THE CONVENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 4100, 23 April 1880, Page 2

THE CONVENT.

This handsome building, which is situated in the Roman Catholic Church Reserve in Victoria Avenue, is rapidly approaching completion. There remains only some papering to do, and a verandah to be built between the two projecting wings. On the ground floor there is a large and lofty schoolroom, which can be divided into two by folding doors, a reception room, kitchen, and front corridor. The stairs are wide and well arranged, and on the upper floor are sittingroom and three bedrooms for the Sisters of Mercy, and a large dormitory for the children being educated and boarded in the house. There are also on the same floor two bathrooms, lavatory, &c. All the rooms, both upstairs and down, are lofty, well-ventilated, light, and spacious. The whole building is close lined and well finished in every particular. Father Kirk was his own architect, and the work was carried out under his supervision. We must compliment him very highly on the result, Mr Cochrane was the concontractor for the building, Messrs Blackie and Epping for the painting, and Messrs Purcell and Brimble for the plumbers' work, and each in their respective lines have given the fullest satisfaction. The house is emphatically a good one, and will prove a comfortable residence for the Sisters and their pupils. It stands, as we have before said, on a portion of the Church Reserve, but two purchased sections at the side are thrown into the garden, which is therefore of considerable size, and will no doubt be well attended to by the future occupants. At the back of the Convent is a large level yard laid down with fine gravel. This is to be used as a playground for the children. The offices are very complete and convenient, and the grounds are surrounded by a high fence, so that privacy is secured. The Sisters of Mercy who are to occupy the Convent belong to the well-known order of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, a sisterhood with a world-wide reputation for charitable deeds, and not less noted for their success as instructresses of the young. The order has already nearly fifty houses in Australia. The ladies now on their way to Wanganui have hitherto been stationed at Bathurst, in New South Wales. They are four in number, and sailed ysterday in the Wakatu from Wellington. As soon as they are settled in their new home, they will open their school, and a large muster roll, both of boarders and day scholars, is expected. As the necessity arises the building will be added to, but it is believed it will prove capacious enough for all present purposes. The number of boarders will be twelve or fourteen.