THE NEW MUSEUM.

Evening Star, Issue 3632, 13 October 1874, Page 2

THE NEW MUSEUM.

Words, apart from illustration, are very inadequate to convey $ correct idea of public buildings. At best they are only suggestive; but nob having better means of giving to our readers drawings of Mr K oss’s artistic design for the proposed museum to be built on the site of the Chinese garden, King street, we must do our best to describe bis plan, which has very deservedly been selected as the best in the prize competition. We should premise that Mr Boss has very judiciously ap arranged his design that it is not necessary to copstrupt the whole of the building at once. Our forefathers kept development in view in their magnificent Gothic cathedra s. They added part to part as funds enabb d them to build ; so that the splendid structures that elicit unbounded a imiration from their descendants, were often the result of the intermittent labor of a century or more. Adopting this idea, •Mr Boss has divided the plan of his building into three parts, one or two of which can be completed without the third being necessarily proceeded with. The design is that of a central structure, to which wings can be added when funds ate available and additional space is required. The style may be pronounced composite, as it partakes of the chaste outlines of the Greek with the lightness of Italian architecture. The central building has jn front an entrance porch, with coupled Boman Doric jluted columns and pediments. On each side of the porch are windows with pedimented heads, and between each is a three-quarters column of the same architectural character as the The cornice and parapet are so constructed as to Lave spaces for vases or statuary. The second storey in front, or, more properly speaking, the gallery, hereafter to be described, is lighted by square-headed windows, divided by moulded pilasters, with entablature and a dental cornice above. 'I he internal arrangements contemplate a space below those windows being filled with cases of specimens. The wall, therefore, is blanked and divided into a number of panels intended to be filled with groups of statuary in basso or alto relievo. Over this the cornice projects considerably, and is supported by ornamental brackets. The roof will be fitted with skylights and lunettes and surmounted by an ornamental iron creating. On each side of the porch, protecting the area, i

ia a handsome ornamental iron railin on a stone kerb. This arrangement, in addition to facilitating lighting the basement storey, will prevent loafers congregating round the building and defacing the st me and ethtr work. The wings have, at the angle", pflastered columns, &c., in the same st.Je as the torch, over which may be placed groups of statuary, an 1 above them is also a niche f <r statues. The angles form projections surmounted by or finished with spherical tops, o.i which it is designed to place solitary figures. The lirstr 'floor of etch wing is lighted by four double-light windows ; the s.icoud by «ightsing’e windows divided by pilasters, with carved leaves and festoons in •?i UD<^r B *‘^ 3, The third storey will be ligated by four double windows, with ornaniewtal carved work in the panels, and the wh-de will be finished with ornamental brackets like the central portion The wints will be carried up considerably higher than the central portion of the building, so as to make pleasing breaks in the front and in the sky line.

The arrangement of the interior is well suited i-o the purposes ef a mftsrum. There is a basement story, which it is proposed to turn to good acc -unfe. The central portion is approached from the back of the building >y a staircase 15ft by 20ft. It will comprise a private room, 20ft x 19ft 6:n ; the library, 26ft x I9ft 6in ; lecture room, 40ft x 24ft • the unpacking room. 40ft x 36it; the taxidermist’s room, 24ft 6n x 22ft; and f .wo care takers’ rooms, each 20ft x’ lift. Three of the rooms are lighted by large windows in the Git area in front and the remainder from the outside in the ordinary way. What may be termed the ground floor—-the storey next above the basement contains the principal rooms of the museum. Until the extension of the accommodation required renders the addition of the wings ueces-ary, the floor space for specimens will be confined to the central portion, which it is proposed to erect at once. In it there ivi'l be the main hall, 9 »ft long o.rA ffc r..r Wld9 , ; t . be curator’s room, 2lfb by 2dft; the stair-case 16ft by 20fd • a .room for invertebra » 26ft by 20ft; and a herbarium 25ft by 20ft. Access will be had to tins robm by the entrance porch, and it wi.l be separated from the thoroughfare by m area of 6ft wide, which will be protected as before seated by a handsome iron ra-lin* carried along the front, flush with the en" t ance to the porch. Round the main hall are two gaderies running the whole extent ct it. Lach will be 12ct wide, supported by iron pillars. The first will be approached from the principal stair case at the back, and he other by a stair-case in one ©f the corners. Ihe first floor gallery will be lighted by the row of windows already described, front and back, placed sufficient!}' mgh to allow rpjcimen cases to occupy me wall space bHow. The uoper gallery ud central portion of the hall are lighted from the roof by ordinaly sky-lights, au t by lunettes from the central portion of the reof, ihe roof of all the r< oms at the back of the ma n hal is intended to be fiat, and surrounded by a parapet so as to form i - agrteable promenade leve with ihe first floor; on which also may be placed specimens ;ot liable to be injured by the weather. This arrang- ment aUo affords facilities for taking care of living specimens of p ants, ah-uld it ever be considered advisable to accept or purchase teem. Through the numerous windo i s the whole museum is : ; esi med to b as light an i airy as pos-ib'e. As the collection of articles in a museum is of much greater value than the building itself, Mr io s proposes that every floor shall be of lire proof material. It is intended to use a large quantity of concrete in the section of this structure, as it will oe more economical than either stone »r brick, and Mr Ross has already proved, in the building ©f some elegant edifices in the interior, that beautiful architectural designs can be worked opt at comparaively light cost, Iu the moulded work especially the saving is great. The sum of L 5.000 was voted by the Provincial Counci* for the first portion of the building. When competed, as designed, the cost will, of course, much exceed this, but we do no L imagine there will be any difficulty in obtaining further appropriations as needed. Museums are not merely local institutions, nor strictly Provincial. In the truest and widest sense they form most important sections of our educational machinery. I’he most elaborate description fails to convey to the quickest and clearest apprehension a true abstract conception of au object; but, accompanied with a specimen as an illustration, the whole is comprehended and remembered. When, therefore, money is expended on a museum it is only an investment which will be returned with interest in the increased intelligence and consequent economy of time, with which processes contacted with art and science are conducted We shall be glad to see our collection of specimens increase so rapidly as .to render the completion of Mr Ross’s artistic and beautiful design necessary within a few years.