Y.W.C.A, PROGRESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11000, 12 February 1914, Page 7

Y.W.C.A, PROGRESS.

NEW HOSTEL GOING U? t WILL BE READY IN iSAY. Last November the foundation stone of the new Young Women's Christian Association building was laid by Mrs Denniston. To-day it stands well on the way to completion, and is expected to be finished by April. Signs of .activity can be seen in each part of the building; the carpenters aro busy upon the flooring and walls; the plasterers are commencing their part in the erection of the building'; the electricaiis are deftly setting the iron conduit for the electric lighting, and the laying of the Marseilles tiles for the roof is proceeding apace.

These and numerous other little matters incidental to a large building of this kind are well in hand, and the probable result will be that the institution will be opened in May. In. conversation with a "Star" reporter this morning, Miss M'Neil, the secretary of the Y.W.C.A., said that they had hopes of holding the official opening in May. The building, which will be the " first erected by the Y.W.C.A. in New Zealand, has been put up -with the greatest economy possible under the circumstances. Months had been spent over the plans, and the utmost convenience would be provided with the least possible expense. The Choral Hall, too, was being thoroughly renovated. "When the building is completed.'' Miss M'Neil stated, " there will be a debt of about .CIOOO. We are going to borrow this money, however, on the Choral Hall, but we should be glad if someone came forward and freed us of this big liability. As an instance of the generosity of one person in Melbourne, a Mr Conybeare, a well-known resident of that city, gave the whole of the money for the erection of the now Y.W.C.A. building in Russell Street. It cost £2,5,000, and with the land the total cost was £32.000. The balance was raised bv subscription. "There will be accommodation for twenty-five people in the new home." said Miss M'Neil, "nineteen of whom will be boarders. The rooms will be all comfortable yet simple. Another new idea is that of a large play-room for the junior members of the Association, in which games of all kinds can bo held. The members' room, for which the girls provided £IOO. is .going to be furnished by the girls themselves. We are in hopes of having a garden and lawn. There are several walnuc and willow trees at the back, and it would be splendid to have a beautiful lawn which would make things ever Bo much nicer. "So far everything points to a successful year. All the members of the Association appear to Vie looking forward to the new building. ;:nd there is promjse of some grcod work being done. An assistant secretary is arriving in March, and wo shall be able to give a. great deal more attention to most things. Wo seem to get busier every day."