ART GALLERY AND PUBLIC LIBRARY. Sub-Committee's Report. (From the Auckland " Star.") February 1.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 36, 9 February 1884, Page 3

ART GALLERY AND PUBLIC LIBRARY. Sub-Committee's Report. (From the Auckland " Star.") February 1.

The report of the Sub-Committee appointed to deal with the competitive designs for Art Gallery and Public Library was laid before the City Council at its meeting last night, but owing to the lateness of the hour, it was deferred for consideration at"a special meeting, the report in the meantime to be printed and also placed at the disposal of the press for public information. The Committee stated that they had held six meetings, at the first of which it was resolved to consider each design under the six following headings, so that each might be tested alike and more readily compared with each other by the General Committee. Headings: (1) suitability of external design forapubliebuilding,(2) its adaptability to the site, (3) general aiTangement of plan, (4) suitability of internal parts of design to the requirements, (5) general lighting, (0) probable cost ot erection. The result had been somewhat as follows : Design — Motto " Beehive." External design unsuited for purpose or site. General arrangements good. Rooms for fine arts considered too low. Portion set apart for library very good. Librarian's residence considered too distant from the library. Proposed mode of lighting the picture gallery disproved. Cost of erection of building estimated at £33,554 ; sculpture work, £3,200 ; approaches, £3,600 ; total, £40,254. Design - Motto, ' ' Fidelity. " — External design not generally suitable, but plan generally well adapted to the site. General arrangement of plan good, but capable of improvement. The ground floor is devoted to library purposes, upper floor to fine arts, this is approved. Only one entrance to the building, disapproved. Hanging space of Picture Gallery deficient. Custodian's rooms, closets, and urinals in basement, as arranged, highly objectionable. General lighting considered good. Estimated cost ol building, L 32,20"5 ; librarian's residence, L9OO : total, L33,1G5. Design— Motto, "Hough Ashlar." — External design well suited tor requirements, being compact and pleasing. Not well adapted, however, to tho site, being an almost square building on a very angular piece ot ground. General arrangement of plan unsuitable. Detail of general internal arrangement defective, and unsuited to requirements ; roof defective. Roof lighting for Library and Art Gallery quiteinsuiiicient. Estimated cost of building, witli dome included, L 34.232; step approaches, etc., L 1,500, 500 : total, L 35.732. Design— Motto, " Pericles."— External design generally suitable, but not well adapted to the site. Importance of goodfront to line of Welle&ley-street has not received due con&ideiation. General arrangement imperfect, the building having only one main story, with gymnasium in basement Library accommodation ample, but great waste in wall t-pace. Rooms for art purposes not approved. Library well lighted. Koof lights ior art gallery and lecture-room insufiicient for height of walls. Estimate of building and dwellings complete, L 36,023. Dies ign— Motto, ' ' Tatakia. " — External design well suited for purposes although unpretentious in design, yet it has an effective and pleasing appearance. Building Avell adapted to site. Arrangement of plan generally good. Suitability of rooms very good, but too low. General lighting suilicient, and ventilation well provided for. Estimated cost of building, L2(j,lS2; ten groups of statuary, L 2.500 : total, L2S,6'S2. Por ten feet additional height, L 4,00 0; total, L32.G82. Design — Motto, "Hope," iN Red Shield. — Appearance of design externally suitable ior a public building and for the purposes for which it is required. Also well adapted to site. Arrangement of plan generally good so far as Library and Art Gallery are concerned ; entrance to class-rooms badly arranged ; and librarian's and custodian's residences as placed would seriously injure external appearance of main building. Elevation not shown. Library and Art Gallery good ; lecture hall, class rooms, and dwellings defective. Ventilation very good. Ladies' reading room and conveniences not shown on plan. Lighting throughout very good. Estimate of building without dome, L 33,140; estimate of dome, 1/2,707— L 35,547. Design — Motto, "Liters:, Scienta:, Et Artes." — External appearance admirably suited for public building, and building well adapted to site in every sense, general arrangement ot plan and suitability of rooms for library and art pui poses very good, lighting excellent in all parts, cost of building estimated at L 35,917. These seven designs, however, according to estimate of the cost of erection, exceeded the amount named by the Council in calling for designs. Excluding the consideration of cost, the Committee placed the designs in the following order of merit: — (1) Literue, Scientai, et Artes, (2) Tataria, (3)Hope, in Red Shield, (4) Fidelity, (5) Pericles, (6) Beehive, (7) Rough Ashlar. The namos of William Anderson, Edward Bartley. Henry G Wade, James Derrom, were appended to the report. There was also attached the following recommendation of general Committee passed on Monday last. "That this Committee adopt the report of the sub-committee, and recommend the Council to award Ist prize to design with motto ' Litene, Scientro, et Artes,' and 2nd prize to design with motto ' Tataria ;' provided in both instances the condition as to cost is complied with ; and the Committee further recommend that all the plans shall be retained until after tenders for the work have been received, and any plan previously withdrawn shall not be further considered."