width and depth of these metal troughs, and the convenience of tepid water being available, we fancy many an infant colonist will have the advantage of a comfortable warm bath before being put to bed, as well as a set of nice clean clothes to put on after leaving his three months’ home in an immigrant ship. Tho boilers which supply the hot water arc six in number, three in each room. Each has a separate flue, so’that |any one or two boilers can bo used as needed, an arrangement by which fuel is economised. In the ironing rooms there are furnaces for heating the irons, and the ironing tables are arranged round two angles, so that as much space as possible is obtained for the purpose. Perhaps the chief drawback is the height of the rooms, which are only Bft from floor to ceiling ; but, judging from the effect of the washing operations at the laundry at the other end of the barracks, no inconvenience need be apprehended through the steam of soap suds ; the ladies engaged at the troughs, m fact, seemed more than ordinarily cheerful, and instead of finding “ the devil in the house upon a washing day,” we were greeted with some very pretty songs brought from our fatherland, sung by more than ordinarily good voices. We felt sorry that our entrance stilled the music. The arrangements for getting rid of the waste water arc equally complete with those for washing ; and the closet system has received great attention at tho hands of the inspector. Everything m this department is simple and effective, and more than ordinary care has been given to secure simplicity of action in the pumps and syphon discharge pipes, so as to guard against derangement. We omitted to say that the walls of the washing and ironing rooms are plastered. The work has been done from designs by Mr David Miller, jim., approved by the Colonial Architect, under Mr Miller’s superintendence. The contractor, who has done his work faithfully, is Mr Williamson, of Sunnysidc. It is noteworthy that some of the best finished work has been done by immigrants, The plaster work, which is very superior, was executed by an arrival by the Allahabad; two carpenters who arrived in the Peter Denny, were immediately employed by tho contractor; and the plumbing work was done by Mr Beadle, a passenger by the Allahabad, who has proved himself a very superior workman. We believe he has settled at Caversham. Now that the buildings are about finished, we should like to see the approaches attended to. Very little expense is needed to render tho ground ornamental, as well as convenient. At present it is simply a risky process to walk over it on a wet day, apart from its rough unsightly aspect, contrasting so unfavorably with the Benevolent Institute opposite. The drainage too requires attention, on sanitary as well as aesthetic grounds.