621
(7)
The present main buildings, which were completed in 1867 with certain additions and alterations carried out in 1884 and 1885, consist of a ground floor and basement occupied by the Post Office and an upper floor occupied by the Treasury Department.
The Post Office is badly lighted and ill ventilated and the Treasury Offices are inconveniently arranged.
The present buildings are about thirty years old and though the walls are still sound the renewal of the iternal fittings and woodwork throughout will shortly necessitate a considerable expenditure if the occupation of the building is continued. The accommodation in the Post Office, in spite of the recent arrangement by which the offices of Attorney General and Crown Solicitor have been placed at the disposal of the department, is so cramped that there is not sufficient room to sort two heavy mails at the same time, while the space devoted to the business of the Parcels Post is insufficient to secure the safe custody of parcels. In fact, the requirements of the Colony have entirely out-grown the accommodation at present available.
For the Treasury a Strong Room and a Stamp Room are required, also a large room, easily accessible to the public, for accountants and cashiers, and better accommodation for the clerks are greatly needed.
11. Harbour Office.-The present building consisting of two stories, erected in 1874, is in a fair state of repair, but the accommodation afforded is not equal to the present requirements.
On the completion of the New Reclamation Works now in progress the site will no longer have a sea frontage and the buildings do not admit of further ex- tension within the limits of the present site.
Having carefully considered the structural condition and the accommodation provided by the present Government Offices, and in view of the great difficulty of finding suitable accommodation for the several departments during the execution of such extensive repairs as most of these offices will shortly require, we consider it
very desirable that the construction of new offices should be proceeded with at the earliest possible date.
THE DESIRABILITY OF LOCATING THE VARIOUS GOVERNMEnt DepartMENTS
UNDER ONE ROOF.
12. It is desirable for many reasons that the several Government Offices should be situated close together, if possible under one roof, as much loss of time and inconvenience to the public would be thereby obviated, and business greatly facilitated.
Were it not for the fact that the present offices at St. John's Place are in a good structural condition, are suitably and conveniently situated for the meeting of Council, and the accommodation afforded for the Colonial Secretary's Depart- ment appears adequate, we should recommend that in any project for the erection of new buildings accoinmodation should be provided for that department.
13. The following statement shews the approximate accommodation at pre- sent provided, and what appears to be required for the Court House, Treasury, Registrar General, Post Office, and Public Works :-
Court House, Registrar General,
Treasury, ......
Post Office, Public Works,
Present.
Required.
Sq.ft.
sq. ft.
12,300
21,000
2,460
5,000
3,100
6,000
5,000
11,000
7,000
14,000