OLD COLONISTS’ HALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 16

OLD COLONISTS’ HALL

TRANSFER OF SITE APPROVED HISTORIC BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED ERECTION OF NEW SCHOOL

Approval- of the necessary steps to be taken to transfer the site of the Old Colonists’ Hall at Lyttelton from the Lyttelton Borough Council for a school site has been given by the buildings committee of the Canterbury Education Board. The hall, which was opened in 1357 and played an intimate part in the affairs of the barly settlers, is .to be demolished and a school building erected on the sits.

At a meeting in March the Borough Council received a deputation from the Education Board asking for the transfer of the site to the Education Department. The transfer was agreed to, one councillor voting against it on the ground that the hall was an historic building which should be preserved and that there was plenty of room available at the site of the old gaol. At yesterday’s meeting of the Education Board it was advised that an empowering act of Parliament would probably be necessary to enable the council to transfer the land, and a further survey of the site would have to be made. Approval of instructions for both of these to be done was given by the board. Assistance by Godley The hall was the first public ball to be erected in Lyttelton, and its construction was assisted by the Lyttelton Colonists’ . Society and Literary Institution, founded by John Robert Godley, founder of the province of Canterbury. Elaborate ceremony was staged for the opening in 1867. A special programme was compiled .for. the occasion arid, a concert arranged. The opening was performed by the then Governor of New Zealand, Sir George Grey. The hall served as offices for the Literary Institution and at the time of its opening figured prominently in the short-lived “Colonists’ Punch.” ;

Records of the time were placed in the foundations of the hall at the opening; and, unless they have been surreptitiously removed, should be there to this day. Newspapers, coins, and otheP mohey of the time and a copy of the address presented to Sir George Grey .were among the records placed in the building. Political issues of the settlement were fought out in the hall, and it also served to introduce drama to the new colony. For half a century or more a long line of actors used the hall, and some notable plays were put on by scarcely less notable actors and actresses. Twenty years ago the hall was leased by the Borough Council to the. Education Department apd a number ’ of almade. An upper storey was put in and used for woodwork classes and the ground floor converted to a cookery room. The building still serves those purposes. The demolition of this interesting link with the • early ■ history of the province may not take place for some time yet, as the legal matters involved in-the transfer will probably require some months for completion, In place of the hall there is to ’be built a modern fresh-air school building containing a cookery room . gnd a,. basement woodwork room.