THE GOVERNOR'S NEW RESIDENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13738, 20 May 1910, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR'S NEW RESIDENCE.

FEATURES OF THE BUILDING

Now Zealand is providing for its Governor a residence which will indicate to Lord Islington that this young and den-eloping country has not roacliec! a stage when wealth can bo lavished on mere ornamentation, however artistic. Government House, on its splendid site at Mount View (says the "New Zouland Times", cannot bo described as palatial, neither is it unworthy of its proposed use. The rooms arc airy, well lighted, and fairly large, and the decorations severely plain, but tasteful. Though the finishing processes have hardly got under way, sufficient has been done in different -tarts of tho building to show what is intended by the Government architects. They arc not extravagant in their ideas, but the building is substantial, and pleasing both inside and outside.

When the elevations were published, much criticism of tho vast expanse ol fiat roof was heard, but thc effect in perspective is quite different. Staffordshire tiles have be-en used—there are two hundred tons on the roof —and their Hose-packed outlines and quietcolour enable the roof to preserve its proper proportion. It docs not obtrude. The ground walls up to tho first fioor are of oiled jarrah. Above that is

rough-cast plaster of a cream tint, paunclhd with jarrah beams. The effect is suggestive of Elizabethan architecture, and it is certainly pleasing. A long drive has been constructed from the Basin Reserve up an easy giade to the residence. It winds around the eastern end, and describes v big loop opposite the southern frontage, whore the main entrance is situated. Tho Pltmket arms aro displayed on the walls above this point. There are marble .stop-,, but .tho pillars are" of the loss expensive nutequally effectho looking Oamaru stone. Facing the main entrance is the grand staircase, which should be really imposing when the galvanised iion and cement sacks on ike four big window flames are removed, and the sun shines iimly through fine stained glass displaying heraldic designs. Everywhere insitl? the building the walls show a plaster surface called "marblette," because of its close resemblance to unmarked marble. This n.aterial is cast in sheets, and nailed into place. ft is almost sound-proof, and is fire-resisting, so that the- residence, though a wooden one, is practically as fireproof as if it had been I uilt of brick. Corridors run from end to end of the- residence on each Ji'ior, and numerous arches have been introduced to break up what would otherwise be a dreary perspective. Every room has a fibrous plaster trieze of pratty but not elaborate design. Even in the principal drawingroom very little colour will enter into the scheme of decoration. The walls are divided into panels by rimu mouldii.gs all -bearing a white enamel finish. There is a massive centre-piece in the ceiling, but its colouring is quite subdued. In tlte dining-room and billiard loom a very cosy effect is obtained by wainscoting :s high as the architraves, tho wood used being rimu, which loon.s extremely rich when oiled.

A feature -of the ball-room is tho special arrangement of the floor-boards. T-he.se are Jsiid in octagonal rings esteneling to the sides of tbe room, so that it will bo possible to always dance "with thc grain." Tho wood used hero is .jarrah. It is hardly possible to enthuse over tho view from the balcony of Government House. Tho sun being in tho observer's eye during tho greater part of the day, most of the city and the beanties of tho harbour aro only seen indistinctly, and there arc hundreds of back-yards showing up obtrusively in the foreground. But the immediate surroundings will be exceedingly pretty. A terrace is to he formed parallel with the ground floor of the residence, and a few feet below it, whilo lower still will bo an extensivelnwn, surrounded with native trees and shrubs.

There is a general belief "on the job" that tho work will easily bo completed by th© middle of June, in nniplo time for the new Governor's immediate occupation upon arrival. Though the front elevations display a varied assortment of canvas, calico and galvanisedlron window blockings, it is an easy matter to fit leadlights into the frames when they arrive. Contractors havo taken tho plastering in hand, and aro well advanced with this important part of tha work. Many rooms are finished, and there is very little structural work remaining. Though the residence, looks chaotic enough just now. tho litter of scaffolding. t.ement barrels and shavinss is quickly moved, and it is quite possible now for decorators to complete their work in a score of apartments. A heavier task is tho levelling off of tho lawii, but this is well in hand. Gangs are at work laying the foundr.tions *W the drive, and the entrance, lodge. Jt is intended to use portions of the soundest of the asylum buildings for the latter, and another old building will >o loft intact for use as a garage. The* number of men finding employment on thc work is about 120.