MEMORIAL CHURCH AT, TAI TAPU.

j A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL. The [Memorial 'Church, St. Paul's, Tai Tapu, which hrs teen erected by 'Sir IR. 'Heaton- Rhodes in memory of his wife, Lady Rhodes, was consecrated yesterday afternoon by Bishop . West Watson. Lady .Rhodes was well , known on Banks Peninsula, which Sir R, Heaton Rhodes represented in Parliament, toeing part of the old . Ellesmere Electorate. Lady Rhodes - paid many visits to the district where I she will be long rememlbered for her t pleasing personality. ■ GIFTS AND CARVINGS.' . t : - ;Marly', entirely 1 corporated in the church.' -Chief among many interesting gifts is that • of a carved stone from St' Paul's > C : athediral, London, presented by the ■ Dean and Chapter of St Paul's. This has been let into the north wall. r , Another stone which has been built in is one from St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin, erected in the early part of . the thirteenth century. The new ; church itself is named :St Paul's and I will seat '106 worshippers. ! It has taken eighteen months to [build. Of particular interest are ! various stone carvings introducing 3 bird and animal life, "symbolic of Australia, the land of Lady Rhodes's ' birth. For instance, the carving ' above the main door represents the 1 kangaroo, the parakeet, the emu and 3 the Australian bear. The weather 1 vane follows the same lines, jj P'RIAICfTfItICIAIL SYMPATHY. I Practical sympathy with the donor's object is evidenced by the many gifts' which will grace the interior. One of the three windows was donatio ed by the parishioners of Tai Tapu and will light the -chancel. The second window is the gift of Mrs Alister Clark, of Melbourne, and the third, of Sir Heaton himself. The windows were designed and manufactured by the firm of Heaton, Butler and Bayne ? and provide striking examples of 'j British workmanship. Among other rgifts are the lectern,prayer-desk, I wrought-iron candelabras, hymnboard, font-cover and two lanterns, 3 all of which have been manufactured ' in New Zealand.

I The building- has been constructs ": of stone taken from the valley at thi j rear of the Oltahuna homestead, ths residence of Sir Heaton, and fron ; the adjoining property of Mr W j'Menzies'. Hand'-made shingle tiles o: various depths of burning have beer „■ used in the external colour scheme tc harmonize with the stone. This is £ striking departure from the dull slatt j roofs which one expects to find in church buildings. The external walls have been lined with pink stone frprn | the An am a quarries, Mtount Somers, and the roof has been constructed of heavy rimu timber. The seating and pulpit have been done in New Zealend tawa from the "North Island. The ! altar front has been executed in grey oafc to tone with the pink walls and the wine-coloured carpet. ORIGAN IN 1 TOWER. The organ has :been supplied by Norman and Beard, of England, and I has been placed in the tower. The sound/ will come through traceried piercings in the roof, this design having been adopted because of the '■ absence of any choir. The dedication panel, of cast bronze, bearing Lady Rhodes'® coat-of-arms in coloured enamel, has not yet arrived from j England and' will be placed in position in the porch later. . ; • The church was designed by Mr iCecil Wood, the Chrisitchurch architect, who also supervised the designs of the various gifts which were made. The builders were 'Silvester and Co., of iChristchurch.