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We are given to understand that the Registrar Department and the space allotted to the Bailiffs and Interpreters are necessarily placed on the Ground Floor of the Court block and that the area allotted to them cannot be reduced. This being so,
we can only come to the conclusion, that the area of plot No.1 is insufficient for the proper housing of the legal offices. A glance at the plan will show that the arrangements are already somewhat congested and that there is no adequate space available for the proper disposition of the necessary rooms as above indicated, and would render any future extension impossible.
Plot No.2 is on the other hand somewhat sparsely occupied. The handsome Western Frontage with its double-storied colonnade is for the most part a screen to small and unimportant offices, and the centre part of the upper floor, on the North front, is a mere shell to protect from the direct rays of the sun the skylight, which gives a borrowed light to the entrance hall of the Post Office. We cannot but regard the interruption of the public footway by the raised portion outside the delivery office as an inconvenience to the Public which should be avoided.
It will therefore be seen that, while Plot No.1 appears insufficient for its purpose, Plot No.2 is somewhat in excess of the requirements, and we would suggest for consideration the following schemes:-
Scheme A. Placing the courts and their accessories on Plot No.2 and the Post Office &c on Plot No.1. This would necessitate the raising of a central portion of the Post Office building an extra storey which could be reached by lifts, and taking into consideration the expensive character of the foundations, the further utilisation of the site in this manner seems an economical one.
Scheme B. The Plots Nos.3 and 4 (on the accompanying sketch) now the property of the Bank, could perhaps be acquired
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and