THE NEW GOVERNOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 13

THE NEW GOVERNOR.

' CREATED A PEER. By Telegranh—Pross Association—Copyright London, April 14. The now Governor of New Zealand, Sir John Dickson-Poynder, has been raised to the Peerage. He will go out without Lady DicksonPoynder, who will follow when the new Governor's house is ready for her reception. ; AN IMAGINARY OBSTACLE. GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL BE ■ . ■ READY. We are informed on good authority that there will be nothing to prevent Lady Dickson-Poynder coming to New Zealand at the same time with her husband, if hor only fear is that the new Government House will not be ready. Apparently our new Governor had not been informed, when the above cable message left England, of the advanced stage which has been reached in the construction of his new homo. Good progress is being made with the construction' of the new vice-regal residence on Mohnt View. Orders have been given that tho new building is to be ready for uso by the_ middle of June, and it is believed that it will not be behind time. It. is almost certain that the new. Gover-nor-will arrive in time bo open Parliament in tho last.week.of Jimo, and .the residence will then be ready for his occupation., . ■ ■ .' . . •,

■ A number of the female patients at the Mount: View Asylum will be transferred to Porirua to-day, in . order that the demolition of the old mental hospital building may be commenced on Monday. Additions have recently been made to the Porirua Mental Hospital to accommodate patients from Mount View. Before the old building is demolished it will be stripped of piping and other material, which can be used agan. All the patients will be removed at intervals,- as the work of demolition advances. In the new building plastering is now in; full progress, and the stairs are being erected in the servants' quarters. The material is all feady for the erection of the main stairs. The grounds in front of the residence are being reduced to a more uniform, slope to' allow of the formation of lawns.. This work has'proceeded very slowly because the ground was, found to be very rocky, and blasting has been necessary. The. grounds and : entrance drive will probably be still capable of considerable improvement after Hβ new Governor takes up his residence. ■ Tenders will bo called immediately for the supply of furniture, and as those who tender will bo asked to suggest their own designs, the Government in accepting tenders should bo able to ohoose from amongst a variety of styles. The lowest tender will not necessarily be accepted. The order was sent, to England cansing some feeling at the time among local furniture makers was for furnishings—namely, wallpapers,- hangings, and the largest carpets—rather than ■ furniture, and. these things, it ia stated, were only for a tew of the best rooms. They should be on their way to the Dominion now.- A quantity of ; sanitary fittings have also been ordered from Great Britain, and the Public Works Department ia waiting for them at present. . • . i : In : addition to the new furniture for which tenders will be called, furniture now oontainod in the vice-regal'rcsidence at Auckland, in the temporary residence at Palmerstoh' North, and at the Ministorial residence, Molesworth Stroet, will Ibfl used in'the new Government House.,

Plans as to how the grounde in connection'with tho now vice-regal residence would be bost laid out are being prepared by a committee, consisting oi Mr. Campbell, Government Architect, Mr; Glen; superintendent of city reserves, and Mr. Mack'ay, head gardener to. the Government. When they have, been completed tho area to bo set apart for tho purposes of grounds for tne residence will be fixed. It is understood that no decision has.'yet been arrived at as to how the balance of the' Mount View, Mental Hospital reserve is to-be used. ■ . : : , ■