NEW SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 267, 31 July 1918, Page 3

NEW SOLDIERS' HOSTEL

' ERECTED BY THE SALVATION ARMY. At 3 p.m. on Friday His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Liverpool, is to formally open the new Soldiers' Hostel for the Salvation Army. For some time past the Army authorities have been aware that the accommodation for soldiers in Wellington—particularly for the crowds which swarm into town for the week-ends—has been inadequate, and they, knowing all the requisites of a soldier through their work in the camps and in the fighting zone, decided a year ago to try and better things in Wellington. The result of that endeavour is the new hostel, erected on the corner of Tory and Vivian Streets—in the heart of the most thickly-populated part of Weir lington—on the site of tho premises for* merly occupied by Mr. Geo. -Webb, grocer, for so many years. The building ia a plain, yet imposing, brick block of three stories, having a frontage of 88ft. to Tory Street by 59ft. to Vivian, Street, _the present building occupying the whole of the square represented by those measurements. The building, which has been designed by Mr. W. Gray Young, is built in the form of two wings running north and south, with a light-well in between to give a good natural light to livery bedroom. The main entranco is from the. centre of the Vivian Street frontage. It admits to a hall and staircase. To the right is a larfre diningroom, which can seat 100 people, with a separate entrance on the corner. Behind the dining-room, is tho kit6hen, storerooms, and pantry. On the other side is a corridor (with the stall' Jwdrooms leading off), which leads to a very fine o j. uncial hnll Hi" "air of the block, apartment 50ft. by 19ft., with a huge open fireplace at one end. At the other (the Tory Street) end, a door leads into a well-lighted writingroom, which is connected with the pantry by a slide in order that afternoon tea. may be served there. The central room below the light-well ia to be used as staff sitting room, and in addition there nre various offices. The whole of the interior is finished in white plaster. Tho two upstairs stories are divided into bedrooms and cubicles, .of which there are 52 on each floor.

The new buildint: is electrically lit throughout, and there is adrnnatp bathroom accommodation. The buildinir lias erected by Mr. MntfTicw Browman •'at » cost of about ,£10.0(10. Mr. T; Roberts was the clerk of works.