Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 75

REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ON COLONIAL

OFFICE DESPATCH No. 198 OF 1897, REGARDING

THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES, &c.

71

1. The Report of the Consulting Architects practically condemns the plans sub- mitted in toto. With regard to the Courts much of the accommodation which they consider essential is absent, and the space on Plot I is too limited to admit of the construction of such a Court and connected Chambers, Corridors, and Offices as they deem requisite, while future extension would be impossible. For various other reasons they report as strongly against the proposed buildings on Plot 2.

2. They then proceed to make two suggestions: Scheme A. to place the Courts and their accessories on Plot 2, and the Post Office, &c. on Plot 1. Scheme B. to acquire two more plots, and distribute the various buildings required over a greater

area.

3. Both proposals necessitate the preparation of entirely fresh plans.

I am not now in a position, in the absence of Mr. GALE, to undertake the pre- paration of such plans even in outline and unfinished as suggested by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, but would ask to be informed if Scheme B. would, under any circumstances, be entertained by His Excellency the Governor.

4. As I find that no provision has been made in the Estimates for 1898 for the proposed buildings, I conclude there is no immediate hurry for new designs; and if His Excellency is of opinion that the first proposal of the Architects which they call Scheine A. should be adopted, I would ask that the matter be allowed to stand over till Mr. GALE's return in April next.

5. I venture, however, now to propose a scheme which has not, as far as I am aware, been put before His Excellency yet, for meeting the undoubted urgent want of the Colony in the matter of better Courts, Post Office, and Offices for certain other of the Departments of the service.

6. The arrangement and condition of the present Offices is very fully de- scribed by the Committee appointed to report on the subject in 1896, and with that description I concur except as regards the Public Works Offices. I do not con- sider these Offices badly arranged or too small for present requirements, and it is quite possible to improve the lighting of the side of the building now deficient in that respect.

The description of the buildings occupied by the Courts, the Post Office, the Land Office, the Treasury, and the Registrar General is by no means too strongly condemnatory. It must be patent to all that "the requirements of the Colony have entirely outgrown the accommodation at present available."

7. The proposals I now wish to submit to His Excellency are briefly as follows:-

(a.) To adopt the recommendation of Messrs. ASTON WEBB and INGRESS BELL and devote Plot No. 2 on the new Praya to the new Courts and their accessories, calling on those gentlemen to prepare a suitable design, worthy of the Colony and of this prominent site.

(b.) To devote the site now occupied by the Courts and the Post Office

to a new Post Office and Treasury.

(c.) To acquire " Beaconsfield" permanently for the accommodation of the Education Department, the Registrar General, and the Sanitary Board the Colonial Secretary, the Auditor and the Public Works Department continuing as at present to occupy the Offices in St. John's Place.

8. There seems to be no reason whatever why the Courts should be in close proximity to any of the other Public Offices while the arrangements I propose would bring those Offices together, which for the facilities thereby afforded for the transaction of public business, should be intimately connected.

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