THE SQUARE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19057, 20 July 1927, Page 10

THE SQUARE.

COST OF £BOOO

IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

If the scheme adopted for the improvement of the Square by the City Council on Monday evening is carried out, the circular colonnade provided for in the plan drawn up by Messrs Hart and Beese and Mr S. Hurst Seager will be shortened by the elimination of the western end. The Council has decided to go ahead with the improvements on the lines of this plan, with minor modifications. The latter will be mainly in the direction of providing increased accommodation in the women's rest-room and tramway inspectors' office. The colonnade will run on the eastern side of the grass plot behind the tram shelter, and also along portions of the north and south sides. It is anticipated that the cost will be about £BOOO, which is slightly in excess of the estimate for the original scheme. Of this amount the Christchurch Tramway Board has promised to find £IOOO. The War Memorial Committee will not be permitted to erect a column in the centre of the plot, but may possibly decide to construct a cenotaph. If it decides against doing anything, the City Council may place a fountain in the centre. It is considered that a column would not harmonise with the main architectural scheme. In a semi-circular sweep the plot will be enclosed by a wing wall, in which steps will be placed to give access to the centre, sweeping in a semi-circle from the western ends of the north and south portions of the colonnade. To make room for the latter the large oak standing to the right of the shelter will be taken out, but the four beeches in the plot will remain untouched. Plans Not Completed. Tenders will not be called for the work for a few days, as the City Engineer's staff are still busy on the plans.

By the decision to increase the size of the utilities, the floor space will be increased as follows, the smaller figures being the space provided in the plan of Messrs Hart and Eeese:—

Sq Ft. Sq. Ft.

Parcels office .. 160 270 Women's lavatory .. 250 750 Women's rest-room 500 590 Tram shelter .. 720 1000 Inspectors' office ... 120 140 Men's lavatory .. 460 530 The tram shelter will have a width of 50 feet, three feet more than at present, and a depth of 20 feet, as compared with 14 feet now. On the west side an opening will give access to the grass plot. The colonnade will be eight feet wide, opening out to 16 feet at either end. It is proposed to build a low stone wall round the back of the grass plot. The complete building will have a frontage to the east of 132 feet, and a depth of 70 feet. Domes at the four corners will have a height of 20 feet above the ground, the building itself being 14 feet to the parapet. Pinnacles will surmount each dome to a height of four feet. From the pavement to the ceiling of the colonnade there will be a clear space of ten feet. Probably brick and stucco will be the materials used, but no decision has yet been reached on this point. The men's conveniences will be situated on the southern side of the colonnade, on the ground level. The wall between the existing men's and women 's conveniences will be removed, increasing the space of the latter by 200 per cent. The lighting of the building will be improved.