ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1196, 3 August 1911, Page 4

ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE.

"WOULD.LIKE TO MOVE OUT A BIT." At the last meeting of the Wellington Technical School Board, held on Fridaylast, during discussion on tho overcrowding which prevailed at the present 6chool in V.icloria and Mercer Streets, and (liepossibility of getting a larger site lor tho school elsewhere, Mr. Fitzgerald stated that ho understood St. Patrick's Ccllego was to l>e vacated, and removed farther out of tho city, and that site- mid building might bo available for tho purposes 01 a '.technical School. The matter was inquired into yesterday by a DosmnoN reporter, who approached tho Vicar-General (the Rev. lather O'Shea) on the subject. Father O'Shoa stated that it had been recognised for some time past that tho college gained nothing from being in tho centre of the city, and (hat there was no .reason why tho college should occupy such valuable ground as the block on which it now stands (which runs right from Cambridge Terrace through to Tory Street). Then the property is available? "Yes," said Father O'Shea, "if we can get tho value of it. If it could bo disposed of, the probability is that we would build somewhei-o in the suburbs,—somewhere where there would be muplt spaco for playgrounds for tho students. Wo have ahvavs been more cr less cramped whero we "are in that direction. There is no reason for being in the .centre of a city—it is a v disadvantage rather than otherwise, and we would like to move out a tit into the country, but still be in close proximity to the city, of course, so that day scholars could attend without inconvenience."

What do you consider tho value of tho college nud site? "1 couldn't say, exactly—it would bo worth something like'.£3o,ooo, I euppesc. Ycs->£15,000 for (ho land, ami iIo.OOO for the building, roughly. Our present desire is to sell, but there is not so very much doing in that lino just at the present, and it is very doubtful if the Technical Hoard could raise such a sum." St. Patrick's College was opened on. June 1, ISB.J. The silo (now valued at ■£15,000) was purchased for ,£2OOO, and tho foundation stone was laid by Archbishop Hedwood on the evo cf St. Potrick's Day, 1881, his Grace being assisted at tho ceremony by Cardinal Aloran ami Dr. Luck. Tire total cost of tho building was .KO.OCO, ,£10,090 of which was subscribed br the Roman Catholic public, and ,£5300 was given by tho Mnrisfc lathers, since which it is estimated they have contributed another .£IB,OOO, besides giving their services gratuitously to tho college. A gentleman who takes a keen interest in .technical education, on being informed of the position, slated that St. Patrick's College would make a fine Technical College. It was very handily situated; tho building was a good ono, and there' wa3 plenty of room for expansion on tho Tory Street side, and for recreation on IhcKent. Terrace frontage. The cost, wot hcavv, he admitted, but would it, not bo worth something like the sum named to get such a sifo and ready-made building? What would a large enough silo in a central position in Wellington eo*t, ami vvhal would o suitable building cost in the.se doys of high prices? Those, were (ho questions to consider as against tho price quoted for the college property. It appears that the City Council will not sanction the erection of the school en tho Town Belt, so the only alternative is to buy, and if they have in buy, why not , at least consider the floliege proposition?