EAST HAMILTON SCHOOL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1205, 18 March 1880, Page 2

EAST HAMILTON SCHOOL.

This building, which has been largely added to and improved, is now ready for reopenirg ; but, unfortunately, owing to the ill-advised arrangements of the Education Board, both Mr and Mr* Field have tv leave Hamilton to attend the teac-hers' examination held in Auckland, so that though Mr Price, the contractor, has completed his contract withiu the specified time little or no public advantage will be gained thereby, as the school in all probability will not be reopened until Mr Field's return from Auckland. The Kchool has been enlarsred to twic its original size bv the addition of a building 45ft. x 2 If t. to the nor h end of, and at angles to, the old building. This is handNomely finished and lined, and, lofty as the roof is, lined up to the rooftree, and the walk are themselves 12ft. to the eaves. A large porch, 15ft. x 15ft., has been built at the ea«t end of the new room, fitted up with lavatories, and bristling with coat and hat pegs. The addition in lighted with a large double window at the west end, and with s'x large windows along the north fide, the windows being finished off outside with label mouldiDgs, which gives a very neat and pleasinir appearance to the building. The original schoolbouse has alno be«n considerably improved. A large double window has been thrown out at. the south end, and it is further lighted by five large windows on one side and three on the other. The old firvplace has been | removed, and a large double fireplace and ! chimney built at the north end, so as to afford a fireplace to both the old and new rooms. A second porch, the same size an the other and fitted up also in the same manner, has been built to the old room, and the doors, we notice, are all double. The old room was 50ft. x 24ft., «o that with naarly double the accommodation ! the school should be large enough for the requirements of the east side of the borough for some time to come. The porches too, which are really larure rooms, can also be made available as class-rooms should occasion render suoh a course necessary. The rooms are ventilated by a new and excellent contrivance. Altogether, the Hamilton East schoolhouse presents a very pleasing and picturesque appearance, reflecting most creditably on the good taste and skill of the architect, Mr Allwright. It could be wished, however, that so plea«iug an effect were :iot flon.ewhat marred by the surroundings. The ground is now fenced in, and when planted and cultivated will add greatly also to the general appearance, but the teacher's house alongside, a mere > ouple of immigration cottages knocked together, spoils the effect of the whole. It is too near the school to begin with looks dwarfed and shabby alongside the handsome structure now completed, and is altogether too small as a residence for a teacher with a family, for really there are only two decent rooms in the house. What is needed is that a couple of good rooms and entrance, as was done in the case of the teacher's residence at West Hamilton, a similar building, should be added to it. The East Hamilton School is well attended, and indeed the attendance would fully justify the Board in furnishing an assistant male teacher. There are 188 children on the roll, and the average attendance during the past quarter has been close upon 1 50. Indeed for the matter of that it has been considerably over that number, as there are some twenty children attending the school whose names cannot be placed on the roll or their attendance counted as they are under the school age, but if refused their absence would cause elder children of the same family to remain away. Thus sooner than have the utility of the school impaired the lady teacher is compelled to undertake addittonal work, and the number of children attending is really larger than it appears to be. We cannot close this notice without giving a due measure of praise to the contractor, Mr Price, for the exceedingly workmanlike manner and finished style in which he has carried out the "Work. The timber used has been thoroughly seasoned, and everything is finished off substantially and well; and what is more in the matter of schoolhouse building expenses, the work has been completed within contract time. The cost of additions has been £413.