THE PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5377, 21 June 1878, Page 7

THE PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS.

From a very early date after the close of the last session of the General Assembly up to the present time, the House Committee has been most assiduous in devising measures for the improvement of both Houses of the Legislature in several . important particulars. The first subject that received attention was that of drainage. During the session the complaints were numerous the defective system of drainage that existed, and steps were taken with a view to effecting some improvement, as well as rendering the ventilation of the House more satisfactory. The old apparatus by means of which air was pumped into the building was cleared away, new drains laid, and the creek or hollow near the main gates filled up with earth which had been excavated from underneath the buildings. It is now believed that the drainage and ventilation will be found to bo more conducive than they have ever before been found to be to the health of hon. members and others whose

business leads them to be within the precincts of ParUament for many months in the year. Three large baths have been erected, which will be supplied with cold and hot water, the latter being furnished from the high-pressure boiler in Bellamy’s kitchen. This work has been carried out in the most satisfactory manner by Mr. Hayes, plumber, of Lambtouquay.

For Bellamy’s kitchen a large gas stove has been imported from Melbourne, which will be placed in position in the course of a few days. It will be heated by means of ten jets, and the stove is in all respects a fac simile of those used in the Parliamentary Buildings of Victoria. The corridors and chambers of both Houses are being covered with karaptulicou, which is considered to be a great improvement on the cocoanut matting previously laid down. It is doubtful, however, whether the Chambers will not have to be covered with carpeting, in order to smother the noise of hon. members moving about. , Tho matter is still under tho consideration of tho House Committee, but no decision has been arrived at yet concerning it. The old matting has been taken off the floors of Bellamy’s, the committee-rooms, &0., which have been thoroughly BcmbbecVand cleansed prior to being covered with new material before Parliament meets. In the new wing, or what is more familiarly known as the old Treasury, extensive alterations are being carried out by Messrs. Scoular and Archibald, the contractors. The strong-room that divided Major Campbell’s apartment from that of the second clerk assistant, and which answered no purpose save for the storage of broken furniture, &c., has been pulled down, thus making the room used by thesecond clerk assistant (Mr. H. Otterson) very much more spacious than it was before, and providing also a well-lighted passage-way from the Speaker’s room to the House of Eepresentatives. The room which was set apart for the use of the representatives of the Press last session, adjacent to the reporters’ gallery, will also be enlarged, so as to afford full accommodation for the increased number of members of the fourth estate who are expected to attend during the next session. As yet, no alterations in the galleries are contemplated, but no doubt Sir William Fitzherbert will do everything in his power to provide suitable accommodation for the reporters, if it be found necessary and possible to increase it. The bricks of which the walls of tho strong room in the old Treasury were composed, will be utilised in the construction of a solid brick foundation, with buttresses, to “ underpin ” the bottom plates and inner and outer walls of the south elevation of the House of Eepresentatives. The whole' of the alterations are to be finished on or before the 26 th of June next, subject to a penalty of £lO per week for every week beyond the time fixed in the contract. In tho grounds surrounding the buildings several improvements have been made, which will add greatly to their beauty. Shrubs have been planted in parts which were formerly denude of foliage, and a pathway has been formed, which affords ingress to, and egress from tho grounds at the corner opposite to the residence of the Hon. Dr. Grace. When members from the various parts of the colony assemble in Wellington next July, they will perceive that, alike externally and internally, the House Committee have, during the recess, left nothing undone, with the means at their disposal, to ensure the health, comfort, and convenience of their brother legislators.