470
There can be no question as to the desirability
of leaving these spaces vacant if possible: but to do this reduces the available building area to 28,865 square feet or 5271 square feet less than plot No 1 which we reported above as being in our opinion inadequate.
459
The only way in which, so far as we can see, the
legal offices may be accommodated upon plot No 2, and the desired area left vacant is to use the ground floer for
offices and place the Courts and their immediate accessories
on a principal floor. Such a position for the Courts is
rendered less objectionable by the fact stated in the memo: by the Director of Public Works that the general public
do not attend the Courts, and that their presence would be
undesirable and is not therefore encouraged.
The accompanying sketch plans show such an
arrangement. Two public entrances give access to a con-
tinuous wide corridor upon which the Land Offices, the Registrar's, Deputy Registrar's and Bailiffs
rooms, and
the room for the clerical staff abut. In the centre a
Prisoners' Receiving room and Cells are placed, and from
the former, stairs lead directly to the Dock in each Court,
so that the prisoners can be brought into, and taken away
from the building, without passing through any portion of
it used by the Public.
A private entrance and special staircase are
provided for the Judge and Bar and Legal staff. And a
companion entrance for the clerical staff of the Registrar
&e could be added in a corresponding position on the West
front if thought desirable.
-2-
Two