THE INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 518, 13 July 1866, Page 3

THE INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

The erection of additions to our Public Library, which are intended to be used temporarily for purposes connected with the proposed Intercolonial Exhibition, bavins'- fairly commenced, a few observations To elucidation of the general design may not be out of place, It is twelve years within a month since the first stone of the Public Library was laid. Its conception is attributable to Mr Charles Joseph Latrobe, the first Governor of Port Philip, and is to the liberality of Parliament in granting sums of money in furtherance of the design of the original promoters that we owe the noble building and library, which is an ornament to the city and the pride of the colony. Every one is familiar with the present structure fronting Swanston streets, and forming only the western portion of the original design. It consists of an entrance hall, at present devoted to an exhibition of statuary, from which a staircase ascends to the library on the firsr floor. Perhaps, for all suitable purposes connected with a public library, the building is equal to the requirements of the colony for years to come: but the formation of a fine arts gallery and a school of design, and the propriety of bringing our national museum within easy access of the public, have since cropped up ; and an idea obtained currency that the Public Library, being capable of expansion, might be made ultimately to assimilate in its character to the British Museum, and become to the Australian colonies what the British British Museum is to the English nation. The museum attached to °he university is gradually assuming such proportions as render it necessary to erect additional accommodation. The exhibits are clasified with as much care as the space available will admit, but yet the complaint of overcrowding iss very general; whilst additions are continually being made of natural objects which are deserving of a prominent place, but are at present consigned to the lumber room, in the hope that "some day they will find a suitable position where they may impart instruction as well as gratify curiosity. The proposed transference of the museum from the university building to the reserve on which the Public Library is erected having been determined upon by Parliament, all that was necessary to carry the resolution into effect, was the erection of a suitable structure. It is a moot point whether for some years 1o come the idea would have been carried iuto effect, but that the International Exhibition commission pointed out a method by which accommodation might be provided for purposes connected with the proposed Exhibition, which, though temporarily appropriated to their use, could be made subsequently to serve the purpose of a national museum, a fine arts gallery, and a school of design. The Government having acceded to the proposal, grants of money, amounting to nearly £22,000, were voted for the erection of the works now in progress. These will consist of two large rooinsj to be erected in the rear of the present library and connected therewith, and two wings, one on the north side, fronting Latrobe-street, and the other on the south side, facing Little Lonsdale-street. Avoiding architectural details, the plan may be better understood by stating that it is simply proposed to erect two large rooms behind the present library, each about 220 feet long, and two side wings, extending the full depth of the building. The first room will be divided into a circular vestibule, and two open quadrangles. Access will be given from the vestibule to the quadrangles, and also 10 the second long room designated the great hall. The visitor, on entering the building from Swanston-street, will pass into the vestibule, and from thence into the quadrangles, the wings, or the great hall, as disposition may dictate. It is proposed to cover the vestibule with a circular dome, lighted from above. "When the original design is completed, the vestibule will enclose a staircase from whence access will be obtained from the ground floor to the library, the museum, and the fine arts galleries, &c, and the present staircase to the public library be removed. The great hall will be spanued by a waggon-headed roof, lighted with clerestory windows. It is only intended in the present design to raise the walls all round eighteen feet high, which will present the appearance of buttresses, from whence the roof will spring. To carry the walls fiush with the Swanstonstreet frontage would take more money than auy Government would like to ask Parliament to grant j and though, externally, the work to be executed will, when finished, present an uncouth appearance, it will serve the purposes of an intercolonial exhibition, and may be used as a museum, or for any of the original objects contemplated in the extension of the building, for years to come. The work is expected to be completed in September. The architect is Mr Eeed, and the contractors Messrs Cunningham and Holtham, who are pushing the work vigorously forward. —Age, Bth June.