OFFICIAL OPENING

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 145, 16 March 1931, Page 10

OFFICIAL OPENING

St. Patrick’s College IMPRESSIVE GROUP Well-designed Buildings BIG ATTENDANCE In the presence of an assemblage of more than 3000 people, including a largo number of distinguished guests, his Excellency the Governor-Gene-ral, Lord Bledisloe, performed the opening ceremony of the new St. Patrick’s College at Silverstream yesterday afternoon. The official opening of the college has been awaited for some time, and long before the hour set for the beginning of the ceremony, people arrived in large numbers by train and private cars. A platform had been erected in front of the college, slightly north of the main entrance, and it was here that the guests assembled. The Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe were met on their arrival by his Grace Archbishop Redwood and by the Rector of the College, the Very Rev. Father J. W. Dowling, S.M., and they walked to the platform through a guard of honour consisting of senior boys. The remainder of the school was drawn up in. ranks near the platform. Among those on the platform were the following: His Grace Archbishop O'Shea, S.M.: the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and Mrs. Forbes: Hon. E. A. Ransom, Hon. W. A. Veitch and Mrs. Veitch, Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Hon. R. Masters and Mrs. Masters. Hon. S. G. Smith and Mrs. Smith, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, and Mrs. Troup, the Chief Justice and Lady Myers. Mr. Justice Blair. Mr. Justice Frazer and Mrs. I razor, Sir Donald and Lady McGavin, Sir John and Lady Luke. Major and Mrs. Bathurst, Mr. and Mrs. Day, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnston, Dr. and Mrs. McEvedy. the Misses McEvedy, Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Elliott. Mr. and Mrs. A. I air, Mr. Walter Reid and' Mrs. Macarthy-Reid, Mrs B. B. -Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Ward, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Crombie, Mr. and Mrs. K. W. Kane, Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Adams Mr. and Mrs. A.' D. Park, Commissioner W. G. Woblmann. Mr. and Mrs. W. Waddell, Dr. and Mrs. George Craig, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Dallard. Mr T- B. Strong, Director of Education, and Mrs. Strong, Professor Hunter, Professor Von Zedlitz, Mr. J. W. Mcllwraith, Senior Inspector of Schools, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Armour, Wellington College, Mr. and Mrs. Sutcliffe. Scots College. Mr. Barber, chairman of the Board of Governors of Wellington Colleges. Miss Baber. Marsden College. Miss Mayhew.. Marsden College, Miss Greig, Wellington Girls' College, Miss Batham, Wellington East Girls' College. Mr. and Mrs. Castle, Mrs. Goodson, and the Misses Goodson, Mr F de J. Clere and Miss Clere. Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Norman, Mrs. J. P. Firth, Mr. and Mrs. L. P. Blundell. Miss Skerrett, Mr. and Mrs. Gamble. Dr. Kemp, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. O’Regan, Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Bourke, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Kennedy. Apologies for absence were sent by the following: Bishoo Liston. Bishop Sprott, Rev. Brother Justin (Provincial of the Marist Brothers). Sir Francis and Lady Bell. Sir Frederick and Lady Chapman. Sir Walter and Lady Stringer. Sir William and Lady Hall-Jones, Sir Charles and Lady Statham, Sir Heaton Rhodes, Hon. Sir Thomas and Lady Sidey. Sir Henry Buckleton. Sir Harold Beauchamp, Kt. Hon. J. G. Contes, and Mrs. Coates, Mr. H. E. Holland’ and Mrs. Holland, Hon. J. B. Taverner and Mrs. Taverner, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Hon. J. B. Donald, and many others.

Ideals of the CoUege. After the National Anthem had been sung, Father Dowling welcomed all those attending. “I am particularly grateful to his Excellency and Lady Bledisloe for honouring us with their presence and for presiding at this function,” he said. 1 would like to give his Excellency the assurance—if assurance be necessary—that while we in this college make, it our first aim to inculcate the Christian virtues, we. do not overlook the civic virtues, li e endeavour to make our students not only good Christians, but also worthy citizens, whose loyalty to King and country is no mere sentiment, but is proved by deeds whenever the occasion demands. We rejoice to have with us still the founder and patron of this college, Archbishop Redwood, who should be a proud man to-day to see how the work which he began in Wellington nearly fifty years .ago has been so abundantly bless--6 “Now that the college buildings have been completed,” he continued, “I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the architects, Messrs. Clere and Clere, for their excellent design, the contractors, Messrs. Hansford and Mills, for the splendid workmanship which is apparent throughout the building, the clerk of works, Mr. Dymock, and the foreman, Mr. Payne; also the various sub-contractors, and Mr. C. Mallia for the excellent school furniture provided. Father Dowling then asked Archbishop Redwood to introduce formally his Excellency. ' Memorable Event. “You have bestowed upon the institution to-day a very great favour,” said his Grace, addressing Lord Bledisloe. It is indeed a great favour on the pait of those who represent in the highest possible way his Majesty the King to honour us to-day with their presence, and I look upon it as an event which will go to posterity in the records of this college as one of the most memorable events that have ever occurred in its walls.” It was a mark and proof, his Grace continued, of the interest his Excellency took in the same cause which they held so dear. He agreed with the Rector as to the aims toward which tiie college worked in its training of the y °Lor’d Bledisloe’s address is reported in an adjoining column. At the end ot the address Lord and Lady Bledisloe and the guests were conducted through the new building and inspected every part ot it They were entertained at afternoon tea before leaving for the city, and the guard of honour was again drawn up south of the main entrance. The large crowd of visitors spent some time in the building, which was thrown open for inspection, and afternoon tea was provided in a courtyard and dining-room at the rear ‘ Completion of Big Work. The opening of the college marks the completion of a work which the Mans Fathers have had much at heart for a considerable number of years The property lying between the Heretaunga golt links’and the Wellington Memorial Park, forms an admirable site. The building is erected near the main road, a short distance above the Silverstream railway statl<The college buildings are of brick, strengthened by,.steel reinforcement. The area covered by the whole group of buildings is considerable. The main block is one hundred and twenty yards in length, and the north wing, facing up the valley, is almost as long. The finest portion of the buildings is the assembly hall, with beautiful windows and massive buttresses. This hall exhibits the best features of Gothic architecture. The main block and north wing, together with tbe assembly hall and common rooms, surround a large quadruple flanked by cloisters and covered ways. . . . The interior appointments and furnishings are even more impressive, perhaps, than the exterior view. The three entrance porches provided in front give access to a large corridor running the full length of the main block. On the right of the central entrance are two large classrooms and a prefects’ room; on the left are visiting masters’ rooms, rector s room parlours, secretary’s office and cloak rooms On the ground floor of the north win" there are six classrooms, a study hall” and a large science room. At the back, ’ facing the hills and the playing fields are common rooms for senior and junior pupils, boys’ library, sports apparatus room, locker room, woodwork room and lavatories. Above the classrooms and extending through the north wing and main block are five dormitories, excellently furnished. A covered balcony extends •[long the full length of the main block nt the back, and is used in part for sleeping ° U The ground floor of the southern wing

consists of several large dining-rooms, the kitchen, larders and pantries, laundry, etc. The upper floor of this portion consists of masters’ studies and bedrooms. The contract price for the whole group of buildings now completed was £76.020. This sum, together with tlie cost of Innd.' architect’s fees, and cost of levelling playing grounds, amounts to considerably over £lOO,OOO. At present there are 153 boarders in residence, and 25 day boys. One of the rooms intended for use as a dormitory is being used as the college ehapel, pending the erection of the chapel proper, an enterprise under the care of old boys of tbe school.