WARATAH DEAF MUTE INSTITUTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 19, 31 August 1888, Page 11

WARATAH DEAF MUTE INSTITUTION.

(Nencattle Herald, August 4.) The new Deaf Mute Institution and High School is complete, and is really a credit to all parties concerneJ. It was entirely at the instigation of the Roman Catholic clergy that the work of providing a home for tbc unfortunate deaf mutes has been done, and now that the building is finished the opening ceicmony will take place on the irst Sunday in October, but will not be occupied until January, 1889. The site selected is one of the grandest in the Northern District, commanding a view of several miles of the coast line, with the city, Stockton, and all the immediate suburbs, besides a good view of the beautiful valley of the Hunter. The land cost £1648, and the task of erecting the building fell to the lot of Mr. F. B. Menkins, architect, Newcastle, and Mr. John Straub, builder, Waratab, at an estimated cost of £8000. Too much praise cannot be given to theso gentlemen for the magnificent design and workmanship they have displayed in this mammoth undertaking. To those who have an eye for the grand and noble art of building construction we would recommend a visit to this triumph of modern time?. Knowing that all who are so inclined cannot do so, we give a description for their benefit. The building is of red brick, and f f.ced or mounted with white bricks, the whole being tuck-pointed. The walls throughout are twenty-one inches thick, made up of two nine-inch walls, with a three-inch spaca for obvious reasons. The building is formed into two wings facing the sea, and is almost surrounded with a massive colonnade of cast-iron columns.and mounted with friezing and cast-iron paneling of good design. The colonnade is 44 feet long on the eaßt of front, 85 feet on the north, and 77 feet on the south side. The whole of the wood-work throughout is of the best cedar. The main entrance is approached by a number of large stone steps, varying in length from 10 to 14 feet, and entirely of one piece each (quarried by Mr. Frank Ellis, of Wnratah), wiih stone ballustrades on cither side. At tbc entrance is a ves'.ibale with an embossed glass door and windows of church-stained glass, with the Dominican motto above. On the right of the vestibule is the reception room, and on the left a parleur. Passing through the above door, the visitor enters a large hall running right and left — the light leading to that part of the building confined to the deaf mutes aod the High School, and to the left that of tbe Sister* of the Dominican Convent. We may mention here that, although under control of the Sisters, yet the institution is open to all creeds and denominations. To the left, on the ground floor, is the chapel, 24 x 31 and 18 feet high, with cone-pelling and massive cornices ; next is

the community room. 18 x 24. then a Isrge dining room, 20 x 22. On the light oftbe building, on the ground floor, is a large achoolroom for mates, 66 x 24, with a partition dividing the dining room, 17 x 14 On iertive occasions the partition can be taken down, thug makine T.J arge o b . all 2? x . 24> Throu^ tola is the schoolroom for da? children, 24 x 24, with lavatory for their use. At the rear of the bnilding is a scullery and wash-house, fitted up with a larce Leamington range and bnck bake-oven attached, also boilers, etc. There are four rcoms in the Kitchen department, with all the necessary arrangements, the water being conveyed to the different boilers, etc., by the circulating system, from large tanks with a meter attached! On the .op floor, to the right, is a large dormitory for children, 57 x A, with bum windows and four doors ; through this is a dressineroom,24 x 24, adapted for the fitting up of washstands, etc. This leads into two bath-rooms, fitted with hot and cold water taps ; also appliances for a shower-bath to each: The water is supplied from a tank overhead, holding 4000 gallone. *"»«■ .t wew c °? xt if ?* to*™"* consisting of three rooms—two for the JL f 1 each ; and the third ' a smaller one for the nurse, in the centre of the two larger ones. On the left side of the building there are eight cells for the nuns, with bath-rooms, etc. ; also another large tank overhead holding 4000 gallons. The painting and artistic work is plain, but substantial, and qnite in keeping with the rest of the work so ably executed. After the opening ceremony a number of deaf mutes will be brought from Newcastle and Maitland, who have been cared for for some time past by the Sisters, so that the institution will not be finished one month too ■con, seeing that the furnishing is to be done and other important arrangements made before the end of the year.