M'LEAN INSTITUTE.

? ; — ♦— THE BOARD'S PURCHASE. MR T. G. RUSSELL'S HOUSE. For several .months" the Board of Governors of the M'Lean Institute has been busy selecting from a number of properties under offer a house and grounds suitable for the purposes of a home for gentlewomen in accordance 'with the terms of the late Mr Allan M' Lean's bequest for. that purpose. Twelve places were selected for conr sideration, and then the Board inspected three, finally deciding upon the residence of Mr T. G. Kussell, '-' Quamby," on the, Fendalton Road, as 'the most > suitable. . The Board nas purchased' the house and grounds for £4600, the Government valuation being £4535, and will enter into possession in a fortnight. l;nere will be a number of alterations, the house having to be enlarged by the addition of a number of bedrooms, but it is expected that it will not be long before it is ready for occupation. Mr, Russell will leave for Great Britain on an extended tour at the end of this month. Even a cursory examination of the property shows that it is well adapted for the purposes of the proposed home, and a representative of the " Star " spent a very' pleasant afternoon yesterday with Mr Russell, who kindly conducted him. on a. tour of the house and grounds. The building is a very solid and handsome residence of fourteen rooms, standing in grounds 4i acres in extent. The visitor is immediately struck by the profusion of flowers, for everywhere in _ the grounds masses of bright and striking blossom meet the eye. The design of the lawns and gardens is especially attractive, and it is. evident that no tnought or trouble has been spared in laying out the grounds. A pretty drive leads up to the house, on the west side #of wnich.is a spacious orchard, . filled with peach, apple, pear and other trees^ just now heavily weighted with fruit. The soil is of an excellent nature, being' a light loam, high in all parts and draining down to the Waimari stream, which bounds the land at the back. Mr Russell says that the property is always free from dampness, as in winter the natural Boakage carries all surface" water to the river. At the rear bf the orchard there is a very fine swimming bath, and a hothouse filled with heavily laden vines is next to it. The willow bordered stream lends a very picturesque touch to the surroundings, and in the river there is a water-wheel, which works a pump that delivers 4000 gallons of artesian water daily, and a second pump which fills tanks on a lower level with 10,000 gallon's of river water daily for use in watering the grounds. The whole propefty is laid with pipes, and as the wheel never ceases the supply is constant. Beds of foses, fruit m profusion, a pretty fernery and numerous nook3, lawns and 6hady corners, contrive to make grounds that never cease to be attractive. The place is cunningly sheltered from the prevailing winds, and the owner says that they are never felt. The west side of the house is situated in such a position that it commands all the afternoon sun, and beside it there is a spacious lawn, with trees and shrubs. In front of the house there is a vacant piece of land, screened froni the lawns and gardens, which v will probably, be utilised later on for further buildings. • The house, itself is built of black pine, j totara and kauri, and has been "thor- \ oughly tested by an architect and ! builder, who pronounce it wholly sound. It is lavishly fitted inside, the papering and general decoration being of a most artistic nature. The rooms are spacious and airy, and are all fitted with gas. The bedrooms open on to a wfde, sunny balcony,, and bath- • rooms and general conveniences are at hand in many places.. 1 The drawing: room is probably one of the largest rooms of its kind in Christchurch, and will seat forty • persons with ease. It is proposed to continue the baldony bn the western side and. build bedrooms all having a 6unny aspect. Mr Russell said that the decoration of the hou£e had been very expensive, and it had been kept in such good repair that it was all in the best of order. A wide staircase leads to the upper portion , and the kitchen is very well fitted. Outside there are a number of sheds, rooms and- buildings of • various sorts, including a ,fine brick dairy and pantry. The drainage is by septic tanks, the effluent flowing from one tank to another and then into gravel, and having absolutely no connection with the river. Mr E. jCuthbert, engineer to the Drainage Board, had, Mr Russell said, pronounced the working to be excellent. " ■ • , The house is a few hundred yards from the Fendalton tramway terminus, and coaches meet all the cars, so that communication with the city is easy. Mr Russell's furniture is also under offer to the Board, and it is probable that much of it will be purchased.