VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 874, 21 July 1910, Page 4

VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE.

STRONGLY CRITICISED. Several members of the Legislate® , Council went over the. new vice-regal residence yesterday afternoon. • It is understood that while their opinions naturally differed upon points of detail they were fairly unanimous in the impression that an unfortunate site has been chosen. An honoured member of the Council, who was qutstioned by a Dominion representative yesterday, spoke strongly .on what seemed to him to be defects of tho residence and its position. The site, he • considered, was a very poor one, as its associations were connected with a mental hospital, and the most prominent objects in the view were the backyards of Newtown and the building on Mount Cook which was erected for a gaol. The position and outlook of the main drive, he characterised as abominable. Tho soil was the very worst for growing anything like coniferous trees, and he did not think much oould be done with it unless it was plentifully, . limed. The buiJding did not look at all like a Governor's residence, but rather , like some public institution. 'The bedrooms were bright and pleasing, but. ho thought that the dining-room should be two feet wider, to prevent a crowded service upon State occasions. The main corridor should also be wider to ac- , commodate people emerging from _ the ballroom. Tne arrangement for receiving visitors in the hallroom seenled to him excellent. He thought that a mistake had been made in abandoning the old site for i. Governor's residence.