OLD WOODEN BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 82, 31 December 1940, Page 9

OLD WOODEN BUILDING

Wellington Landmark

The old Masonic Hall has been a Wellington landmark for many years. In 1867 the Freemasons of Wellington, who for some time had experienced’ difficulty in finding suitable ac-

commodation for their meetings, decided to build a hall for their own exclusive use, meetings hitherto having been held in Barrett’s Hotel and elsewhere. Arrangements were made to. purchase a suitable.-site at a cost not exceeding £3OO aud to erect a building not to exceed £5OO in cost. The site finally chosen in Boulcott Street ■ adjoined Captain Benson’s property, and on June 24, 1867, the foundation-stone of the new hall was laid. As this was to be the first hall erected in the city of Wellington by the craft, the occasion was celebrated in style. Further sums were'added to that already voted and the hall was finished by the end ot the year. A Joint Enterprise. It was built by the joint enterprise of the Pacific and Waterloo Lodges, Mr. C. J. Toxward, himself a Mason, being lhe architect. In this building all the lodges of the city held their meetings, till suburban lodges were created with halls of their own. .Wbout 1886 . alterations were made to the building, and again in 1905 more extensive alterations and additions were made to the existing hall from plans prepared by Mr. G. G. Schwartz. The rear part was practically rebuilt, and the old main hall, used for dances ami balls for nearly 40 years, was enlarged. The whole of-the interior was practically remodelled and redecoraied. ami the frontage, too. was altereiL An ornamental addition to the Boulcott Street frontage of 58 feet w.-n the erection of four largo Doric pi.lai's with appropriate capitols, with flight* l,f steps on either side. In the original building a considerable amount of kauri timber was used, but in the alterations other timbers found a place. The renovated hall was a great success on the score of space, and the main hall was always in great demand for other than Masonic gatherings, but in the matter of ventilation it left some thing to be desired. However, it served its purpose till rhe new Masonic Hall on The Terrace was opened in 1926. In June. 1908, the old hall narrowly escaped the fate which overtook it yesterday morning. A gas explosion under the stairs started a fire which, given a few more minutes of freedom, would have wiped out the whole building, so it was stated at the time. The prompt efforts of the tire brigade, however, prevented this, though a considerable amount of damage was done.