Mosgiel witness to quick building

Two days ago, the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Mosgiel was nothing more than a 417sq m concrete pad on a plot in Factory Rd.

Yesterday, the outer shell of the new facility was well established, and by next Saturday, the brick and tile-roofed building will be complete, with plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, curtains, carpet, sound system, other furnishings and landscaping.

Jehovah's Witnesses regional building committee member Peter Cheyne, of Christchurch, said a building of this size would normally take about four months to complete.

However, with the help of more than 300 builders, plumbers, bricklayers, plasterers, roofers, carpet layers, electricians, decorators and volunteers from Jehovah's Witnesses halls around the South Island, the project could be completed in a very short time.

Mr Cheyne said staff at the Dunedin City Council were working with the group and making frequent visits to the site to provide inspection certificates.

"By doing it in such a short time, it means minimal disruption to our preaching.

"This is a demonstration of team work and Christian principles."

Mr Cheyne said it was the 20th Kingdom Hall to be built in the South Island by the team, and the cost of all materials was met by voluntary contributions.

The new hall will be open to the public on April 16 (10am-4pm), and the Mosgiel congregation of 84 will hold its first service on April 17.

- john.lewis@odt.co.nz