COPY.
CO.
44511
RECEIVED DEC 06, 27
Hon. Colonial Secretary,
I have discussed the plans (marked 4) prepared by Messrs. Aston Webb and Ingress Bell with the Hon. Attorney-General and the Crown Solicitor. As a matter of fact the proposal only affects the latter Officer, as the Attorney-General has only one clerk. The Attorney-General raises no objection to the proposed alteration.
The Crown Solicitor objects to the proposal as it will seriously curtail the accommodation for his staff and does not allow for the convenience of his offices. He suggests the arrangement shown on plans marked 'E'. The plans contain full information and it is unnecessary for me to detail the alterations here, further than to mention that the gallery would be retained round the upper part of the Third Court for the accommodation of bookcases. It is considered that the proceedings of the Court would not be disturbed by the use of the gallery in this way as no noise need be occasioned in gaining access to the bookcases. The arrangement keeps the library and book-store compact and conveniently accessible.
I submit three other proposals for affording a Third Court. They are marked 'C', 'D', and 'F'.
'C' consists simply of subdividing the Library, as originally proposed, by a cross wall and utilizing one-half as a library and the other as a Third Court. The dimensions of the former are greater than in Messrs. Aston Webb and Ingress Bell's proposal and the gallery in the upper part would afford increased accommodation. The dimensions of the Third Court would be 42'3" × 20'6" as against 37'4" × 27'8” for the small court in the existing Supreme Court building. To afford some comparison, the Council Chamber in this building (Government Offices)