March 1933
New School to Cost £9915
The Education Committee of Dundee Town Council yesterday approved of plans for the errection of a new Episcopal school in Marryat Street, at a cost of £9915 and for the reconstruction of Butterburn School at a cost of £6300. The reconstruction of Butterburn School will not give room for any additional pupils, but will modernise the building internally. The new School in Marryat Street will replace the existing St Martin's Episcopal School.These proposals will require to be approved by the Town Council. With regard to the reconstruction of Butterburn School, it was pointed out that the school population was approximately 700 and was accommodated in 19 classrooms, owing to the dissimilarity in the size of the classrooms, whereas, it the scheme of reconstruction was approved, only 14 classes should be necessary.
The plans of the proposed new school in Marryat Street to accommodate scholars at present attending St Martin's Episcopal School made provision for the accommodation of 350 children.
Covener Garnet Wilson said that Butterburn School was built when classes were large. It was understood that a saving of four teachers would be effected by this reconstruction and the saving in salaries would be more than equivalent to pay the capital costs. The new St Martin's School would replace the outworn and unsatisfactory present school. They were assured by the Church authorities that the opening of a new school would bring about a transfer of children of parents of Episcopal belief at present in attendance at neighbouring school in preference to their own comfortable school.
Central Library for City Schools
A scheme for a Central Library for the schools of the city was discussed at a conference between the representatives of the Education and Free Libraries Committee. At present each school has its own library and this is regarded as a wasteful system. The scheme which will be recommended to the Town Council is that the Chief Librarian shall provide the books required. The books will accordingly be bought on the advantageous terms available to public libraries.
It was mentioned at the conference that in the education estimates £300 was allowed for school libraries. It will be recommended that this sum be devoted to the initial cost of the scheme and that next year the cost be adjusted before the annual estimates are prepared. Mr A.S. Webster, Chief Librarian agreed to co-operate in examining primary school libraries with a new to removing useless books and making the remainder available for the qualifying class.
Broughty Operatic Society's Success
Broughty Ferry Amateur Dramatic Society brought a successful four night run of Gilbert & Sullivan's opera "Princess Ida" to a close before a large audience on Saturday night. At the close Mr D.A Anderson, Hon. Vice President congratulated the society on the success they had attained in their performances. After the performance a social gathering was held, Mr John Simpson, President Presiding - when a number of presentations were made.
Royal Visitors to Dundee
The Duke of York president of the Highland and Agricultural Society, is to visit the Highland Show at Dundee on the Wednesday and the Thursday June 21 and 22. His Royal Highness will be accompanied by the Duchess of York. This intimation was made at a meeting of the directors of the society in Edinburgh yesterday.
The Secretary (Mr Stirton) read the following letter, dated February 7, from Rear-Admiral Brocke, Comptroller to the Duke of York:-
"His Royal Highness the Duke of York desires me to let you know that he will be very glad to visit the show at Dundee on Wednesday and the Thursday June 21 and 22 and also to preside at the general meeting of members to be held in the show yard on Wednesday at twelve noon. "Her Royal Highness2 the Duchess of York will accompany the Duke on this occasion"
First of Four Jute Cargoes Arrive
Coasting vessels have been the mainstay of activities at Dundee Harbour of late but during the next few days a fair number of large steamers will liven things up at King George and Eastern Wharves. The first of four jute shipments arrived at Eastern Wharf yesterday by the Behar from Calcutta. The Behar carries over 16, 000 bales. A slightly larger cargo follows by the Brocklebank liner Masirah, and two Ellerman liners, City of Mandalay and the City of Poona are expected with smaller shipments. The four ships also carry considerable quantities of gunnies.
Two other big steamers due are the Cold Harbor and the Everanna, The Cold Harbor an American ship and the Everanna flies the flaf of Latvia. The latter will land with flax. Thought the season is drawing to a close, the shipping of potatoes is still a bright spot at the harbour. An interesting craft engaged in the trade yesterday was the Bergendal, a Dutch motor vessel of 291 tons net, the vessel came from Montrose where she loaded a fair consignment, and took on further cargo at the Western wharf yesterday.
New Type Traffic Signals
The new type of electro-matic traffic control is to be introduced at two Dundee crossings. The signals are not of the fixed time limit type but are operated by the pressure of the vehicle on a mat which is embedded in the roadway at each approach to the junction. It is claimed that this method obviates any wastage of time in waiting on the "go" signal when there is no other traffic to be encountered. The works committee of Dundee Town Council last night recommended that these signals be erected at the junction of Constitution Road and Bell Street and the junction of Ward Road, Lochee Road, Guthrie Street and North Tay Street.
The city Engineer submitted offers for the fixed type and the electro-matic type. He reported that the Ministry of Transport would not approve of fixed type signals for crossings where the traffic fell below a certain density and the Bell Street and Constitution Road crossing came into this category. Traffic at the Ward Road and Lochee Road corner were just on the border line.
The Convener Mr John Phin said that only the electro-matic type would be of any use at Bell Street and Constitution Road and it was agreed on his motion that this type, be installed at a cost of £586 12s 6d. Bailie Patterson, who seconded, remarked that he had seen these signals working in two cities and he was absolutely convinced that they were the most serviceable system.
The Convener said that the price of these signals for the Ward Road and Lochee Road junction was £704 14s. It was higher because the signals had not only to be operated by motor vehicles, but by tram cars, which meant a double set of fittings. The fixed type would cost £233 0s 6d. The question is were they to hold traffic waiting on a time signal or let them go on the priority system?
Lord Provost Buist thought this was the place for electro-matic type signals. Most traffic came from Ward Road into Lochee Road. It was agreed to instal the electro-matic type. In connection with suggested signals at the junction of Princes Street, Albert Street, Arbroath Road and Victoria Road, the junction of Hilltown, Main Street and Strathmartine Road, the junction of Whitehall Street and High Street, it was agreed that a census should be taken for submission to the Ministry of Transport.
Prince's Broadcast from Dundee
When the Prince of Wales concludes his tour of unemployed centres with a visit to Dundee on March 31, he will broadcast a message to Scotland. B.B.C officials are to visit the city, probably today, to inspect the City Chambers with a view to deciding the most suitable place from which the speech will be broadcast. The proposal to utilise the Lord Provost's room may be departed from and it is suggested that the speech might be given from the City Chambers or the Caird Hall.
Yesterday the special committee of prominent citizens who are drawing up the programme for the Prince's visit met in the Lord Provost's room and considered a number of proposals to be submitted to His Royal Highness for his approval. According to present arrangements, Lord Provost Buist is to meet the Prince at St Andrews about five o'clock and drive with him to Newport crossing to Dundee with the 5.30pm boat.
His Royal Highness will tour all the unemployed centres in the city, Lochee, Broughty Ferry and at Grey Lodge Settlements. His broadcast speech will be given at 8.35pm and he will leave for the south with the 9.20pm train from West Station.