THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 24, 8 July 1871, Page 5

THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE.

Some time ago we published a description of the new residence built expressly for occupation by his Excellency the Governor. That description, regarded from a professional point of view, was able and perfect in its way, and we now propose to. give a general outline of the interior appearance of the building since the placing of the interior fittings. As before described, the building itself is after the Italian style, and, from certain points of observation is decidedly handsome. The most noticeable of the detracting features are, the too limited area of ground on which the house is erected, the want of sufficient expanse in landscape at once arresting the attention of a critical eye ; then again, from certain points the whole effect is overshadowed by a less pretentious building—the Catholic Chapel, which forces itself upon the favorable notice of all visitors to our city, merely by its attractive appearance from the eminence on which it is built. However, these are matters over which the architect could not have the slightest control, and must be viewed entirely apart from the architectural merits of the structure. As the Vice-regal party will in all probability arrive previous to the opening of Parliament, and all opportunity of inspection consequently be closed, we have availed ourselves of an opportunity to place before our readers a few observations made during a recent visit.

On entering the hall by the main entrance, one cannot help being impressed with the grandeur of the fabric, which at once conveys the idea of richness divested of gaudiness, the evident object of the architect having been to achieve superb excellence by avoiding showy splendour. The immediate entrance is converted into a kind of waiting-room, shut off from the hall by means of swing doors. The walls and ceiling of this part are made of New Zealand wood, panelled and French polished, with a fillet of gilt neatly inserted into the panels and doors, which are surmounted by massive pediments. The hall in its extreme length is ninety six feet, and is furnished with all the appropriate appointments, viz., three hall tables, eight chairs, hat and umbrella stand, very handsomely designed and manufactured from New Zealand wood by Mr Fuhrmann, of Christchurch, to whom is entrusted the completion of the arrangements for furnishing the building throughout. These are all made from a wood of beautiful grain, which takes an exquisite polish, and are ornamented with coronet and crest, On the right of the entrance is the cloak-room, where one is faced by myriads of pegs; and on the left are situate the Governor's offices, consisting of a suite of four rooms, each having means of egress to a corridor, which connects the whole with the main hall. The furnishing of these rooms is not of an elaborate description, nearly all of that used in the old building having been utilised in furnishing them. Emerging from the farthest of these rooms, the visitor proceeds along the corridor situate at the southern portion of the building, at the end of which are situate the apartments of his Excellency's aide-de-camp, consisting of spacious sitting-room end bedroom, with necessary appurtenances. At this portion of the building is situate one of four doors for the court-yard. Returning up the corridor, which is cosily fitted with oilcloth of a neat pattern, we regain the hall, and cross over to the card-room, on the right of the entrance. This is a comfortable little room, but is as yet entirely unfurnished, the only article of adornment being a table with a magnificent top of New Zealand woods inlaid, which ocoupies the centre. This piece of furniture is a masterpiece in its way, and ia the handiwork of an ingenious and skilful cabinet-maker of Auckland. This room, of course, has a convenient entrance to the ballroom, a room of fine proportions, being about 25 feet by 70, which can be partitioned off to about forty feet in length by massive folding doors of the same stained and polished wood as that of the entrance hall, with rich moulding, and a fillet of gilt insertion. Of the appearance of the room itself it can only be said to be grand, yet chaste. The finish ®f the workmanship in the plaster ceiling ia nothing less than superb, but the design, though in well chosen taste and displaying great discriminating skill, is marred by the appearance of the walla, which are hung with French satin paper of most handsome pattern —white and gold—but which suffer greatly by comparison with the rich modesty of the ceiling. The con« trast is too great and the tone is destroyed,

