THE CIVIC CENTRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 7

THE CIVIC CENTRE.

AXOTKEK SCHEME •UGGESTSD. ir _ffEMONDS STREET LOGAUTT. "Where ia the right place to put th* Civic Square for Auckland!" was tit* subject dealt with by Mr. J. W. Bough, architect, who was the speaker of th* day at to-day's lunch meeting of th# Karangahape Road Business Men , * League, held in Nairn's tearooms. Mr. Rough objected to the Princes Street scheme, chiefly because it meant the curtailing of a park and grounds which were the pride of Auckland. He proceeded to advocate the utilisation of the land adjoining Symonds Street and Karangahape Road, first assuring his audience that hie scheme was entirely independent of that proposed by Mr. Maxwell. Mr. Rough's plans provided for utilising the whole of the area from Karangahape Road to East Street. Hie estimate of. the completed scheme, apart from the value of the land, which he understood was owned by the council, was £525,000. This provided for an office block to be placed on the East side of Symond't Street £140,000, an art gallery £90,000, town hall £260,000, lay-out of groundt £10,000, cost of removing graves £25,000. By selling the Queen Street property, they could finance the complete scheme.' A chief feature of Mr. Rough's lay-out ■was to utilise the low-lying portion ii the centre for the construction of 4 sunken circus. Summarising the advantages of the Symondfl Street site, the speaker said that it was central without being in th* businee* area. The locality would allow of expansion equal to the most extreme demands of the future. The position wae commanding and dignified, and th« cost of the scheme was low. Lastly, tb* people were more likely to favour it, because the scheme would give them something instead of taking eomethin* away. c c

At the conclusion of Mr. Rough's addrese aome discussion ensued, aft** which a hearty vote of thank* -w»* accorded the speaker.