THE PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2680, 8 November 1882, Page 4

THE PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

[press association telegram.]

WELLINGTON, November 7.

Mr Thos. Turnbull, architect, has now completed plans for the alterations to the Parliamentary Buildings, and tenders have been called for the work. The additions and alterations to the buildings will be carried out in brick. The existing narrow lohbv leading from the main entrance right down to the Legislative Council Chamber, “ whips’ ” rooms, tho kitchen, and out offices will be done away with. The dining room, “Bellamy’s,” and the tea room will bo used as a temporary addition to tho library. The narrow lobby only 6ft wide and Bft high, about which there have been so many complaints, will be replaced by a passage 20ft wide and 30ft high, light being admitted through the roof. This will of course be a great improvement, and it is expected that the ventilation of the building will be favorably affected by the construction of such a large main passage. The new dining-room will be close to the Legislative. Council Chambers, its dimensions being 50ft by 23ft. There will also be an office 10ft by 9ft, and a bar 18ft by 12ft. The diningroom will bo entered from the new corridor through a pair of folding-doors. There will also he a new waiting-room 12ft by 10ft, a storeroom Oft by Bft, a pantry Bft by Bft, and below these rooms -will be the cellars. The now tea room will bo 25ft by 18ft, the Opposisition whips’ room 25ft by 15ft, the lavatory 19ft by 10ft, the Government whips’ room 33ft by 15ft. On the second floor of the now portion of the building will be the bath rooms and dressing rooms, which are to be reached by a temporary staircase, and to be removed when the complete plan for the improvement of tho buildings is carried out. Here also will be the room sot apart for the leader of the Opposition 18ft 6in by 15ft, a committee room 18ft 6in by 15ft. These will be separated by a passage 6ft wide, from the joint committee room, 25ft by 19ft, which almost joins the Legislative Council chamber, and is therefore easy of access to members of the Upper House. The kitchen, 25ft by 18ft, will be on tho second floor, over the dining-room, and will be fitted with a 6ft gas range and an ordinary cooking range, Bft wide. Next to the kitchen are the scullery, 17ft by 18ft; the storeroom,. 17ft by 12ft ; a waiters’ room, 13ft by 12fb; a pantry, 12ft by 7ft 6in. Above the kitchen will bo tho bedrooms for servants. There will ho fireplaces in all the new rooms, with patent grates, while Boyle’s patent self-acting ventilators will convey a supply of fresh air to the new lobbies. The new rooms will be ventilated by flues carried up alongside the chimney. It will be seen from this that the chambers themselves are not interfered with.