THE KING OF TONGA'S PALACE GATES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 78, 29 March 1879, Page 2

THE KING OF TONGA'S PALACE GATES.

Messrs. Masetield and Co., ironfonnders, of this city, have just completed a second massive and elegant set of iron palace gates for the King of Tonga, similar to thoso which wero shipped by the same firm I about four months ago. The gates and pillars are not only massive, but elegant, and enclose an entrance 25 feet in width. The grand opening in the centre has a width of 22 feet, and there are tv»-o-sule-gates or wickets. The two pillars from which the centre gates are hung stand 10 feet above the surface of the ground. They are 2(i inches square, cast in four pieces ond bolted together, and they af* sunk 5 feet in the ground, where they are tixediu massivecast-ironsockets. Ajhaudsome moulded cornice surmounts each pillar, and on the top of each there is a shield brilliantly painted and embossed, bearing designs and lettering symbolical of Tonga honours. The designs for these, which are similar on both sides, were carved by Mr. Batts, of Ponsonby. The wicket-gates are each a feet 3 inches in width, suspended on pillars similai to the others, but smaller, —bei:.:,- 12 inches square and 7 feet high. They are surmounted by moulded caps, but, of course, Imyn 20 corresponding armorial shirids, The gates and wickets swing on self-olos ing rollers of ingenious and simple <•• trivance, and each gate is fitted with patent lock. The design of the gates, and their elegant and massive appearauee, have an excellent effect, and it is piubable that New Zealand gentlemen may desire similar entrances to their dwellings. They are painted in bronze and green, and they are, in every respect, croditable to the establishment in which they have been manufactured. We may add that Messrs. McArthur and Co. have ordered the gates at the desire of tlio monarch whose palace entrance they will ornament.—Auckland Weekly News,