ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 98, 28 April 1930, Page 8

ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE

FOUNDATION STONE LAYING FINE SITE FOR NEW SCHOOL [ Per Press Association ) WELLINGTON, April 27. The ceremony of blessing and laying the foundation stone of the new St. Patrick’s Colelge at Silvers*ream, took place yesterday. A distinguished gathering of prelates, clergy and friends of the college, all the members of the Catholic Hierarchy of New Zealand (Archbishop Redwood and Archbishop O’Shea, of Wellington, Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, Bishop Whyte, of Dunedin, and Bishop Liston, of Auckland) were present. The ceremony was unique, inasmuch as Archbishop Redwood, who laid the foundation stone of the present St. Patrick’s College in Wellington 46 years ago and who is now in hit, ninetv-second year, laid the foundation stone of tile new St. Patrick’s. The gathering included old boys of the college from all parts of New Zealand and from Australia.

The present St. Patrick’s College in Cambridge Terrace will be retained as a day school. A feature of the progress’ of this college in recent years has been a remarkable increase in the number of day scholars, of whom there are now about 200.

The contract price for the newbuilding is £76,020. It is hoped, however, to proceed with the chapel before the present contract is completed. This will mean an additional £13,000. The chapel is to be a memorial to deceased old boys, especially to those who gave their lives in the Great War. The site is acknowledged to be one of the finest in New Zealand. The college authorities secured 800 acres, perhaps the finest property in the Hutt Valley, bounded bv the Heretaunga golf links on the north and the beautiful Wellington City Council memorial park on the south.’ The buildings arc being erected on a terrace near the main road, in the centre of a smiling plain, surrounded by low forested hills. Grounds for football, cricket, tennis and golf will be laid out before the end of this year.