January 27, 1898.]
But we would urge that instead of grouping the piles under each column, they should be placed at equal distances along the frontage, that their heads should be connected by a grillage in the usual way, and that the Portland cement concrete laid thereon should be con tinuous. By this construction there would be less likelihood of a dislocation of the extablatues of the colonnade, by the subsidence of any in- dividual point of support.
With reference to the question of cost, we are of opinion that a less costly style of build- ing cannot properly be adopted considering the uses and importance of the buildings. Granite is the local, and, indeed, almost the only avail- able: material, and as the cost of granita, worked and set, is in Hongkong only the price of Bath stone in England, we do not think its use, for the proposed Government buildings in any way extravagant,
We may as well say here that we have had a careful detailed estimate prepared and priced in aqqordance with the Government schedule in local use; although the cost appears an astonish- ingly low one, for buildings of this character, our inquiries have all. fended to confirm the official estimate.
With reference to the plans under considers- tion, we think it right to say that considering the difficulties of the site and area, under which they have been prepared, great ingenuity has been shown in meeting the requirements as far as possible, but we cannot consider them an altogether satisfactory solution of the problem.
The order of procedure in the law courts in Hongkong does not differ in essentials from that which obtains in England, and provisions requisite for the orderly and convenient working of the establishment are, generally speaking, the same. There should be a central hall, large, lofty, well-lighted and well-ventilated, for the use of the general public having business with the courts, and to which the public should b almost entirely restricted. From the hall, direct access should be had to each court through inter- rening lobbies. There should be at least two waiting rooms for witnesses immediately wanted. There should be a "Bar" corridor and reading room which would be limited to the use of the Bar or, at most, shared by the judges. Thers should be a solicitors' corridor, with suitable consultation rooms which are most desirable for use in the intervals of the sitting of the courts. There should be a prisoner entrance, and detention rooms, whither they could be directly brought for trial, and whence they could reach, by a special route, the steps leading immediately to the dock, and by which, they could also be removed after sentence.
The Judges and the Bar should have equally distinot entrance and exit. from the purlieus of the Courts. The several accessories should be grranged for the particular use of judge, bar, jury, witnesses, and public, and placed accordingly. We submit that in respect of some of the above points,, the plans, as they stand are defective and in others deficient
We are given to understand that the Registrar's Department and the space allotted to the bailiffs and interpreters are necessarily placed on the ground floor of the court blook and that the area alloted to them cannot be reduced. This being so we can only come to the conclusion that the area of plot No. 1 is in sufficient 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 entire 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 au 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,
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
and we would, suggest for consideration the following schemes:-
Scheme A. Placing the courts and their accessories on plot No. 2 and the Pist 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, and, if so, their cost would be less now than after the other available building and space has been occupied.
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We would propose that the Sanitary Board and the Department of Public Works should be located on plot No. 3, the Colonial Secretary and Treasurer on plot No. 4, the Post Office on plot No. 1, and the Law Courts, &c., on the ampler plot No. 2.
This would concentrate the Government Establishment, giving sufficient room for each and facilitate their natural intercourse. It would avoid overcrowding which is especially undesirable and probably leave some margin for any extension which may hereafter be found desirable.
Pending some further discussion of the question from these points of view, it is perhaps premature to offer any remarks on the details of the designs, which you have referred to as..
We return herewith the six drawings and the original papers forwarded to us with your letter of July 27th.We are, &c.,
ASTON WEBB & E. INGRESS BELL,
REPORT BY THE
DIRECTOR
OF PUBLIC
WORKS ON COLONIAL OFFICE DESPATCH
NO. 198 OF 1897, REGARDING THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICES, &C:
1.-The report of the consulting architects practically condemns the plans submitted in toto. with regard to the Courts much of the accom- modation which they consider essential is absent, and the space on plot 1 is too limited to admit of the construction of sach a Court and connected chambers, corridors, and offices as they deem requisite, while future extention would be im- Possible. For various other reasons they report as strongly against the proposed buildings on plot 2.
2.-They then proceed to make two sugges- tions: 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 re- quired over a greater ares,
3-Both proposals necessitate the prepara- tion of entirely fresh plans.
I am not now in a position, in the absence of Mr. Gals, to undertake the preparation of such plans even in outline. and unfinished as sug gested by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State, but would ask to be informed if scheme B would, under any circumstances, be enter tained by His Excellency the Governor.
57
patent to all that "the requirements of the colony have entirely cutgrown the accommoda- tion at present available."
7. The proposals I now wish to submit 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.
(e.) To acquire "Beaconsfield" permanently for the accommodation of the Education De. partment, the Registrar General, and the Sani- tary Board-the Colonial Secretary the Auditor and the Public Works Department continning 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 ar- rangements I propose would bring those offices together which, for the facilities thereby afforded for the transaction of public business, should be intimately connected.
On the other hand, there is much to be urged in favour of keeping the Post Office on the present site; it is very central, close to the Banks, the hotels, the busiest part of Victoria, and the pier at which all mails and passengers will land.
9. The Harbour Department should, I think, certainly have new offices on the Reclamation in front of the present Harbour Office, and I note that the estimated cost of the building is $110,000.
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10. The question of store accommodation for. the Public Works Department is pressing, but should, I think, be dealt with separately as it in. no way affects the other proposals.
11.-Financially my proposals would work out as follows:
Cost of new Courts, &c., on plot
No. 2
...$400,000
Cost of new Post Office and
Treasury
Cost of " Beaconsfield"
Total Cost of new Harbour Office
On the other side:- Sale of plot No. 1, 33,724
square feet at $10
Sale of site of present Land Office and Crosby Store, 16,078 square feet at $10 Rents now paid or to be paid next year for offices capital- ized..
Total
to Government Net cost of proposed new Offices.
150,000 80,000 110,000
...8740,000
$337,240
160,780
...
80,000
...$578,020
say $162,000 12. In estimating the cost of the new Courts and new Post Office I have been guided by the cost per cubic foot and per square -As I find that no provision has been made of floor of buildings already erected and being in the estimates for 1898 for the proposed build-erected on the new Praya. These are handsome ings, I conclude there is no immediate burry buildings of first class workmanship, and I think for new designs; and if His Excellency is of their cost may be taken as giving a good idea opinion that the first proposal of the architects of what the Courts would cost. I learn the which they call scheme A should be adopted, Club buildings, including all fittings, &o, cost I would ask that the matter be allowed to stand $170,000. 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 described by the committee appointed to report on the subject in 1896, and with that description I concur except as regards the Fublic Works Offices. I do not consider 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
13.-Should my proposals meet with the approval of His Excellency the Governor I would suggest that the consulting architects be furnished with an exact plan of plot No. 2, and photographs of the New Club, Mesars. Butter- field & Swire's Offices, and the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and elevations of those buildings in order that, if possible, the designs for the new Courts may harmonize with the adjacent buildings.
The design for a new Post Office could, I consider, be made locally; from its position, no striking architectural effects would be neces sary or desirable. The elevation should follow that of the new buildings in Queen's Road, such as the Chartered Bank, and the internal arrangement of public rooms and offices could probably be i etter decided on the spot. I have the honour to bé, sir, your obedient servant,
R. D. ORMBBY, Director of Public Works,
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