ALL SAINTS' CHURCH INSTITUTE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 50, 27 February 1878, Page 2

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH INSTITUTE

The promoters of the conversazione, held last night in All Saints' Church Institute, must be highly satisfied with its complete success and gratified by the appreciation of thenefforts to afford a pleasant evening's entertainment, that was displayed by the large number of people who visited the new building, which had been very tastefully arranged and turned to the best account for the purposes of the evening, In the centre of the room was a long table, on which were arranged some very interesting specimens of gold, copper, and other ores, marbles, petrefactions, &c, the latter including some from Lake Rotomahana, which were lent by the Bishop of Nelson, as also was a prettily arranged case of Ceylon birds. There was also a collection of curiosities from the Fijis, j a-id another of a very different kind from j the Church educational schools in Ireland, this latter consisting of a number of specimens of needlework, showing what can be done by nimble fingers. Two microscopes, under the charge of the Rev. C. O. Mules aud Dr. Boor, displayed their wonders at the western end of the room, and were largely patronised during the evening. Among the pictures that adorned the walls, the place of honor must be given to two large watercolor paintings, the latest, and, to our mind, the best of tbe mauy that have been produced from the studio of that now celebrated artist, Mr John Gully. These represented Milford Sound and Lake Wakatipu, and two nobler pictures it would be difficult to find anywhere, either in or out of Nelsou. There were also two smaller but very beautiful paintings by the same hand, one being a view of the Walter Peak near Lake Wakatipu, aud the other Lake Wanaka as seen from Mr Huddleston's run. Au oil painting by a lady in Greymouth depicting two Tuis engaged in extracting the honey from the flax flowers attracted considerable attention, and was very much admired, as, iudeed, it well might be, for the birds were as life-like as the flowering flax-stalks were true to nature. A valuable oil painting of North Shields was lent by Dr. Squires for the occasion, and there were, in additiou, a large number of photographs, oleographs, chromos, and fine engravings. Nor must we omit to mention a masterpiece by Mr AVix, consisting of au exquisitely illuminated border, copied by that gentleman from the original in the British Museum. The uewly imported bell for All Saints' Church, weigh--8 cwt, was a prominent object in the room, and, judging from the sounds that occasionally emanated from it, the tone is a very fine one, and will be heard to advantage when the bell is placed in position. During the evening several glees, solos, .and part sougs were sung bg members of the All Saints' choir, assisted by friends, and addresses were delivered by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Nelson, the Von. Archdeacon Thorpe, Rev. I J. Leighton, and the lion. W. Fox. The \ dimensions of the new building, which is to be devoted to the combined purposes of a Church Institute aud Sunday School, are 61ft iv length, 24ft iv width, the height to the eaves being 14ft, and to the crest of the roof 25 ft. The eastern end is fitted with seats and a permanent stage, which can be arranged at a few miuutes' notice for au infant class, or for the performers ata choral, or speakers at a public, meeting. The other end is screened off by a sliding curtain, and can be divided into class or reading rooms as required, The total cost of the building, which was erected by Mr Browu, was £375,