Big Congress Hall for Salvationists

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 1

Big Congress Hall for Salvationists

SCHEME FOR AUCKLAND OVER £9,400 ALREADY IN A new Congress Hall, to cost £25,000, fs to built by the Salvation Army in Grey Avenue, about three chains away from the Town Hall. Already the sum of £9,414 16s 3d is available, and at a meeting of Salvationists last evening the first contribution of £1,116 was made. TT is expected that the foundation stone will be laid in February and thafr the opening of the building will take place next August. At the opening celebration there will be a great congress of Salvationists from all over the North Island. Commissioner Hay, head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, is at present in Auckland launching the scheme, meeting officers and workers and friends who are in the project. « Following are the monies, including last evening’s contribution, available for the new Congress Hall: Legacies: A. R. D. Watson, £290 and another of £125; M. Duffy, £100; A. T>. Lubecki, £500; A. D. Lubecki, £837 10s; Henry Brett, £500; James Kerr, £315 16s 3d; from central funds, Wellington headquarters, £2,000; sale of Albert Street property and sundry donations, £3,746 10s; special grant from General Booth, London, £I,OOO. Many friends of the Army have already promised large donations and it is expected that many others will give sums from £IOO to £SOO. Mr. Louis Pincinni, who has built some of the Army’s largest properties, will be superintending the erection of the building, and the Army’s architect, Staff-Captain Percival Dale, has been employed. It is believed that the property will constitute an outstanding building in the whole of Australia and New Zealand. NEW GIRLS’ HOME Other work being undertaken by the Army in Auckland is the building of the new Rescue Home in Churton Street, Parnell, on the site of the old building. A tender has been accepted from Mr. L. G. Watson for £4,981. The new building will accommodate 40 girls and will be two storeys high. It is expected to be open in April. The new Prison Gate Brigade Home in Williamson Street, Epsom, should be open at the end of this month. It will accommodate 30 men. Commissioner Hay is at the Army divisional headquarters, Queen Street, while in Auckland.