THE COMPETITIVE DESIGNS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14160, 28 September 1911, Page 7

THE COMPETITIVE DESIGNS.

AWARD OF THE ASSESSOR

UST OF COMPETITORS AND PR*IZE WINNERS. (TRESS A--tH-lATIO>f TELEGItAV. ) WELLINGTON, September 27. Aftor the rising of tho House of Representatives for dinner, the Prime Minister and the committee appointed attended in the Cabinet room to hoar the assessor's report on the designs for the new Parliament buildings, and to witness the opening of the scaled envelopes. Sir Joseph Ward presided. Sir Arthur Guinness asked the committee to postpone the opening of theenvelopes revealing tho names of competitors until it had been decided what plan would actually bo adopted. The absence of knowledge regarding the designers, would enable, t-his to ho done with greater fairness and freedom. The Prime Minister replied that the committee, had met to ascertain who wero to receive prizes in accordance with the assessor's report. To postpone the announcement would give tho public the wrong impression that the committee had made the selection.

The Hon. R. McKenzie explained that the Government, according to ttie conditions, reserved the right, to modify any of the designs. It wae quite possible that nono of tho prize designs would bo used. It was oertainly probable that there would bo many modifications. Tho report of Colonel Vernon. late Government architect of New South Wales, was then read, and the envelopes opened to ascertain tho names of the competitors. The award is ac follows: — Firat prize, £1000— John Campbell, Government architect, and Claude Paton, Wellington. Second prize, £500 —Thomas Tumbull and Son, and J. S. Seddon. Third prize, £300 —Wm. H. Gummer, .Dominion road, Auckland. Fourth prise, £200—John Campbell and Ch&e. A. Lawronoe, Wellington. Fifth—Geo. A. Tioup and W. Gray Young, WeUingtoi). Sixth—Honry S. Morran and B. A. Owen, Auckland. Seventh—Hugh C. Grifimon, Auckland. Eighth—Hurst Seager and Hart, Christehurcn. Ninth—Fleming Macdonald and Wm. Dunning, Dunedin. The other competitors (without relation to their relative positions in tho competition) were: — Ales. D. Spiere, Picton. Hi chard L. Loweiih, Auckland. Bloke end Bonnie, Wellington. Ileero and Greenish, Wellington. Goo. A. Troup and Gray Young, Wellington. Wxn. N. Pago, Wellington. Troup, Young and Geo. llobb, Wellington. Leslie D. Coombs, Duncdin. Frank W. Pctre, Dunedin. D. Murray Keen, Wellington. F. Mitchell and Co. (car* of F. do J. Clere), Wellington. Daniel B. Patterson. Auckland. Wm. Houlkcr, Noleon. Chas. Worth and Calender, Wellington. L. G. W«st and Son, Pulmerston Jsorth. G, G. Schwartz, Wellington. B. I. Ager, Christehnrch. O'Connor and Boxtley, Auckland. Sa'mor.d end Vanes, Dunedin. Edmund Anscombe, Dun«din. J. O. Madclienr., Christchurch (two desi&ne). O. A. Jorgenspn, Palmcrstcn North. Joshua Chas. Worth, Wellington. In hie report, tho assessor proceeds: —Thirty-three oompetitore have responded to the invitation, several sending in alternative designs. In all 327 drawings, including thirteen perspective sketches, have been received. In all cases tho conditions as regards time fordelivery, anonymity, character of drafting, and adherence to standard scale havo been faithfully observed. A package containing 33 sealed envelopes, presumably eon taming the names and addresses of the several authors, has been placed for safe keeping in the hands of the TJnder-secretary for Public Works to bo opened as may bo directed. It is presumed that all competitors are either architects residing within the Dominion or members of the Civil Service, and their deeigns, therefore, are dealt with in this adjudication. The designs submitted have received the closest critical scrutiny and have been dealt with, and their vAluee assessed, as in my opinion they more or less meet the requirements, the nrinciplo of which may be stated as follows :— (a.) A deaign of and relative potition oi chambers and members' lobby. (b) Accommodation for and convenience of Ministers and members. (c) Accommodation for and convenience of officials. (d) Accommodation for and convenience of the public. (c) Ger.cral design oi library and ite adjuncts. i.f) General design of Bellamy's and adjuncts. (g) interna] architectural effect and dcdiim. (h) Architectural design of the exterior (i) Compliance with general condition* an to position on the eit«, cost, etc. No single design contains all the good points, and eeveral of the better ones are defaced by serious defects. Again, the work of adjudication is not made easier by the apparent indifference of sonio authors to the importance of cost, and their designs on this account necessarily low ground. The author of tho design marked 2tS, which would from its merits havo forced itself into the very front rank, has apparently deliberately given away hischanco by submitting o design involving the site of tne present library, an arrangement not permitted by the conditions. After the fullest consideration I have selected designs as showing in my opinion tho most merit under all conditions, and have placed them in the following order:—lß, t>, 27. 15. 3, 24, 31, 30. 26. I award the premiums as follow: —First prize, £1000 to the author of design No. I«; second, £500, author of No. 6; third, £300. author of No. 27; fourth, £200, author of No. 15. The response by the architects of New to the invitation of the Government is a spirited one, and the result must bo gratifying inasmuch as the_ architectural skill necessary for the designing and erecting of this important building is demonstrated as being at hand and available. It was explained by the Prime Minis-

»r in ronlv to questions, that thj| Cabinet .would go throw\ "V£l desiens and members of the Mousoi woutd also have an opportunity of J viewing them. If,, in tho opinion oi Cabinet, the first prize dosjg"™J>«} for the building, they would recommend it, but this question would have to bo carefully considered in ™w oftho possibility of other desiens being more suitablo "for the requirement*. U» would make a statement to the House as to what course would bo followed in regard to consulting Parliament over tho adoption of the final design.