THE Y.M.C.A. IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 7

THE Y.M.C.A. IN SYDNEY.

SPLENDID NEW BUILDING. [from oris, own-" COKKESPON"DE\T.] Svd.vkv, Juno 12. The Young ilea's Christian Association in Sydney lias entered into possession of its handsome new building, opened on Wednesday by the State Governor, Sir Harry Rawson, who delivered a speech full of encouragement to the members. A statement by the general secretary showed that when the. sum of £15,000 was collected during the well-known 30 days' campaign it was hoped that this would prove sufficient, but, when tenders were opened it was .found that owing to the rise in the prices of building material the sum of £22,000 would be necessary for the adequate equipment of the new home. In view of the support which the association had received its officers had decided to go ahead and trust the community to stand by a project with such lofty ambitions. While every mail was bringing in further contributions, it would be necessary yet to raise £15,000 to be free of debt. At the opening ceremony a cheque for £1000 was received from Mr. Hugh Dixson, of Sydney. This comes as an addition to Ins donation of £5000 subscribed to the building fund of the association two years ago. Mr. Dixson, who is well known in commercial circles throughout Australia as president of the British-Australian Tobacco Company and chairman of tlio City Bank of Sydney, was at one time president of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is now one of its vice-presidents. Ho has been president of the Baptist, Union of New. ..South Wales, to which he subscribed £10,000 a few years ago. Incidentally Mr. Dixson's hobby is the growing of orchids, and his gardens and conservatories at his private, residence, Abergeldie, Summer Hill, contain almost priceless bulbs; one variety which he prizes most, highly flowers only once every 100 years, and has done so once in Ins lifetime. The. new building for. the Y.M.C.A. includes four storeys and a basement, and one of its features is that it provides residential quarter* for the members, there being 50 bedrooms. The back part of the old habitation in Pitt-street has been retained, the main hall of that period being now the concert hall, while in the new building there is a much finer and larger reception hall, finished in Australian silky oak. with rich dados of American oak and panels of stamped metal. There is an extensive-dining hall and ft recreatiou room (with two billiard tables); a library and a smoking-room are also part of the general scheme. The basement and sub-basement have been fitted as a gymnasium, claimed to bo one of the largest and best equipped in Australasia. The roof garden will be a feature of the associations now home. It covers nearly the whole area of the new block, and good views are obtained- over Darling Harbour to the west end Hyde Park on the east. , On the flat roof, which is lighted by electricity, are a dark room for amateur photographers and -shelter sheds for smokers. The front elevation of the building has been carried up to the ground floor level in solid quarry faced stone, and past that in brick with stone dressings. .