THE SYNAGOGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 808, 23 July 1864, Page 5

THE SYNAGOGUE.

The contract for the body of the new Synagogue in Moray place is just completed, and tenders are called for the fittings. It is intended to add si. facade to it at a future time, which will consist of a rusticated basement divided into five compartments, over which will be an lonic portico, and return wings, terminating in pediments, arid relieved with pilasters of the same order as the portico. This portico will form the entrances to the Synagogue and ladies' gallery, each having.a separate staircase; and under the portico will be the entrance to the school, which measures 30ft in length by 20ft in width. The Synagogue is lighted by five semicircular headed windows on each side ; the walls are of brick, 18 inches • thick, and plastered; and the ceiling .is boarded, stained and varnished. The principals are dressed and chamfered with cut pendants under the queen posts. .

The ventilation is provided,for by iron gratings being inserted in the outside walls, which communicate with five shutoff ventilators fixed in the floor, and corresponding perforated ventilators in the centre of the bays of the ceiling, formed by the principals. These may be opened or closed at pleasure, and the vitiated air being admitted into the roof, passes away under the ridging which is arranged for the purpose.

The building stands about north-east and south-west, the principal front being to the north-east, at which end it is intended to erect a Ladies' Gallery which, at present, will be approached by temporary wooden steps leading to a temporary porch. In the porch it is intended to erect a staircase to the gallery, which will be replaced by a more permanent arrangement when the facade is erected.

At the south-west end is the ark, standing in a recess four feet deep, arched over. The fittings consist of four fluted Corinthian columns, supporting an entablature with dentils and modillibns appropriate to the order, and surmounted with semicircular wreaths and panels. The centre is filled in with tablets, intended to receive the Ten Commandments written in Hebrew. The portion between the centre columns is fitted with sliding doors, and arranged to suit the requirements of the Jewish form of worship. , .

The columns will be in imitation of white marble, the capitals being white and tipped with gold, and the:pannels will be painted in flatted white and relieved with gold mouldings. The reading platform stands in the centre of the floor, above which it is raised about two feel It is enclosed with a screen in the Doric order ; having plinth, Qoupled columns, and entablature, relieved

by a blocking over all the columns. A reader's desk will be fitted at one end and a seat at the other. Attached to the reader's platform and between it and the ark, is an enclosed seat for office bearers. The painting of this portion of the fittings will be also in flatted white, relieved with gold. The seats are to be ranged on each side of the synagogue and will be 'of simple design with scroll ends; the seats, back and elbows, being padded and covered in crimson plush. The wood work will be painted white, to correspond with the other fittings. The ladies'gallery will be supported by four Roman Doris columns with entablature and open balustrade; the entablature being relieved by dentils and triglyphs peculiar to the Doric order. The painting of the gallery front will be also in white and gold, with crimson cloth stretched at the back of the balustrade. The inner doors to the ground floor and ladies' gallery are covered with crimson baize and pannelled with brass headed nails. It is believed that when completed the internal fittings will not be surpassed for chasteness of design by those of any similar building in the colonies. The contract for the body of the building was taken by Messrs Somner and Gunn for £1400, and has been completed without extras. The design is by Messrs Mason and Clayton, under whose supervision the whole is being carried out.