A CHIMNEY TALE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3390, 4 December 1911, Page 9

A CHIMNEY TALE.

OFFICIALDOAI IN PARIS

The ways of officials in all countries are peculiar, but it would be somewhat difficult to parallel the proceedings of the official arcliitests of the Paris schools in an affair of chimneys which M. Guibert, Municipal Councillor of the Necker district, discloses. The “Echo do Paris” prints the stoiy in some detail. It concerns two chimneys. M. Guibert recounts how on of v these recently fell in, and, thougli the headmistress has written seven times, no architect has put in an ap pearance to see about the repairs. Probably they were too busy with the smoke conduit of the school in the Rue des Volontaires. Last month the masons turned up at this school to do some repairs, and in the course of their work they came across a Hue in a small detached building which required repair. They set about their work with zeal. It was in vain that the schoolmistress pointed out to them that Hie whole building, chimney and all, was condemned, and was to bo pulled down. The workmen saw their duty clearly. The flue was defective. It was their job to put it right, whether the building was to be removed or not, and they did it. For two weeks they wrestled with the chimney, and left it drawing like a locomotive with the blast full on. Four days after the “fumists” had finished operations the housebreakers appeared on' the scene, and proceeded to tear down the building, new chimney included. This is hut a single, instance of the municipal management of Paris, hut helps to explain how it is that the finances of the city are a little embarrassed, despite the enormous budget raised annually.