Grant For Provincial Buildings Welcomed

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 1

Grant For Provincial Buildings Welcomed

The Government’s announcement of a $50,000 grant toward the restoration of the Canterbury Provincial Buildings was welcomed yesterday by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey).

Mr Guthrey said he would strongly support the City Council’s participation in the restoration.

dozed and we can’t let that happen,” he said. The Mayor of Riccarton (Mr R. W. J. Harrington) declined to make any comment until he knew more about the matter. Mr D. B. Rich, chairman of the Waimairi County Council, said that he was sympathetic to the preservation of historic places, but there were a number of demands on the county’s finances at present—the Town Hall, the Commonwealth Games, and the master transport plan.

should be brought under the control of the board, so that one body administers all the buildings. “A sub-committee of the board is formulating an approach to local bodies within the original boundaries of the province.” OPENED IN 1859

A condition of the grant, announced by the Minister of Lands (Mr Maclntyre), is that local bodies match the Government’s contribution to the work.

The Canterbury Provincial Buildings comprise the wooden portion now to be restored, Bellamy’s building and the Provincial Council Legislative Chambers. The wooden building, built of pit-sawn timber, was first used on September 29, 1859, and was extended during 1860 and 1861. It has a tower at the north end, long, low corridors with narrow paved floors, and sculptured woodwork. The two other buildings were started in 1864 and completed in 1865. Both are built in stone in the Gothic style.

Mr Guthrey said the work was urgent and it could foster the building as a tourist attraction.

He added that he favoured the Government’s principle of being prepared to help those who helped themselves. The chairman of the Provincial Buildings Board (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) said he was very pleased with the Government’s decision, and it was now up to the local bodies to assist in the work. “The work simply has to be done. IT it is not the building will have to be bull-

OFFER “A CHALLENGE” “The Government’s offer of assistance is a challenge to local residents as well as to local bodies. Perhaps individuals will contribute to the cost,” said Mr Rich. “The significance to the community could be greater than even that of the Commonwealth Games.”

The Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr J. B. Collett) said the matter would have to be studied by his council’s finance committee, but he considered that any requests of a reasonable nature would be given a good hearing. “Lyttelton has never been one to drag the chain in projects of this type,” he said. Mr D. F. Warren, the chairman of the Paparua County Council, said the project had his personal sympathy. “Every consideration must be given to the preservation of historic buildings of this type," said Mr Warren. “This is not for just the city but is of importance to the whole of Canterbury.” Mr J. Oakley, chairman of the Christchurch Civic Trust, said he was delighted at the news. His only fear, he said, was that the building would be just given a facelift and not restored to its original condition.

The Provincial Council Legislative Chamber is widely known for its 40ft vaulted ceiling, carved stonework and stained-glass windows. The Christchurch Civic Trust and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust strongly support the preservation of the buildings. The Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board was established by a 1928 act which vests the major part of the buildings in the board to be maintained “as a memorial of the foundation of Canterbury.” The board comprises the Minister of Lands as chairman, and the member' of Parliament for Canterbury and Westland.

He hoped that the building , would eventually become a ’ museum where the public ’ could see such things as arti- . facts of early Canterbury ■ life. USE OF FUNDS Announcing the grant, Mr Maclntyre said: “The money is needed for restoration and fire protection work on the wooden part of the buildings at present occupied by the Department of Justice. “As the buildings are a product of the province of Canterbury and a memorial to the early settlers of the area, the Government considers that the people of Canterbury and Westland should properly share in the cost of restoration, which has been estimated at $lOO,OOO. “The grant will be made to the Canterbury Provincial Buildings Board, which at present does not control the wooden buildings. However, the Ministry of Works has agreed that this part also