PARLIAMENT'S NEW HOME

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 February 1908, Page 7

PARLIAMENT'S NEW HOME

TOPSV-TURVEYDOIW AT HOUSE. ;■ >: IA-'SURVEY. ,;: '■ - ; /Tho sedate' Seclusion of the vice-regal man- • sion in recess, has been rudoly. disturbed by thojpreparations. now ; in ;prpgress. to : - suit the ■ structure to tlio requirements of-a Houso of ; : •; Parliament;> -' The'. pretty-little' ballrooiri, > whoso French windows look out upon .tho •front, lawn,; and: which is to bo the scene of • the .;pre-election. forensic, tourney, has been. robbed of: its airy daintiness by; a ruthless ■,; troupe.' of carpenters,'.who have knocked away • the front waltwith the exception of a few up- \ rights; in order, that tlio broad;Vorandah may ,• 'be; iucludcd" in "the; House.". :■ The sectional, .•archways that, added such an architectural, graco to tho intftrior,-forming nooks for tho . whispering ; of' those stupid ' nothings that may mean so -much,, have been partially put V'. away, .. rough edges;,of jlathe., and, , 'plaster.';':; and'''thq :floor—t-ne" Best'/; dancing space.m the Dominion—is turned for "tho i. ' nonco l ■- into a ■ clattormg' 1 carpontors' shop. ■ Tho :pretty. oval mirrors on-,tlio wostorn wall remain,,},butthe. draiyingroom. between . tho ballcoom'and -the-.consefyatory floes not eveii distantly '"refledt comfort''of its salad days < <. 1 ; 'It'' - ,boeh Aclecrecd that;; the ; Speaker's-chair-shall-.bo>located at the -northern-.end :ot'. , tho ballroom, whero he has oil occasions : danced a niens sfit. of lancers.' ;As for tho . ■ mombers,. thoy will - have- to-:sit fairly- eloso .-.-.together-to .fit', in; which may provo.'a.blessing in disguise, as thoy will not bo ablo to assist in a quorum'-whilst-weaving fantasies 1 bf -6Tpolitical : telysiu'm in the-Beautifiii-Land ' • will .bo- under -overy- . body-.else's.- oyo, and Government; and Op- - . . position 'will "FigH ns they fought in Nel- , ,- son's-fleet"—at close quarters.: "; '-'' s Tho; verandah space, where many a tender talo-has :beon told-in - the half light,%ill bo 1 handed over to the Press and Hansard, with w possibly a small space for a, Speaker'.s gallery. The public aro to bo given. tho cold Bhouider altogether.-, - v;- I **'.;j-' "Every: room in tho-oil residence',except ~,-tlip strong, r00m,., has been commandeered for Parliament. . :Tho -Legislative. Council , . nvill be located in tho drawing-room, at tho other side of. a partition behind the Speaker' of-the House.of Represpntativcs.' -This room / is largo enough to swing a cat in, .as : all ■ ' tlioso who ( havo > attended leveos : know, -: but i it : is likely •to prove all too small for the .... virile oratory ,of: some; members. A." littlo ■ j insj bo fornied-froni 'the fastooned con-; 'i ■- ser.vatory which i opens out'from'the Council ' chamber. Maybe the _Cpuncilloi • will Isrest ] ;. in:cool grottos or.; meditate' uiider, '!i tremlK j . lmg.palm until such timo as ho hears the i • r . j call; to battlo, when -he - will ..rush to .one'-; [of- 'i the :doors, ,throw in an iiiterj'cction, - and re- ; tire triumphant to sit on a bed of' damp j . ® 03 ?-;;' T H bf.'.'Arcadiau polities is ! certainly; ail entrancing one. '. '•' i / - : ; oc-" i ... 'Cupy.'. the governmental, dining-room, and tho - ; i ... rooms, of tho housohold stafF. trailing I ,west- ,i ward will also.,come under j\fr; Robinson's ■ jurisdictionVLady; Plunket's boudoir at tlio south-eastern ;corner of tho building ;(downstairs) is, it : is. understood, -to bo' Mr; j fapoaker,'s. room, and the offices :of His Excellency,_ the[aides-de-canip; arid '-private; secrctary,:' that open from the southern corridor,- .will-bo occupied:by the Ministers. Up- i stairs will ~bo, committee; rooms,.: Hansard - rooms,. Press rooms, bills clerks' tooius, and 1 i }'. 0 ? 11 ?® ,for, the .whole paraphernalia of 'Par- < • liament. • •' '; • - ■■ ( • The (carpet's; furniture,' etc., are bein" re- • morfid: to; make way for-'the now: order of- i aro being : cut here and there i through" ; immaculatc wall-paper—in . short ■■ chaos; rcigiis. 'within 'tho; historic home of a j succession of. King's • representatives.