AUCKLAND POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 286, 27 August 1908, Page 7

AUCKLAND POST OFFICE.

THE DESIGN CRITICISED. (BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, August 26. The "Herald" is up in arms as to tho architectural design for the new Auckland post office. It says: .'-'Tho plan which has been decided upon by .the Government for tho now post, office cannot .be said to display any architectural'beauty or to promiso well as an ornament to tho. city, The question of the site has been settled by tho Government taking a piece of land which belonged to tho Railway Department, and thus saving inonoy at tho expense of the convenience of Auckland. Upon this there is no more to bo Baid, but we surely had a right to expect that, haviilg thus effected a temporary econonjy at the local expense, t|io Public Works' Department would erect a building which would be a credit to tho Government as well as .to the' city, for not only will the post office nicot ■ the eye of everybody entering the city by wator or by rail, but it is clearly tho duty of the State to endeavour to keep in this van of architectural progress and not in the rear in Auckland, as in Wellington arid Invcrcargill. From a utility point of view wo may assume that the'post office is all that is required, and that its interior arrangements aro quite up to date and satisfactory; but as an architectural featuro of tho city it is lamentable, having no grace or dignity to commend it and no local significance to inako us proud of it. Within tho well-understood limitations of architectural necessity every public building ought, to harmonise with local climato and local topography, but nobody will accuse tho proposed post office of not being a3 unsuitable for /me part of tho Dominion as for another. As it is not yet too late to change this unattractive design, it is to bo hoped that public opinion will be exerted .to obtain a very easy improvement."