PRESTIGE BUILDING’

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30121, 3 May 1963, Page 11

PRESTIGE BUILDING’

N.Z. House Admired

(N.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) LONDON, May 2. “We had better revise our gentle dairyland image of New Zealand—for she can now claim to be the first Commonwealth country to make a magnificent contribution to London's architecture.” the “Guardian" reported today. New Zealand House, which would be opened by the Queen next week, stood on the corner of Haymarket and Pall Mall, and was a “prestige building” of stainless steel columns and expertly tailored glass the newspaper said.

“The New Zealand Government has not insisted on a lavish display of materials, and has allowed its architects to convert the considerable cost of the building into a deceptively simple whole.” When the design was first published there was public concern that the dreadful modern tower might be seen from Buckingham Palace. Now it could be seen to be the grandest building —though not necessarily the most elegant—to be built in Westminster since Inigo Jones built the banqueting hall, the “Guardian" added. A property consultant has valued the new New Zealand House at £3,000,000, the “Evening News” reported. The price paid for the site in 1949 was believed to have been £500.000.

Youth Charged With Murder

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) RENO (Nevada), May 2

Thomas Lee Bean, aged 18. has pleaded not guilty in Reno to the mutilation murder of Sonja McCaskie, the former British champion skier on April 5. The youth’s lawyer said he would plead insanity. Bean was arrested a week after police found 25-year-old Miss McCaskie’s dismembered body in her home in Reno and police then said he confessed to the crime. Bean is due to stand trial on June 24.