TO BE DEMOLISHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 284, 1 December 1925, Page 8

TO BE DEMOLISHED.

HISTORIC BUILDING TO DISAPPEAR. PORTION OF PARLIAMENT HOUSE. HOME OF EARLY GOVERNORS. NEW WING TO BE COMMENCED SHORTLY. In a little while the wooden wing of Parliament House will be demolished, and after that a commencement will be made with the completion of the new rarliament House, which at present stands about half finished. The old building was erected in the very early days of the settlement of the country, and its history is interesting.

The old wing which is about to come down was the first Government House built in Wellington. For many years it was the residence of successive Governors, but of late it has been portion of the home of the Legislature. Nearly twenty years ago, says the "New Zealand Times," the destruction by fire of a considerable portion of Parliament House created a very awkward position, and the then Governor, Lord Plunket, generously offered to vacate Government House so that the business of the country could be conducted in it. The Government accepted the offer, and another residence was found for his Excellency. This was the residence of Mr. Charles Pharazyn, at Featherston. Mr. Pharazyn's was merely a temporary home for the King's representative, pending the erection of the new residence at Newtown, which was erected on Crown land that, had been part of a hospital reserve.

Many alterations had to be made to convert the big residence into a place suitable to the transaction of Xew Zealand's business. The building was much too small for its purpose, but for years it ser.-ed to house the representatives of the country. However,, they were considerably cramped for room, and it was a great relief to all concerned when the existing portion of the new .building was made ready for occupation and use.

How Did They All Get In? To-day, when visitors are 6hown the present chamber of the House of Representatives, and then taken to have a look at the old temporary accommodation, they usually express the opinion that the eighty members must have been allowed in in severly regulated batches; they almost refuse to believe that the whole lot could be packed in at one time.

This little space where the House sat for so long was the ballroom of Government House. The room which became the office of Sir Joseph Ward, and was afterwards used by Sir Thomas Mackenzie and Mr. Massey as Prime Ministers, and is now the headquarters of Mr. Coates, was the private office of many Governors. The only Prime Minister who did not use the room as his office is Sir Francis Bell, who remained in his own office upstairs, where he toils away to this day.

Across the passage from the Prime Minister's office is a large room which has for years been known as the Government Whip's room, but in its original capcity it was the bliliard room of the early Governors. An observant person entering even now will notice the lighting arrangements have been specially designed for the devotees of the green cloth rather than for those who sit round the Whip's fire and breathe the party atmosphere.

From Executive Council to Labour Room. The present Bellamy's was the Government House kitchen, and, though it is small for its purpose, it has served through all these years for the feeding of the law-roakcrs, and the many others who inhabit the place.

Where the Labour members make themselves comfortable to-day —their room is near the front door —the earl} 7 meetings of the Executive Council used to be held, and the office of the private secretaries of the Prime Ministers was the office of the private secretaries to the Governors. The albatross which sits above the head of Mr. F. D. Thomson and looks down upon the thousands of callers who inten.pt him in his evercrowded moments is a_ relic of Lord Ranfurly's time, his Excellency bringing it back after an excursion to the MacI quaries.

Governors Who Lived There. Governors who made their home awhile in the historic old building were:— Sir George Ferguson Bowen, G.C.M.G., February 5, IS6S, to March 19, 1573. Sir James Fergusson, Baronet, P.C, June 14. 1573, to December 3, 1874. The Marquis of Normanby, P.C, G.C.M.G., Administrator from December 3, 1574: Governor from January 9, 1875, to February 21, 1579. Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, G.C.M.G., Administrator from March 27, 1879; Governor from April 17, 1879, to September S. 18S0. The Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, G.C.M.G., Governor from November 29, 1880, to June 23, ISS2. Lieutenant-General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., Governor from January 20, 1883, to March 22, ISB9. The Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., Governor from May 2, ISS9, to February 24, 1892. Tho Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor from June 7, 1892, to February 6, 1807The Earl of Ranfurly, G.C.M.G., Governor from August 19, 1597, to June 17, 1904. The Eight Hon. William Lee, Baron Plunket, K.C.M.G., X.C.V.D., Governor from June 20, 1904. to June 8, 1910. The New Structure. Plans are now being completed for the new wing. Alterations to the plan have had to be made owing to a change- in decision respecting the library. It had been intended to have the library in the new wing, hut the present idea is to leave it where it is, on tha Hill Street end of the site. Soon, however, the destroyers and the builders will be at work. Ministers and others will have to decamp to offices which have been prepared for them in the new portion of the House. Some temporary structures, most likely, will go up to tide over the period between the start and finish of the job. . . Big? When it is completed, New Zealand's Parliament House will be a very fine edifice, but when the late Mr. Massey returned from one of his last trips | abroad ha looked at the plan one day and remarked: "You think this is a big building, but it could be put in a comer of the Canadian House of Parand would not be in the-way."