a handsome chamber with an oriel window overlooking the Avon.
The site of the Provincial Council Buildings had originally been reserved for a hospital, but had been appropriated by the Council, November 8, 1854, for its own use, and the sum of £2,000 voted at the same time for a building. The foundation stone was laid by Superintendent Moorhouse on January 6, 1858, Messrs. Mountfort and Luck being the architects.
Later on, the increased membership of the Council necessitated larger accommodation, and on November 21, 1865, the Council met for the first time in the present Provincial Council Chamber, admittedly one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in New Zealand. In selecting the material for its construction, the resources of the whole province were drawn on; the bluestone columns came from Mr. Ellis’ quarry at Hoon May; the walls were rubble from Mr. W. G. Brittan’s quarry at Halswell; the interior of the upper walls was freestone from Governor’s Bay; the mantelpieces were cream coloured limestone from Weka Pass; and the screen below the public gallery was a combination of the Weka Pass limestone with freestone from Mr. Cracroft Wilson’s quarry at Cashmere. In later years, after the abolition of Provincial Government, the citizens of Christchurch have often approached the Government in the hope that this building, with the other buildings which surround it, might be vested in the city, and become the home of the Municipal Government.
For further information about the Canterbury Provincial Council the reader is referred to the Appendix, where will be found lists of successive Superintendents, Deputy-Superintendents, Speakers and Executive Ministries.
