Addington Church and School

New Zealand Tablet, 1 May 1913, Page 13

Addington Church and School

(From our Christchurch correspondent.) The Catholic residents of Addington take a justifiable pride in their local church and school, and continue to make considerable .sacrifices in the equipment and improvement of both. The fine site occupied by them is extensive and central, and the appearance of the buildings is at once substantial, commodious and imposing. Admirably adapted as they are for immediate requirements, the clean, well-kept, and orderly character of the surroundings reflect most creditably on the devoted care bestowed on their property by those members of the congregation who undertake the duties so cheerfully and generously. Although the Church of the Sacred Heart was a comparatively new building, and the school of quite recent construction, it was found necessary owing to the rapidly-increasing population of this progressive suburb of the city, to considerably extend' the accommodation of the former. This has been

effected by lengthening the building by 25 feet. In addition, a fine roomy porch was erected at the-main entrance, and the largo doors re-hung with an outward action. Substantial buttresses on concrete foundations have been erected at regular intervals of space along both side walls, the iron roof painted, and a new side door has been provided. The new portion has been furnished with sixteen extra seats, which will accommodate at least a third greater congregation than the church in its original dimensions. The contractors for the extension and improvements were Messrs S...and W. E. Luttrell, and the work has been carried out in the manner and accuracy of detail characteristic of the firm at a cost of approximately £2OO. The Altar Society, of which Mrs O'Leary is president has provided a beautiful new carpet and runners, and other requirements for the sanctuary; matting for the entire length of the church, also linoleum covering the porch floor. The altar was the gift of Mrs. T. Hynes, of Lower Riccarton, who likewise has proved a, generous benefactor in many other instances. In addition, the society, from its accumulated funds provided twelve four-seated desks in accordance with the Education Board requirements. Similar desks of approved design were also donated by Mrs.' Inkster. In the schools _ junior standards' department, where there are 89 children, eight more four-seated, or twice that number two-seated desks are required to replace those of an obsolete design remaining in use. Six desks of the new design are required in the advanced classes division (where fifty children are being taught) together with maps and a few other absolutely necessary articles for the proper carrying out of the teachers' duties. The Board Inspector points out the urgency of the large junior classroom being divided by a partition, which would obviate an immense amount of wasted energy on the part of' the teachers, immeasurably enhance the school work, and render discipline a much easier matter. He also recommends the erection of a shelter shed for the children in bad weather during play time. The school building in itself is a fine structure in brick, and needs only the equipment mentioned to render it second' to none of its size in the Dominion. There is no question of the splendid work of the Sisters of the Missions, who staff the school, and the natural conclusion a visitor arrives at is why hamper their devotion to the children's interests and discourage their efforts by not supplying all that is absolutely needed.