"A UNIQUE SITE"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 7

"A UNIQUE SITE"

HEW TECHNICAL COLLEGE THE WORK COMMENCED: VISIT OF INSPECTION. The site for tho new Technical College at the rear of tho big red brick building on Mount Cook was inspected yesterday b- tho members of the Technical Education Board, headed by Mr George. Frost (chairman), Mr J. H. Howell (tho director), Mr G. L. Stowart (secretary to the Education Board), and the architect of tho now building (Mr J. S. Swan). The superintendent ot works. Mr G. S. Jackson, was also present to cxplai'n. the. position. EXTENSIVE SITE. When completed the new college buildings will cover practically the total area, of tho site, 4} acres, which includes tho whole of the prison 'brickfield. Tho site will also take in tho warders' houses on the western side fronting Taranaki street. The main frontage of tho college will bo parallel to the roar of the military barracks building, but will be set back a considerable distance to the south of it, and will extend 285 feet east and west with a facade of three stories. Tho fronting along the Taranaki street side will be 385 feet, and overlooking Ranfurly terrace and the blocks of houses towards the Basin Reserve, there will be two wings set out diagonally to the main building. Right inside the college blook of building thern will be a spacious irregular open quadrangle, and a closed gymnasium. The college will bo in horded brick, cement faced, and! the general height, apart From the main front portion, will be two stories. The inspecting party w#re loud in their praise of the site, which commands a clear view over the city, the members remarking that the college would have the benefit of the sun's rays the whole day loag. A great deal will, however, have to be done before these possibilities can be fully realised. Tho sides of Mount Cook here and now are ragged and unkempt, and tho top is defaced by a hideous mass of old bricks, fellow clay exposed and tho ramshackle wooden building and fan-fenced «mcloBure for the prisoners. After some five months' work the prisoners, too few in number for the work to be done, have oleared to approximately tho final level a portion of the ground to bo covered py the main front of the oollego and one wing. A fortnight's work, weather permitting, it is estimated will «nable them to remove a clay bank towards the fence of tho wardera* quarters. After that the foundations may be prepared and the cellar basement fully excavated. Tho actual building will be dome by free labour. Then will remain a mass of clay wiithm. the prisoners' enclosure to be reduced about eight or ten feet in height i ACCESS TO BUILDING.

For the building operations there are on tho spot a quantity of brioks made with prison labour and reckoned at a quarter of a million dm. number. The question of access is one for the board to consider carefully. From ltnnfurly terrace the slope is too steep, and from Hankey street and Taranaki streert there ara inconveniences. It is hoped to get a satisfactory entrance ultimately up from Tasman. street on an easier grade. The site lends itself to adornment, and It was proposed that the services of tho Director of the Ctttw should bo enlisted for the lay-out of the grounds and the planting of suitable trees. Tho whole work of transforming the site into a college worthy of the oity will tako some years, but the Director of tho College hopes that at least part of the building will bo sreadtv in the next twelve months. TJrere is a further asroa to tho south in a sort of "jam-tin gully," which is now being filled with spoil from the excavation and' levelling, but whether this will go to the col)eg<i ultimately c's at presant uncertain. BOARD DISAPPOINTED AT PROGRESS. Speaking to a "Times" reporter after th« inspection had (been made, Sir Frost stated that as far as the inspection was concerned, the Education Board were thoroughly disappointed at the slow progress being_ made by prison labour in oleairing tho site. "There are only a few prisoners at work," Mr Frost said, "and it will be some time before the foundation can be laid. Ther*> is no possibility of having the work done (br contraot, owing to the risk which few builders will undertake. The site is unique, aind has an excellent elevation,, and when completed tho college will be a distinct credit to tho city."