TIE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 8

TIE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.

ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES.

PLAN'S OF A RESTORED STRUCTURE AND OF A NEW ONE.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS. INTERESTING DETAILS.' GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT'S PLANS. Wo are able to publish this morning.two -interesting elevations of tho new Parliamentary Buildings according to alternative schemes, which provide for:— (1) An-entire new "building on tho Government House site,-or (2), A restoration of the former Parliamentary Buildings, on the old site. ; Thespians have been referred to a special Committee of Parliament. THE LARGER SCHEME. Tho architect's drawings for tho building on the Government House site show a- front elevation of two stories and basement to Charlotto Street and Lambton Quay, with a

PROPOSED RECONSTRUCTION, OLD PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS. The scheme for restoration of tho old Parliamentary Buildings, wliilq allowing for increased accommodation, is estimated to cost £105,000.. It provides lor a neiv front extended -nearer Molesworth street. If this extension were to be omitted and the buildings erected with practically the samo accommodation as before the fire the cost would be £115,000 for steel frame and_ stone or brick walls. This apparently high _cost is accounted for by reason of .the largo expenditure which must bo incurred in foundation, work on tlio Sydney Street * side of tlio site. All along the side tlio ground is mado up of .'deposited spoil from the cutting of. bank on Hill' Street side, and the foundations m consequence would bo : very deep and costly. Probably £20,000 to £20,000 would havo to be expended on foundations, and this expenditure would all'bo buried beneath the surface; "In my opinion as an architect a convenient Parliament Buildings -ran never be placed on the old site" (the-Government architect, Mr. John Campbell; reported). "The lack-of breadth on the ground prevents convenient communication between parts, and the necessarily congested arrangement of - tho apartments prevents the good lighting and free circulation of air, whiclr are absolutely essential in a Parliament Buildings, and which ; are shown to bo capable of achievement in the plan for Government House site.

be the Executive Council for..the ensuing year. . , LABOUR AND THE GOVERNMENT. A discussion arose as to sotting np a deputation to wait upon tlio Ministry to lay before them tho decisions arrived at by tho Conference. .. ; Mr. Reardon questioned tho value of tho proceeding. The Government had ignored them, and they should iguoro the Govorhmjir. M'Laren.said it was a question as to N whether thoy were lowering their own dignity, and whether that if those thoy represented would not be lowered by such action. Mr. Rusbridge took; excoption to Mr. M'Laren's statement!, 1 and he quoted Actspassed at tho. request' of past Conferences. It,was not-the right thing,to say that their decisions were ignored. Mr Lightfoofc hoped ; that the resolution would bo carried,,as constant dripping would wear away a stone. ■ : Tho motion to approach tho Government was carried'. . During the discussion on the adoption of the platform, Mr. Long protested that Mr. Rutherford hail'stated in Parliament that' wool was tho only:.thing he knew .anything about. What, asked Mr. Long, did lie know about: conducting tlio business of. tho country? Ho ought to be a wool-classcr. Last year's platform was adopted. Hearty vote 3 of thanks wero accordcd tlio Wellington Trades and .Labour Council, Mayor and City Council (for the use:of, the Council Chamber), tho chairman (Mr. Thorn), secretarv (Mr. Carey), and tlio Press. The Chairman: The Conference is over.

Messrs. Harcourt arid Co. advertise the sale of the Conlin Estate. ■ • For Brocclilftt Congha tako Wood's Qrcnl peppermint Curo. Is. 6d. and ?0. 0(1. CM

pillared portico at tho entrance, the whole surmounted by a lofty dome. Entering by tho portico, tho visitor would pass into a hall, <!oft. square, and thenco along a corridor flanked by two courtyards, eacli about iQlt. square, into the lobby, in the centre of tho block, under the great dome. The lobby would be 80ft. in length with the addition of a bay at each end, and 40ft. in width. The visitor, still walking inwards from the front entrance,, would have tho Houso of Representatives on . his right hand, towards Sydney Street, and tho Legislative Council Cliambor on his left, towards Bowen iStreot. Still keeping straight on, lie would pass along another corridor, with windows looking out on courtyards of approximately tho same dimensions as those on tho other side of tho lobby. This secondcorridor would lead him .into another hall communicating with Bellamy's and the Reading Room, on the Museum Street side of tho block. A continuous corridor would' surround

tho rectangle formed by the four courtyards, the two legislative chambers, and the lobby. From the outer side of this corridor access would bo obtained to the Library, Ministerial, committee, and members' rooms. These outer portions of the block would bo two stories high. The outside measurement of the block would be 300 feet by 230 feot. These remarks apply to tlio proposed complete building-. Only about half of it, fronting Charlotto Street and Bowen Street, would be erected' at once, and this would bo built closo up to tho existing Government House, on the sides facing thoso streets. ON THE OLD SITE. Tlio proposed elevation for tlio rebuilding schemo on tile old sito is distinguished by a lofty tower over, tho front entranco from Molesworth; Street. Smaller towers arc placed at either end of this frontage. Tho main part of the front is two stories height. Under the tower is a, carriage entrance, leading into a courtyard, wliicli extends to the steps of the existing main entranco. Both the legislative halls would practically bo in their old position. Tho extension towards Molesivorth Street would provide for a new reading room, Cabinet room, and other apartments. Bellamy's would bo in "Mr. Frain's contract," on Sydney Street, and there would be a billiard room on the Hill Street side! Tlio total length of the building would be 350 feet from the Molesworth Street, entranco backwards, and its " width, exclusivo of "Frain's contract," 180 feet. In other words, it would cover the same ground as,tho old. building, plus an extension 80 feet in depthover tlio present lawn towards Molesworth Street.