Donation for restoration

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 16

Donation for restoration

Mr G. M. Miller, chairman of the Canterbury regional committee of the Historic Places Trust, yesterday presented a cheque for $2500 to Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P., chairman of the executive committee of the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board.

“This generous donation will be used to establish a

reserve fund for the restoration of the upper storey and courtyard of the Provincial Buildings,” said Mr Connelly. He said that the money would be used on the wooden buildings in the complex. The fund of $lOO,OOO contributed by the Government arid Local Authorities would be used for the restoration of the roof, stone towers, exterior walls and ground floor.

“The fund does not covet the cost of restoring the top floor (interior only) or the courtyard. The board hopes that the establishment of the

fund will encourage all those interested in the constitutional, architectural and social significance of these buildings to make .donations or bequests to this fund.” The Ministry of Works architectural division was drawing the working plans for the restoration, said Mr Connelly. He hoped that tenders for the work would be called about September or October so that a start could be made on the restoration at the beginning of next year. The feasibility of having a tearooms in the courtyard was being studied. The tea-

rooms would look out over the lawns and Avon River and would be very sheltered. Mr Connelly said he hoped that conveniences and bicycle sheds added to the wooden buildings round the courtyard would be demolished. “They are excrescences,” he said. The photograph shows Mr Miller presenting the cheque to Mr Connelly. Other members of the executive board (left to right) are: Mr J. Mathison M.P., Mr E. F. S. Holland, M.P., and Mr R. P. B. Drayton, M.P.