the supreme grace and beauty of the cornice eclipsing the lustrous dazzle which the walls are wont to impart. The general appearance cannot by any means be said to be bad, but the effect must have been greatly heightened had some little mural display been introduced to accord with the enriched beams and panels of the ceiling. The cornice, or composition border, is formed by a series of trussed cornices and patras supporting the beams. Around the room are placed handsome side ottomans covered with amber silk, preparation for TerpBichorean enjoyment having already been provided for by the introduction of one of Erard s grands. There are two mantel pieces of neat design. Two large oval mirrors to be placed over these mantel pieces are still to arrive from England, and also the gas chandeliers for the lighting of the room. At the further extremity of the ball room is the drawing room, which is about forty feet by twenty-five feet. On entering this rooaa one is almost overawed by a feeling of surrounding grandeur, and it is difficult which feature most to admire until the rich drapery of the bay window catches the eye. The curtains are of plain amber satin, surmounted by a heavy gilt cornice of excellent design, and are greatly enriched by an elaborate valance ; the curtains have patent French rods attached, by which they may be thrown back or closed from both sides by one motion of a single cor 3. This article of ornature throws an air of splendor on everything around, the richness of the fringe, and the graceful and massive folds lending great effect to the general appearance of the room. The furniture is of ebony, the chairs being covered with amber silk, and having ornamented gilt edges 5 the centra ottoman, also covered in amber silk, being a gorgeous piece of furnishing. Over the mantlepiece is a Urge and very handsome gilt pier glass. There are also two gilt oval glasses for the side walls, with handsome reflecting bronze chandeliers, but these are not yet placed, the position they are to occupy not being yet definitely decided on. The mantlepiece is of chocolate mottled marble, something after the Gothic in style, and, taken by itself, is very tasty in design, though it does not harmonise with the other appurtenances of the apartment. The grate and the fittings of the fireplace are of steel and ormolu, and the appearance of the whole is very neat. The room is fitted with a Brussels carpet of a dark pattern, with inserted border. In the tout ensemble the effort to harmonise has not been altogether successful, the tone being somewhat marred by the extreme colors about the bay window and the surroundings of the mantelpiece. The whole of this furniture was supplied by the eminent upholsterers, Messrs Jackson and Graham, of Oxford street, London, and has been fitted and arranged by Mr Euhrmann, of Christchurch, the contractor for completing the upholstery and furnishing of the entire building. The ceiling is the same as that of the ball room, and is fitted with neat bronze gas fittings. As a part of the completeness of the architect's design, the door connecting the drawing-room with the conservatory is fitted on rollers, and can be thrown right back, thus affording a clear space on the occasion of balls or on ordinary occosions, for communicating with the conservatory, a well constructed glasshouse, about 20 feet by 45 feet, to the cooling atmosphere of which, after the excitement of the dance, the participants can retire to enjoy the fragrance of the exotics, a means of exit being provided at the end of the glass building to enable those who have sufficiently refreshed themselves to make way for other fair Cynthias " Who pass their lives in fountains and on &o\s ers. And never know the weight of human hours." Eeturning by this door, the hall and a warmer atmosphere are regained, the spacious proportions of the former affording opportunity for a promenade previous to rejoining the giddy throng. Coming up the hall from the conservatory, the dining-room is situated on the right. This is a fine spacious apartment, 25 feet by 40 feet. The ceilings are of the same design as the others, having a border of trussed cornices and patras supporting enriched ! beams and panels. The walls are hung With a sombre-looking paper of buff and gold, the curtains being made of a claret colored cloth, with rich borders ; these are plain and neat, and have all the latest improvements —French rods, pullies, &c. In this room there is a magnificent article of furniture—a mahogany sideboard of gigantic proportions, handsomely carved, and having a plate-glass back, measuring 9 feet by 5 feet. In the room there are twenty-four chairs of an antique pattern, with leather backs and seats, which seem hardly adapted for the purpose they are intended to serve. The room is carpeted with a heavy Turkey carpet, of fine quality. From the dining-room, we advance to the main staircase, which is seven feet between the balusters. There is a spacious recess on each side, in each of which is a table which may be requisition on the occasions of banquets or balls. These tables may be turned round in line with the hall wall, so as to form a refectory, means of providing relays of refreshments being had by doors under the staircase, which lead either to the housekeeper's room, or, by passing along one of the corridors, to the kitchen. At the back of the staircase is another of four doors, which leads into tha court-yard, which is a fine, spacious square, about 60 feet by 70 feet, with a cemented floor; it has a clean, and dry appearance, and means have been taken in the laying of the cement to keep it perfectly free from water in wet weather. In the centre of this yard is the larder, which is constructed on a principle admirably adapted to subserve the end in view, it being well shaded from the sun by overhanging eaves, and most judiciously ventilated throughout. On the right and left of the outer gate are B'tuate the wash house and a storeroom, and to the left, entering from this gate, the

