THE JUBILEE YEAR. Expensive Alterations to be Made to Westminster Abbey.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE JUBILEE YEAR. Expensive Alterations to be Made to Westminster Abbey.

L\ <> > i.i d.\ special cable to the Aus-u.^i.i-i pie-s dated London, May 17, sa).~: — • L i- "o bo regretted that the di&cussion n 1 1' i fie £70.000 to bo expended o»i the \^ e-n, Mister Abbey jubilee -service came on ,-i 1..:^ that the report had to be condensed r tii daily papers, for a more piotligate • >! ri'iuue never has been permitted. The .''•') \ i- to be con veiled into a sort of O'» u:pia, w ith great wooden galleries. The \\.. 111 1- to I>e hired for a day and will cost Cl i i'o. It con-ists of battens, most of which \,i.l I c a- valuable after the ceremony as bjfoie. The calories are to be covered with -m nit 1 -oi t of han^inur-, and cushions aic to ! \r o\ hUhL The hire of the hn,ngingj> and of the cushion 5 ? is to cost £0,.300. The - ''ioneiy i- to co^t £I,l oo, though what tills - r t i.nciy i* to consist of no one knows In i iiurion to this the dean and chapter are to n'_t-i\e £500 for possible damage to the c.'ir'icdial and £300 as a solatium for not I'jincr able to hold the ordinary services v iuie fralk-ries arc being erected. Mr riunKett estimates that the galleiie? ■will -i it K'.OOO i-.er.-on'j, therefore the seatingv, ill c _~t -€1 14=; per liead, while churches ,uc tnliiel} built at the average co&t of £2 ji'.l hlad. ■• l iut the mo^t curious admission was )n i'lo by Mr Plunkcttdiuing the debate. He .-<ii. l ihat tlie Conservative .supporters of the ('.o\o i nmenl had informed him tliafc they v-ould not vote for the expenditure unless tiiMi ;=; = weie given seats. These wives .-no no doubt very excellent and veiy charminn pur-ons, but they are expensive. We in\eifcon the authority oi Plunkett that Ij'id v,'e not consented to their demand for -;at- their husbands Mould not have agreed tn the estimate, so excessive do they deem r