REPAIRING WINDOWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 20 September 1929, Page 2

REPAIRING WINDOWS

HIGH SCHOOL HOSTEL. REPORT TO BOARD. The question of its liability for repairs to the windows of the boys’ Uostel was discussed by the Board of Governors of the Palmerston North High Schools at tho monthly meeting held last evening. Tho matter was dealt with in detail in a report submitted covering the extent of tho work necessary. “I desire to draw your attention to the condicion of the steel windows of the boys’ hostel building,” reported Mr E. it. Hodge, architect lor the Wanganui Education Board. “It is such as to demand extensive repairs to at least eleven of the Byford type. While those of the casement type are in better condition than those aforementioned, an overhaul to those is aiso desirable in order to eliminate all chances that are attendant with sashes depending merely upon curls instead of hinges. Tho windows are of a design that does not afford rigidity either in appearance or make. bashes without either horizontal or perpendicular bars are not to be recommended in either school or hostel construction. While bars do not afford permanent protection against breakages of glass, they do lessen the cost of maintenance in that they reduce the size of the panes and consequently tho cost of regiazing and also give rigidity to the sash.

“To put the sashes in a condition that would effectively withstand severe treatment means an approximate expenditure of £l4O. The work covered uy the expenditure is as follows;—The strengthening of all frames, the removal of the glass from sashes and the insertion of a horizontal bar to each and reglazing of sashes, the removal of present guides and the placing of angle iron guides along all sills, the removal of curls and nxing of brass hinges, the provision of new gun metal fittings, fasteners and rollers, the fixing of horizontal pivots to top vents.”

Quotations for alteratins and the reconditioning of tho windows were submitted by Mr Hodge, and the total covering the work outlined in his report was £175. In order to reduce the expenditure, he suggested that the Byrord windows, which were in the worst condition, be the only ones subjected to overhaul. If arrangements could be made for the board to approve of a sum of £IOO, he would do his best to make reasonable arrangements to recondition the particular windows mentioned, which were the ones personally inspected by the chairman.

It would be noticed from the quotations that the material alone for repairs to the windows -of the Girls’ High School was £22 4s. No estimate for labour was submitted. He did not propose to proceed with that work until he could submit for the board’s consideration an estimate covering the whole cost of the repairs. “It is not a case of maintenance, but apparently ot defects in the original building,” commented Mr J. AV. Rutherfurd. “The plans and specifications were approved of by the department.” “I think that tho Education Department should do the work, as it recognised its liability as far as the windows of the Central School were concerned, and put them in order,” said Mr M. H. Oram.

The chairman (Mr AV. R. Birnie) observed that the iron frames were evidently an experiment. Mr Oram stated that no blame should be attributed to the department, but that the position should be pointed out. “I think that the department should recognise that we can’t be expected to meet this out of our maintenance moneys,” added Mr Rutherfurd. The board decided to apply for a grant to cover the whole of the work, and resolved to forward a copy of the report to tho Education Department.