"STROWAN."

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16054, 9 November 1917, Page 6

"STROWAN."

LATE MR GEO. G. STEAD'S

RESIDENCE.

PURCHASED FOR ST. ANDREWS

COLI-KGE

For some timo past tho Board of Governors of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Boys' College liavo boon negotiating with tho representatives ot the estate of tho late Mr Geo. G. Stead for tho purchase of 'Strowan." Papauui road, with its large residence and ample ana of land. Yesterday the negotiations were completed, and tho Board of Governor;, w ill take possession on ilai-.ii-ary Ist next, which will enable them to have the premises ready for the. purposes of the College in time for tho term beginning in February. Tho Board of Governors of St. Andrew's Boys' College, were contemplating electing extensive buildings on tho present site of tho College, tho St. Andrew's manse site, at the corner ot Tuani street and Lincoln road, but it was intimately decided that- it would nob be the best policy to build 011 such small hoction. Another iactor that weighed with tho Board of Governors was tho uncertainty of tenure in connexion uith tho college playgrounds in South Haglcy Park. Referring to the purchase ot "Strowan,'' the llcv. Dr. Erwin remarked to a reporter yesterday: "In quietly talkiug over this matter tho keenest business men and those interested in the welfare of our church, declared that the chance to purchase 'Strowan' was an opportunity wo should not lose, and in the interests of the Collego we think we have made a good move. Personally, I think it is tho best site for a collego that could bo got about, Christchurch. The tram connocts it "with tho city and suburbs, and it is*couvonicntlv situated for students m St. Albans, Fendalton, and Bryndwyr." . ... "Strowan" i 3 a substantially bunt residence, surrounded by over -3 acres of land, and fronts 011 Papanui road and Norman's road. Through a portion of tho grounds a picturesque stream meanders, with a. growth or timber 011 its bank near tlio Norman s road boundary. Tho site is indeed an ideal 0110 for a college, and the largo area of land will provide ump.o playground acoinmodation. , . „ , One factor which greatly influenced the Board of Governors of St. Andrew's Boys' Collego in deciding upon tho purchase of "Strowan" was tho comparative ease with which tho to.siuenco lends itself to adaptation to the purposes of the college. Tho front poi~ tion was built by tho lato Mr Geo. o*. Stead, the other portion being of older construction. There are several spacious rooms in tho newer portion, lho dining-room, for example, is large enough to accommodate .<0 boys. Tho billiard room, which lias k. little raised dais. will b« suitable for a morning assembly room for the college, and can be used for classes: during tho day. It 13 estimated that this room can accommodate ISO boys. There is also a very spacious drawing-room, with an alcovo leading to a smaller, octagonal-shaped, draw-ing-room. The larger room will make a splendid class room, and tho smaller will bo suitable for tho headmaster's office, a separate entrance being available from the verandah. The present bedroom accommodation is sufficient for 45 boarders, in addition to the necessary accommodation for the headmasrter and his family, and tho teaching staff and their families. The corridor, wliich gives access to these bedrooms, is lift wide, and in the event of an emergency additional sleeping accommodation could be provided. There is also a wide balcony, on which further accommodation could be provided. Tho outhouses are exceedingly well built, and will also prove useful for the purposes of the collego. The stables, for instance, have a dado reaching four or five feet from tho floor, tho remainder of the wall boing tiled. To make the building suitable for class rooms, all that will be necessary will be to floor it, put in windows, and provide ventilation. The coach-house, which is matchlined, will be suitable for a woodwork class-room, or for a laboratory. In addition, there are two garages and other outbuildings, till of which can bo used for the purposes of the junior school. It is estimated by Dr. Erwin that the present accommodation will bo sufficient for tho purposes of the college for the next seven' or eight, and probably ten. years, with tho addition of open-air class-rooms and shelters, such as aro in use at the Wnitaki Bovs' High School. The beautiful park-like paddock in front of the residence will make a splendid sports (ground, and at tin* back of tho houso thpre is tindulatinsr area which, if the levels permit, could alsr> be utilised for sports purposes tho terrace forcing a sort of natural grandstand. There are. also tennis and eronuei courts, ivln'cli enri |1? oas,, V transformed into bin Yaounde. I he surrounding" "Strowan" aro iv^t, fnlly laid out, and aro in splendid order