New Congress Hall for Salvation Army

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 288, 25 February 1928, Page 12

New Congress Hall for Salvation Army

LAYING OF FOUNDATION STONE COMMISSIONER HAY’S VISIT Commissioner James Hay, 0.8. E., Commander- in-Chief of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, will visit Auckland on Monday for the purpose of laying the foundation stone of the new Congress Hall in Grey’s Avenue. The function will take place at 12.30 p.m. The site of the hall is near the Town Hall and has a frontage of 86ft to Grey’s Avenue and 146 ft to Neal’s Avenue. The purchase price was £6,250, and with the buildings and furniture the total cost will reach £25,750. The building will include a large auditorium with seating accommodation for 900 persons, a social hall, halls for Bible classes and young people and the headquarters offices. Commissioner Hay dedicated the ground on November 23, of last year.

At the function on Monday, the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, will speak on behalf of the citizens and the Rev. Evan R. Harries, of St. James’s Presbyterian Church will represent the other churches of Auckland. Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. J. J. Toomer, Colonel and Mrs. Charles Knott, of Wellington, Staff-Captain P. Dale, who designed the hall, and a large number of prominent Salvationists will be present. Music will be given by the Army Band. Commissioner Hay will also make a progress report in connection with the collecting of funds for the building operations. Later in the afternoon he will conduct a council of officers in the Grey Lynn Flail and in the evening will open the new hall at Avondale. Afterwards he will leave for Sydney by the Niagara to preside at a special council of Army leaders called by General Booth to consider future extensions in Australia and New Zealand. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Hay and Colonel Knott.