ST. MICHAEL'S NEW SCHOOLROOM.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1011, 21 September 1877, Page 3

ST. MICHAEL'S NEW SCHOOLROOM.

[from the press.J

The new schoolroom fronting Durham street and erected between the old room and the church is approaching completion. It is of Gothic design, and will afford large accommodation, being 70ft. long and 32ft. wide, with a platform 15ft. in width running right across the western end. The height from floor to ceiling is 21ft., and to the top of roof 32ft. The ventilating arrangements are very complete. Two continuous trunks perforated to a geometrical pattern run along the whole length of the ceiling, communicating with luffered gablets in the roof, and also with ten perpendicular trunks in the walls, fitted with Sheringham valves placed sufficiently high as to cause a free circulation of ah, without being perceptible to those inside. The building is lathed and plastered inside, and dado'd all round to a height of sft. 3in. The six truss principals, with ornamental iron brackets, are seen from the inside, and will be stained and varnished to correspond with the dado. The room is lighted with a large seven-light window at the east end, and will also have gas fittings. The entrance will be through two ornamental porches at each corner of this end, and provision is made to run a centre screen down the whole length of the building if necessary, rendering the division complete with a separate entrance to each. At the western end there is a retiring room, 15ft. x 10ft. 'Jin., fitted with grate, and under the platform is ample space for stowing forms, &c. An open ornamental frame work bellto wer will surmount the eastern gable end, allowing the action of the wheel to be seen. The design of the schoolroom —with porches, tower and gablets, and the gables ornamented with elaborate barge boards—is very pretty, and the room is large enough to accommodate nearly 600 children. The exterior is constructed of red pine and kauri, and the cost when finished will be about £IOOO. Mr T. Kane is the architect, and Mr D. Reese contractor.