THE CHURCH STEPS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13823, 20 September 1913, Page 4

THE CHURCH STEPS.

MR. CAWTHRON'S GIFT.

~The new flight of granite steps 6m the Church Hill, generously presented •11 , c/ ty by Mr- Thomas Cawthron,.. will be formally opened by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, to-day, lhe steps have now been completed, and form a handsome improvement to the hill. They will form a lasting memorial to the gentleman whose benefactions to the city are being much appreciated by citizens. ihe steps comprise in all three single flights and one double flight. Thunrst flight is 47 feet broad at the base, gradual y tapering off to 36 feet at thetop. -Ihis leads.■ to the first landing,.. 8 feet wide. The landings have been made with garden plots, with the idesiof breaking the stiffness of the steps On the face of the first landing a slabor dark grey Aberdeen granite has been let in by the City Council, on which is incribed, "These steps weropresented to the city by T. Cawthron, Esq. A.D. 1913." Three single flights, each 18 feet wide, lead from the third landing to the top of tht> Hill. Running up the sides of thosteps are granite pillars finished in (.TOthic design, cix of which cam gas lamps. The rise of the steps from the pavement to the top is 37 feet 6 inches, and the distance covered by the steps and the landings is approximately 140 feet. The steps, pillars, and copings are of the best Tonga Bay granite, all of which is "axed" finished. The side walls are of "random" rubble, neatly weathered, and finished m front in moulding. A continuous concrete channel extends from the top to the bottom of the steps. The landings are of granite; but in the the original specifications asphalt landings were provided for. Mr. Cawthron, however, decided to substitute granite, which incurred an additional cost of about £350. Wrought iron railings are fixed on top of each low wall on i/wo of the landings. Each alternatebrass standard in the railing extends 6 inches* into the wall. Attached to each is a circular "Nico" street lamp. The iron railings and the gas fittings are painted to blend with the rest of the work. Tho banks on "either side of the steps have been reformed, and planted with creeping plants, and some of the trees have been removed. Mr. Cawthron also contributed a. thin} of the cost of this work, which wsik not stipulated for in the main contract. The contract price was £1537; but. the alterations in the landings added an extra £350 to this amount, making; in all £1887. Mr. A. R. Griffin was the designer of the steps, and the work was carried out under his supervision. The contractors were Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, Ltd., of Wellington.