THE COBDEN STATE SCHOOL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 12 April 1901, Page 2

THE COBDEN STATE SCHOOL.

Health Officer's Report

The following is Dr. Charles Moriee's report upon Cobden School, which is to be pulled clown forthwith and a new structure erected :

" I have the honor to forward my report on the sanitary condition of the Cobden Schoolhouse, which I visited on 3rd instant in accordance with insuctions furnished by the Secretary of your Board.

" The building is old and is becoming very dilapidated; and a very cursory examination is sufficient to show unfitness for the use to which it is put.

"Externally signs of decay are visible in several parts and the unsatisfactory state of the windows is obvious.

" Internally, the main building, about 51 feet by 17 feet, is divided by a glass and wood partition with door into two portions or class rooms, one twice as large as the other, and of iloor spaces therefore of 578 and 289 sq. feet respectively. Into these aboutSG ands 4 children respectively are crammed. Even if the ventilation was perfect, the children are much two crowded for health, but I shall show that the chances of renewing the air in the class room are almost nil. "In the small room the only windows that open out of 4, arc the top portion of the 2 in cast side, and these only for about one foot.

" On ilic west side of this small room the window frames arc too rotten to be moved.

" Considering that upwards of 50 children arc often seated in this small room for hours at a time, this state of things is scandalous. "In the large room three of the four windows on the eas; side open one foot at the top only; the fourth window is immovable. On the west side of this large room the windows and door open into a lean-too, in which the Infant Class (about 15) is accommodated. The outer windows of the lean-too cannot be opened, and the only way of getting fresh air through, is indirectly through, the cloak room at the north end. "It will be seen that two doorways open out of the large room—one into the small room and one into the Infants' lean-too. Thus the initiated air of the different parts of the building is interchangable, so that it is possible for a single case of disease to spread infection throughout the whole building.

"In the large room are three Tobin's holes, but as they are much too small and moreover blocked, they need not be taken into consideration. "There arc also two "ventilators " in the ceiling, but as no proper "exhausts " are provided, these also arc practically useless.

"The lavatory is in a bad state —water from the basins not being carried away, it simply runs under the building.

" Near the main entrance the floor has broken through, the space below is partially filled with stones, etc., making a dangerous trap for children hurrying in or out.

" Arrangements for warming tho building in winter are by no means adequate. "I have no hesitation in saying that the building is. not fit for_ school purposes even under ordinary circumstances, especially with the large number or children now on the roll. And when ifc is. remembered that there have been several cases of infectious- diseases in Cobden lately, the advisalWlity of reopening is obvious."