OLD ATTICS OPENED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 15

OLD ATTICS OPENED

Interesting Find At Rangiora

“It will be a difficult matter to lay out the ridiculous nlot of ground to which Cathedral square is now reduced in any way so as to make it look well." These words are from a copy of • The P ress” printed in 1866 and which was recently found by Mr and Mrs B. Barron, of Rangiora, when they discovered two sealedoff attic rooms in their house in Durham street. Mr and Mrs Barron recently found these rooms, as different levels in the ceiling of their house suggested there might be a sizeable loft. Instead of finding bare beams and studs, however, two wall-papered rooms were found leading off a small landing. Large windows had once lit each of these rooms when the house was built, probably almost 100 years ago. Weather boards had since been built across them. The larger of these rooms measures about nine feet by 13. The sloping walls and ceiling of both rooms and landing have been carefully decorated with wallpapers bearing designs which have again become the fashion. A paper with a brick pattern, which is considered a contemporary motif, has been used in the big room, and a small green fern pattern on a light background has been used to decorate the other.

A small bamboo occasional table was the only furniture still in the attic room, one of which had been a bedroom. Quite a number of jaspers, booklets and records were there, with a few personal effects, including a box with a transparent cover containing locks of hair, a pair of boots and a nightshirt. Oldest Newspaper, 1862 The oldest newspapers were two copies of the "Lyttelton Times” dated 1862. with "The Press” dated four years later. Another paragraph in this paper ran: "It is a great pity that by some mistake the pedestal of the Godley statue will not be ready for the anniversary of the opening of the province on Monday next.” The article said the base was of Weka Pass stone and had been carved to the wrong dimensions.

Various advertisements included one inserted by the Cobb and Company Telegraph Line of the Royal Mail Coaches. This announced that a trio from Christchurch to Timaru could be undertaken in one day, evidently quite an achievement. The notice said the coach left Christchurch at 6 a.m. and was supnosed to arrive at Timaru early tn the even-

Numerous schooners, frigates. and clippers were advertising pending departures for various parts of the “colony" and overseas. Tenders for the sale of an iron paddle steamer were also being advertsied while the announcement of a race meeting to be held at Leeston was followed by several notes, one of which stated that all disputes would be settled by the track stewards. Land for sale in Christchurch was advertised at £4O and £5O a “plot,” terms being a quarter of the price down and the balance in two years. Among various pamphlets was a souver. fr programme of the touring British football team's match with Canterbury in 1904-1906 Captain of the vesting team was D. R Bedell-Sivright, with P. Haney the Canterbury capta‘n.

Mr and Mrs Barron, who are interior decorators, plan to convert the northern attic room into a studio. The former window space will be fitted with Venetian blinds leading on to a small balcony and a skylight will be installed. The other room will be for entertaining and is to be deeorated on a Japanese theme. Stairs to the attic will be built in the style of a ship's ladder.