NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 522, 1 June 1909, Page 8

NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF 'WELLINGTON. "SQUALID OR CONTEMPTIBLE" ... .A SOUTHERN : CRITIC. v : (BT * TXLBQRAPH—SP£CI ALCOUBtSPONDEST.) .'/ Christchurch, May 31. / •The "Press" this morning comments on the plans for the new Government House in Wei-. lington. 1 . After, referring to the objections of Wellington critics and the architect s defence, it. says:; "Wo;caiuipt say we.fihd even this •explanation, at all reassiirißg.' The site of the now Government' Hons© is really a' magnificent one,"and it is: currently reported in Wellington : 'that no 'less than £10,000 has been spent in purchasing land for a suitable approach. If this approach is to lead simply, to; a building which, although intended as a residence ; '• for 'the representative of the Crown, , is to lack dignity and impressiveness, wo should say it would; liavo been far better had less money been spent ontho approach and more on the building. The proposal to construct the house in wood hardly seems''in! keeping with these progressive times; nor do we • bolieVe 'that' it ;would; prove, a .matter ;of■ the increased cost of. maintenance and protection from fire is" taken into account. Wo cannot think.'that tho designing of- these great State buildings should be left' to an overworked Government officer. We. are - not 1 particularly ..concerned' for the feelings of the Wellington people in this mat-, tcr, for where art ; is concerned we do not believo that they have any feelings.: The architecture of the capital, with ; the exception' of a.very few public and.private.buildings," is either squalid; or contemptible, and no effort appears to be made by the inhabitants to do anything for the purposo of brightening or beautifying: tie city.,: For, the credit, of ; the Dominion, however,' the new ,vice-regal residence and the Houses of Parliament ought to be designed with'some approach to nobility of treatment. : :They 'should,'', in' set. a standard. of . architecture' which' should . tend to raiso the popular taste instead of further debasing it. lie .total, work to be done' is of sufficient .importance to_ .justify the engage-, merit of an English architect of acknowledged eminence to undertake tho designs. AVe .certainly . do not! think they should be. left to tho Government Architect,' to be done in tho intervals when be is ' not drawing out plans for local Court-housce and railway stations."