PERMANENT HOUSING AND BEAUTIFUL WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 8

PERMANENT HOUSING AND BEAUTIFUL WELLINGTON

Sir,—As I have experimented and written largely on the subject of home buildin;* in permanent materials, showing lime and again tlr.it a concrete house, in 25 year.* will have, cost in that, period just .half the cost of a wooden building, 'it is verv gratifying at last to know that tho public mind hns come to realise tho benefit derivable from permanent material, and are now looking for concrete homes in preference to wood. I have advocated tho use of any permanent material, such as brick, stone, or concrete, and have championed the last-mentioned ns'muoti for economy as for other reasons, because it is a material with which a complete bwildina may bo erected, whereas stone and brek apiily for practical purposes to walls only', Another reason lor concrete in that there is no part of New Zealand where aggregates arc unprocurable, and T sav this advisedly, because substitutes for stone are obtainable'on the pumice areas of Tnuno ns on Hie gitmHds of the north. These, in part: are the reasons why I lu\vi> advocated concrete and that to good effect. Hut, let it not be understood that this Is the only and beau ideal material, There are uses for which stoi>e. for instance, is much more suited ~where greater artistic effect is soncht. such as in a church., a monument, and, vca, in the house also, and this is what I am coming to in beautiful Wellington for beautiful it is by naturo, though besmirched by the hand of man. However, i as the greater number of the ■ older

buildings are in a state of galloping consumption, the present is the time to organise for beauliliention. To iny idea, Wellington is a iavourwl city, and is adaptable in capable, hands of being made a perfect beauty spot. Situated as it is—a real amphitheatre—in the harbour (the arena) surrounded by the great gallery of hills from Seatoun following around citywards and on to l'enearrow. The hills are rugged, thus providing gorge and dells in every direction. The rugged contour of tho high lands makes a glorious skyline, and distance, from any point lo any other in the picture lends enchantment to the view. There are in tho near suburbs many pretty streams oml still, lelt good paretics of native. bush,

I have {ravelled far ami wide and 1 know no place n.s a commercial port and city so favoured by nature nor more easy of further adornment in the architecture and engineering works to be done in replacement and in new works if taken in hand early by the right people. _ Now then, the city abounds with material for building both in concrete and stone. They nre both adaptable to beautifying, tlio stone in the van. 1 have wondered and wondered why pebble walls are not now used. In tho very early days of the colony, the good, far-seeing Bishop Selwyn built two or three cobble-stone houses in Parnell, Auckland. These are two-storied gabled nouses, uuaint and snug, and although among the oldest homes in New Zealand are still in use and are likely to be 100 years hence. Because of the small sum these houses have cost in maintenance, Vhey arc by' far tho cheapest houses ever erected in the Dominion, and are ' « standing argument for permanent .material. In architecture youth and beauty go not together, but rather old age and beauty. To attain this permanent material is necessary. Therefore, I horn the day will dawn when the homes of Wellington will l» built of stone and concrete taking softness of lone by tho baud of time and added beauty from the rose, ivy, Virginian creeper and wisteria on tho walls, on pergolas and on fences. • Then tho beauty of Wellington will have been enhanced by man, who can make it a picture cit.r. Add to this concrete roads eliminating the dust nuisance, and Wellington will be a placo good to live in.—l am, etc., R. W. DE MONTALK, F.N.Z.I.A.