THE NEW TOWN SCHOOLS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 38, 13 February 1874, Page 2

THE NEW TOWN SCHOOLS.

The new schools in Bridge-street, built by the Central Board of Education, were opened yesterday. The work has been superintended by a Committee consisting of Messrs Rout, D. Burns, and the Inspector of schools, by whom neither time nor trouble has been spared to render the buildings as complete as possible, with the limited funds at their disposal. The site, which was bought by the Provincial Government from the Commissioner of Native reserves, is an excellent one, being at once sufficiently accessible and so bounded by tbe river Maitai and the Government Reserve as to be tolerably isolated from neighboring houses. It is also high and dry enough to bo healthy. Tbe building itself was designed by Mr Brunner, Mr M'Vicar being the contractor. Although the design is simple, the appearance of the buildiDg both in front and at the sides is neat and effective. It is divided into three rooms, each of which will accommodate above 60 boys. Great care has been taken to secure perfect ventilation, each room being fitted with one of Mr Braithwaite's patent ventilators, which are ingeniously contrived to draw up the heated air, and to prevent the down draught of cold air from the top. The admission of fresh air ia provided for not only through the window sashes which open with a hinge, but also by leaving an opening all round beneath the eaves. Several improvements in the fittings are worth noticing. Each boy's hat peg in the poroh is numbered, a plan very conducive to good order. Portions of the wall space in each room are painted black, to serve as blackboards, by which a great saving of 1

room is effected. Each master is provided with a raised dais, which answers the twofold purpose of giving him a view of the whole school, and of defining a circle round which a class ran stand. Water is being laid on to each of the porches, which will be fitted with a simple washing ond drinking apparatus. A bell, similar to that shown at tho Exhibition, is being cast at Mr Moutray's foundry. It is expected that this will be powerful enough to be heard distinctly by all the other Town schools, so as to secure uniformity of school time. ITot the least merit of these buildings is their cheapness. The contract was taken for £435, and it is expected that the cost of the whole work when completed will not exceed £500. We may fairly point ont, as instances of good done by Exhibitions like that held in Nelson lately, that it is probable that naither Mr Moutray's bell nor Mr Braithwaite's ventilator would have been thought of by the Building Committee but for their being brought prominently into notice on that occasion.