THE MASONIC HALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 847, 22 February 1868, Page 3

THE MASONIC HALL.

A contract for the erection of .the Masonic Hall, in Moray Place, near the Glasgov Arms Hotel,!' has ,been entered -into by the Building Committee appointed by. the various Lodges of Freemasons ; the contractor being Mr E. Horsman. The site is being cleared by the ' hard-labor prisoners, as part of the Church Hill work, and it will be ready in a fortnight. or three weeks. •It is contemplated that everything shall be got ready* with a view' to the foundation stone being' laid by His Royal Hiehnesa, Prince Alfred; and should the' Prince ' comply with thewishes of the Freemasons, the ceremony o£ laying the stone will be one .of the most attractive proceedings during the Prince's visit.— The site, 82ft. 6in.'by 132 ft. has been, purchased for L6OO ; and Mr Horsmans. tend er for the building, is L 2700. The design is by _ Messrs Mason ,and Clayton, and iff provides !for a building strictly " Grecian: an style, • the portico' being of the Corinthian order. The Hall as ■• a ' whole* will have a frontace of C3ft. to Moray Place, and will be 77ffc. deep. It will include two large rooms — the lower one, 60ft. by 40ft. and 20ft. high, to be let for public; purposes ; and the upper one, 4Sft. by. 38ft., which will be strictly devoted to Masonic purposes. The length of the.rnoins will be parallel to Moray Place, or nearly so; the object being to secure a due' east and west apartment for the use of the Brethren. On. the ground floor, in addition to the public room, there will be two rooms flanking the entrance hall — one 25ft. 6in. by 1 3ft. 3in., and the other. 15ft. by ,13ft. 3in. The staircase will be 10ft. wide, atid at right angles to the entrance hall. The public room, or Music Hall, as it is to be called, -will be lighted by- ten side windows,' which, being of an ordinary kind externally, will' internally be curved at the top, so as to follow the line of the cove of the ceiling. • The walls will be > divided into panels by pilasters, which will be ventilating shafts, and ' perforated zino will be ■• introduced over each alternate window. The Music Hall will be ■ well, plastered, but plainly finished. The platform will be at the easterly end ; and at the westerly end there'wili room for a gallery. There will be three thoroughlyseparated entrances to the Music HalL The upper storey will have, over the entrance) hall and - the small rooms, a supper-room,. 35ft' 6in. by 'sft.' with W shifting panel foxr dividing it into two apartments ; and a serv-ing-room, 23ft. by 10ft.- Of course, these rooms will often :be used for Masonic purposes proper. - From the level of the two rooms, a? flight of stairs will lead to the Masonic Half, at the west end of which will be two rooms, 14ft. by 12ft. and IStt.' by 12ft. as well as a lobby. The only entrances to the Hall will be ! through those rooms. The floor of the'HalL will be supported > on/, iron girders. There will be no window.ppening orlight-admitting aperture ;' but there will be abundant - ventilation.—The 'exterior of the building wilL (judging r front 1 -the drawing)" be most pleasantly - effective. ■ Of the <77ft. depth, ; 36ft. ' 6in. will be occupied by the portico. There will be six plain-shafted Corinthian columns, 25ft high, supporting a> cornice, sft deep, and a pediment, the, apex. Of which will rise '7ft. In the tympanum, it is. intended to- have, in bold relief, a group emblematic^ Faith, Hope, and' Charity. Where the portico joins the main portion, of the building, th«re will be pilasters, the neck-moulding of which will be carried alongthe front, and will be enriched with scroll work and Masonic emblems. There will be no opening under the portico save ' the central doorway — this being a strict adherence to style. To a height of Hft, the front will be rusticated ; and above this, there will be two. ■ panels, with bead and heart mouldings* ea1 riched with Masonic emblems. The angles formed by the junction of the portico and the main portion of the building, will be filled in quadrantal-wise ; there being here, on. each side, a doorway, giving access to the waiting-room at the platform end of the Music Hall, and to that Hull direct at the other end. .- The rustication, paneling,! &c will be continued along - these , quadrantal parts; and there will, be pilasters, %&c.% &c. j Above the portico, the main building rises several feet ;- and there are two window o.penrags (ts> the small upper rooms), with small enriched columns bearing semicircular arches, each window being flanked by pilasters, ' wiih ' foliated capitals. Between . the windows, the r cornice is, at the centrej finished with a- block- relief ;' and at' each, end, there are pilasters feupporting a' small' i pediments As- there will be 'Oft. cf ground left on i each side of the building, it. is intended to erect two rusticated • archways, having dentil cornioea, with trusses enriched with Masonic emblems. The building ib to be of brick, ..cemented ; the offices _ ( of the New Zealand Insurance Company,, in High. street, being a sample of the style of .finiahv "We have no doubt whatever. tha'V when, completed,' the Masonic Hall ' will be r admitted to have one of the nicest exteriors to.

be found in the Colony. '

The Nelson and Hokitika papers quote the report of Jhe experiments recently made, here in trawllfishing by'th'e smack ftedcliff,. as refering to' a subject of very great interest. The 'Nilsdn-'Examiner -says ':-<•* We have heard many people express their surprise, that more'energy is toot employed in utilising the unlimited -'supply of fish which- is to ba had on the" coasts of New Zealand. .We hope that the undertaking of the Kedcliff may 00 the. commencement of what might be made a very profitable. industry, and.one whioh,has failed [hitherto, solely because,, .owing to the mode ( of .fishing adopted, the supply was, nofe. sufficiently certain,"