kitchen. Here we have, par excellence, the best of kitchen utensils, the most approved specimen of a smoke-jack, not a bad exemplification of the possibility of perpetual motion, rack-skewers, and the thousand and one etceteras attaching to so large an establishment. On the whole, the kitchen does not appear roomy enough for the work it is likely to be called upon to perform. From the kitchen extends a row of domestic offices, one being the servants' hall or waiting room, where the visitor is confronted by a tintinabulary display, as formidable, but fortunately as Bilent, as Duncan's ghosts; these bells, thirty-four in number, are ranged along a beam in the ceiling, and are connected with all rooms, gates, and doors of the establishment. JNext to this is the butler's strong room, in which is a large safe, built in the wall, for the purpose of securing the plate of the house; and, further on, a room fitted up with appliances for washing the plate, hot and cold water tanks, racks, &c, and below this latter room is the wine cellar, which is very roomy, and has cemented floors. For facility of description we again pass through the dining room by a door at the end of the passage leading from the butler's offices, and reach the main staircase by the hall. Directly facitig, so as to light the hall and the second landing is, a stained glass window, having no great pretension to design; it is plain and neat, and permits the entrance of abundance of light. On reaching the first landing the visitor may turn either to the right or left, there being a staircase on either side, which meet on the second landing, which is supported from the hall by plain wood pilasters supporting a nicely finished arch. Past the top of the staircase runs a long passage corresponding in direction with the hall below, and immediately facing the main landing is the chief bedroom of the house, which is fitted with handsome furnishings of an appropriate description. To the right and left of this room are separate dressing and bath rooms, the whole forming a complete suite of apartaaents. In the southeast corner of the house are situate a bedroom and sitting room, for the special accommodation of the Commodore of the fleet on the station. Adjoining these rooms is the smoking room. In a recess in this neighborhood is the staircase leading to the tower, in which is a light and airy little room, from which a prospect in any direction can be had. Here also is the first of the spare bedrooms, passing through which the upper south-west corridor is reached. This embraces a range of four spare bedrooms, and two dressing rooms, and is well ventilated and lighted, and overlooking the court-yard, has, as Dick Swiveller says, "a very pleasing prospect of over the way." Returning from the south-east corner, the lady's maid's room is on the left, and away at the end of the passage, in the right-hand corner, are situate the governess' room, with schoolroom attached. Opposite these, at the other side of the passage, are the day nursery and night nursery, and further on on the same side the housekeeper's room. A staircase in this neighborhood leads down to the butler's private room, and, ascending again, the maidservants' apartments are reached, the rooms being three in number, which are fitted up with every regard to the comfort of their occupants. Descending by the same stairs the ground floor is regained, and the visitor finds himself in a passage which leads either to the main hall, by taking a direction to the right, or to the butler's office and the kitchen ,by taking the left. The men-servant's rooms, two in number, are above the kitchen, and are reached by a staircase in that direction. Away in the north-west of the grounds are the stables, a block of buildings of so superior a description than many an envious glance has been directed at them by some of the poorer classes of our population, who would only be too happy to change their abode for that of the king's horses with all celerity. On the whole, we can fairly say, 1b justice to the architect and to those who have been engaged in carrying out the contracts for the different parts of the work, that the plan and its fulfilment are highly creditable. The laying out of the building seems to have been conceived with a studious care to all the requirements of an edifice of such proportions, and will form a standing testimony to Mr Clayton's reputation as an architect. No small share of credit is dun to Mr Fuhrmann for the evident attention and care bestowed in the delicate matter of arranging and fitting the costly furniture imported from England, and in completing in so satisfactory a manner the many troublesome details pertaining to his contract.