ST. COLUMBKILLE’S CONVENT BUILDINGS, HOKITIKA

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 6, 11 February 1925, Page 15

ST. COLUMBKILLE’S CONVENT BUILDINGS, HOKITIKA

RECENT EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS. The new boarding school attached to the local Convent of Mercy is rapidly approaching completion so that it will be realy for occupation on the re-opening of the school (says the Hokitika Guardian for January 31). The building, which is an asset to the town' is the work of Mr. C. O'Neil, architect and contractor, of Christchurch. It is a twostorey building on a- concrete foundation. Upstairs are the girls' sleeping apartments two dormitories each 40ft by 20ft, a dressing room 80ft x lift, three bath rooms, lavatory" linen, and medicine rooms. The interior is pannelled in rimu, the dressing room being fitted with 30 porcelain basins, and wardrobes.

Downstairs i s the hall from which the staircase ascends. The windows and doors in the hall and on the staircase have lead-lights of special designs— of the hall door bearing the motto of the school— "A.M.D.G." T V are the work of Bradley and Co., Christchurch. Off the hall, pannelled in plaster board and rimu, is the cloak room, fitted with presses, basin, rack, etc. The class rooms, three in number —a room for

secondary students, a junior room, and a kindergarten— all large and airy, well ventilated during wet weather as well as dry, the windows being of the type approved ,-by the Government. The fire-places in each are finished with clinker bricks and round the walls are panels of hyloplate for drawing, etc. Finely finished presess are built .into each room. The girls' sittingroom 20ft by 22ft, music-room panelled like ble hall, a dining-room 30ft by 20ft, and a. . fully equipped science room make up the' 'length of the building, some 130 ft. Upstairs;

there is a private balcony 'which "connects with the Convent and which may be utilised for sleeping. Donwstairs each room opens to a verandah. The building is lit by electric light and there is hot and cold water throughout. -, The course of studies pursued at the school is that usually followed *--in -primary -and secondary schools. The'students are prepared for all the' usual school and musical examinalions, for Intermediate, Public Service, Matriculation, and Teachers' Examination-, as also for Commercial Examinations.