HISTORIC CHAPEL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 125, 31 May 1927, Page 8

HISTORIC CHAPEL

BOLTON STREET CHURCH

QUESTION OP PBESERVATIOIT

The question of preserving the historic chapel in the Bolton Street Cemei tery was discussed briefly at the annual meeting of tb-. Early Settlers' Asßoeia* tion last evening.

Mr. C. W. Tanner said the building was badly dilapidated, a&d there was very little of tie origin** timber, excepting the shingles on the roof, in that part of the ehnreh which was still in the cemetery. The old building was an eyesore in the midst of the graves of the pioneers of Wellington. To restore the church would probably mean putting up a new building. It had got to the stage when it could not be easily restored without destroying all reminiscences of the past. "I think it would be better," he said, "to do away with the chapel ana erect some memorial of a different type." He suggested something bnilt in artistic design, with the names engraved tpoi it of all who were buried in the cemetery. ■ ■■■...

The secretary Mr. W. Aj Edwards, said the whole subject waa'.to- b« revived in a few days, for he intended to call a further meeting of those interested in the chapel and of those who had relatives lying in the eemeiery. He suggested that if an attempt was made to combine the alternative* of preserving the present chapel and erecting a separate memorial the ideas of all would be met.

Mr. M. Maxton said he did not agree altogether with Mr. Tanner. He had been christened in the old eh«reh\ and had great-reverence "for it. He would not like to see. it pulled Sown, and thought that if it could be preserved for a few more years that should be done. ' .

The chairman (Professor W. P. Wilson) said a more suitable and more lasting memorial might easily h* evolved on the lines suggested,by Vr. Tanner. However, it wa» a matter tor the joint committee to decide.