WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 8, 12 June 1885, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

(From oar own Correspondent.) June 1, To-day the portals of St. Patrick's College were opened for the first tinte for the reception of students within its halls, and the practical business of Catholic collegiate education in New Zealand commenced. Though there has been no ceremonial opening of the College, on account of the absence of His Lordship Dr. Redwood, who is on his way to Enrope, yet, all the same, it certainly has with it to-day the best wishes and fervent prayers for its welfare and success of the Catholics not only of this city, but of the whole diocese. Though various descriptive remarks on the College have from time to time appeared in your columns, the present is not an importune time to give some farther descriptive- particulars. The site of the College is on two town sections, portion of a plateau at the base of Mount Cook, lying between Tory street, and Cambridge terrace, close to Buckle street, and and not very distant from the Wellington College. From its splendidly elevated site and general prominent position, the College now forms one of the bast land marks of Wellington, being visible from a considerable distance. The front elevation overlooking Cambridge terrace is 118 feet in width, the 6ide or south elevation to Buckle street is 105 feet in width, and the depth of the building is 85 feet. The style of architecture adopted throughout the edifice is nearly pure Gothic, with high- peaked gables and a massive square central 'tower. The windows are set in sunken panels, with label mouldings 'surrounding and enriching them. The north and south sides are almost as rich in general ornamentation as the front. The back part of the building faces Tory street, between it and which lies the play ground and out buildings, enclosed in by a galvanised iron fence about seven feet high. From the main entrance, fronting Cambridge terrace, springs the tower, which is 85ft. in height having in it on the second_storey a largeiornamental niche, wherein is to be placed a statue of the patron saint of the college. The whole edifice, which is three storeys, and the towers are of brick, plastered without and plastered and stuccoed within. It may be interesting to know that there were used in the construction of the College, over three-quarters of a million of bricks, seven hundred casks of cement, close on one hundred thousand feet of timber, and eigbt tons of corrugated iron. The tower, which is two storeys in height is reached by a stair case let into the wall from the second storey of the main building. One apartment is darkened while the other or top one is well lighted. In the lower will be placed an astronomical observatory with all modern appliances. Being the most elevated building in the city it will be well adapted for purpose and will no doubt be fully esteemed when any important transit of the heavenly bodies or meteorlogical disturbance is anticipated. From the flat roof on the summit of the tower, access to which is through a trap door, after ascending a lofty step-ladder, a magnificent panoramic view is obtained, embracing as it does the entire city and out-lying suburbs, the wide extent of Port Nicholson harbour, and the townships of Petone and the jjOWot Hutt. The public entrance to the College is gained by means of a gradtially ascending carriage way leading from Cambridge terrace. After ascending a few broad stone steps and passing through two sets of massive doors and a splendid vestibule, the visitor finds himself in a lofty corridor, running longitudinally across the building and leading to a well-lighted study, 70ft. by 26ft., fitted up with desks and other educational appliances, all of the most modem pattern. At one end is a rostrum ; behind this is a large lavatory, from which, by means of a side door, is the access to the On this, the basement floor, oa either side <if the vescibale are three parlors, nicely furnished, also a large apartment intended for a library. A valuable collection of classical, theological and philosophical standard works, consisting of several thousand volumes for the library left by the late Very Uev. Father O'Reilly, will be placed in the apartment directly, and will form an excellent nucleus of the Bplendid library which is contemplated for the College. There is a side entrance to Buckle street, and to the Dew cburch now in course of erection on the piece of land fronting this street, some time since purchased for the purposed of a church. A flight of stone steps takes you to the cellars, which are very spacious. To the rear of the corridor above-mentioned are the kitchen, pantries, scullery, and other offices, and over which are the apartments for the domestics engaged on the premises which at present consist of a matron (Miß9 Finnigan;, 5 general servants, a gardener and a kitchen and errand boy. In the kitchen is a 7ft. Leamington range, which supplies hot water to the several lavatories and bedrooms in the upper stories. On the basement floor are also situated the professors' and students' dining rooms. Facing the vestibule is the main stsircasebuiit of Kaon with cedar balustrades and rails. On reaching the second floor a similar corridor to that on the ground floor runs across the building north and south. Tne largest apartment on the floor is the dormitory, situated immediately over and of similar dimensions to the study on the first floor. It has two fireplaces and is thoroughly well ventilated and lighted. An apartment is portioned off at one end of the dormitory for the Prefect. Passing through the end of the dormitory a lavatory is reached, which has a concrete floor and is filled up with basins on two sides, bath rooms and patent closets on another side, and on the fourth side shelves and receptacles for the boy's requisites. On this fleor is a large room which will be the museum. A very large collection of curiosities have been already collected for the purpose by the Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, and will be placed therein directly. The Bector's bedroom and sitting-room are on this floor, at the south-eastern corner, as well as several classrooms, lecture hall, and studies. A temporary oratory has been improvised in the lecture hall, pending the completion of the cburch in course of erection adjoining the College. On the third and top floor is another large dormitory, lavatory, etc., as ofl ihe middle floor. There are on this floor the bedrooms and sitting-rooms for the professors and spveral parlours for the convenieDce of the boarders. The professors' rooms are nicely furnished, but everything in the way of luxuries are excluded. Elecmc bells

ark pjfeced over the entire building, from the tower to the kitijh^f, Theift is a capital supply of water laid on to all parts of the building^ aq£ Ofc ."each flwr a 17686 is placed. The ventUatJofrandwinitajV arrangements hare been, well,astend,ed to; two large pipes are ran pp on the outside which will disphaigg all foal air arising from the drains and closets right over the topi of the tower; The gas is laid on to every corridor and compartment. In each class-room and study, and in both the dormitories the very best and safest means have been provided' fur -admitting -the* fresh, air and discharging- the impure air. The furnishing is not yet complete— a quantity of furniture, educational requisites, and scientific appliances being- on their way out from Home. Akitchengarden will belaid off on one side of the laod between the main building and Oam bridge terrace ; the remainder will be planted with trees and shrubs. The play-ground is situated between the back of the laundry and Tory street, but though of very fair dimensions is not large enough for cricket or football ; this, however, will be in a great measure compensated for by the close proximity of the Basin Reserve, in Buckle street. A large open shed is being erected, where the boys may recreate themselves in wet weather. The professors are thinking of having a ball-alley erected in a, portion of the playground for hand-ball This game is unknown to colonial youths, but is much practised by the youth of Ireland aqd is a great favourite at all Catholic seminaries and with young, ecclesiastics. As is well known, the Marist Fathers are to have the charge of the College. The professorial staff at present consists of the Very Rev. Dr. Walters, rector ; Fathers Carolaa and Qoggin, as classical and mathematical teachers ; the Rev. Fathers Devoy, Seauzeau, and Des Chesnais will also assist in the other branches of higher education—the latter will especially direct the astronomical Btudies. The well-known ability of these teachers is a sufficient guarantee of the tone of the College generally. The comfort of the boarders will be well looked alter, and parents at a-distanoa can' rest assured that their boys will enjoy the pleasures of a private homo during the time they are within the waflfe q|f the College. The thorough success of this great and n <?U# monffllbent of Catholic faith now rests in the hands of the CathoM parent* of the whole of New Zealand, and it is to be sincerely hopedV that they will avail themselves of this great undertaking which their generosity has helped to erect. Our non-Catholic citizens view the College with pride as an ornament to the city, and with amazement at the gigantic undertaking of a comparatively small portion of the people of New Zealand.