MR. BROWNE'S VISIT TO OTAGO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 275, 10 March 1877, Page 2

MR. BROWNE'S VISIT TO OTAGO.

("Otago Guardian.")

Mr. G. Browne, C.E., one of the most

distinguished and successful of the architects of Victoria, is on a vis : t to this Colony. He wa3 the architect of the Theatre Royal, in Melbourne, of the "Snnbury Mansion," the most palatial private residence in the Australasian Colonies, costing £45.000, and of various others of the greatest ai'chitectural successes in Victoria. He has been largely instrumental in encouraging the use of Colonial stone and other Colonial material, and among the other purposes of his visit he proceeds to Oamaru, to enquire into the working of the stone and slate quarries of the district. We believe that in that respect- his visit may be productive of good results. He yesterday, in company with his Worship the Mayor, visited the site of the proposed Town Hall, and purposes making a tour of all the cities in the Colony. We observe that he is to be seen and consulted at the Criterion Hotel, where he remains till Monday next. (" Otago Dai!}- Times.") The increasing use in the Australian Colonies of building materials imported from New Zealand is leading to much greater attention given in Victoria and New South Wales by those concerned in building. We have from time to time called attention to the export of New Zealand building materials to Australia, and proof of the value attached to them there may be inferred from the fact that an architect inconsiderable practice in Melbourne, Mr. George Browne, has come to this Colony specially to arrange for the export of building stone and timber to. Australia, and probably also of Otago slate, Mr. Browne will travel through the Colony with this object, and will also likely take advantage of being in Dunedin to compete for the Town Hall design,