REPORT OE COLONIAL ARCHITECT.

5

D—No. 6,

Sir,— Colonial Architect's Office, 28th June, 1870. In accordance with your instructions, I have carefully considered the question that is likely to arise out of the Report I lately submitted on the condition of the Public Buildings. I am quite of opinion that any future building should form part of a general and comprehensive design. To some extent the plans prepared by Mr. Rumsey (and which I am informed were approved of by the late Government,) accomplish this object, and the new offices lately erected over Bellamy's form a portion of that design. From all I have heard, those additions have given general satisfaction, both as regards their convenience of arrangement and appearance of elevation. In a professional point of view, the design referred to is good as a whole, and the best portion of it has yet to be built. Referring to my report above allued to, there can be no doubt but that the greater portion of the Buildings must in a short time undergo very extensive repairs, if they be not entirely rebuilt. The question then arises—What will be the best course to pursue, having regard to the convenience of the Public Service during the time the building operations are in progress ? In my opinion that portion, or rather the remainder of Mr Rumsey's design, comprising the new House of Representatives, and offices in connection with it, should be first erected, because it would not interfere at all with existing arrangements. This completed, the old Chamber now used as the House of Representatives could be dealt with as may be hereafter decided. The next to follow might be the centre portion between the present Chambers, the Departments in the meantime occupying the renovated wing. Lastly the wing comprising the Legislative Council Chamber, the Attorney-General's offices, &c, could be undertaken. The wing set free by the removal of the House of Representatives could be divided, and arranged to allow the addition of six rooms. It appears to me, however, that as the repairing of these buildings must of necessity be very extensive, and as at present arranged they are not adapted to the requirements of the Departments now occupying them, and that something like six hundred pounds per annum are being paid as rent for other Departments elsewhere because there is not room enough at present in the Buildings, that it is worthy of consideration whether they should be pulled down altogether and remodelled. From a hasty sketch, I find that all the Departments can be provided for if a building were erected in harmony with Mr. Rumscy's design, Avhich could be done and much of the centre part of the existing buildings worked in. And although I have not estimated either plan, lam satisfied that the comprehensiveness and convenience to be obtained from rebuilding would more than compensate for the inconsiderable extra cost, besides the saving of six hundred pounds per annum in rents. I have prepared an estimate of the cost of erecting the new House of Representatives as designed by Mr. Rumsey. It is necessary that I should state that the amount is increased in consequence of the new building extending back to the mound on which the water tank rests, which will have to be removed. The buildings alone will cost nine thousand two hundred pounds (.€9,200) ; and including the removal of the water tank and the mound of earth, ten thousand one hundred and fifty pounds (£10,150). I propose to extend the Terrace on which the Buildings stand with the earth from the mound. If the Terrace were continued along the acres purchased by Mr. Stafford, good sites could be had for Ministerial Residences, and the money obtained by the sale of the Tinakora Road property would help to erect them. I have, &c, W. H. Clayton, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary. Colonial Architect.