AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1016, 4 January 1911, Page 4

AUCKLAND GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

LORD ISLINGTON CHARMED WITH IT. , . (By 'Telegraph—Press Association.) v Auckland, January 3. As is pretty generally known, his Excellency tho Governor (Lord Islington) is very charmed with the Vice-Regal residence nt Auckland, which it was proposed Somo timo ago. should be abolished. During his present visit to the city his Excellency has been staying at the Northern Club, but he has been in Government House several times, and has keenest; interest in the . preliminary arrangements that are being made for the .refurnishing of the residence. "'When Cabinet arrived at its decision to retain Government House as a Viee-liegnl residence the Public Works Department invited Lord Islington to give an indication of the stylo in which he desired the refurnishing to be carried oujt. His .Excel-. . lency, who is anxious to be in residence at Auckland at the earliest, opportunity, has -lost no time in-inspecting, with a view to deciding what stylo "of furniture would look best in it. .In view : of the fact that this will' make the second gubernatorial, residence in the Dominion, his Excellency desires that the refurnishing should be cafiried out on the most economical-lines, and that tho furniture should be as plain as is compatible with comfort and good taste. His Excellency hopes to be in residence Jjy the middle. of March,- and as much .of tho furniture as possible will be purchased in Auckland, or, if it is necessary to have it specially manufactured, as large an. Order will be placed locally as'possible. His Excellency recognises-.the,-keen interest taken by. tho people of Auckland'in'tlur retention of. tho house, and he thinks it right that as much'as possible of tho expenditure on a Vice-Regal residence should bo placed in the city which contains the residence. Lady Islington, who is at present in "Wellington, will visit Auckland ; at. an early date,',probably, about the middle of this month, >n connection with the renovation and refurnishing. The house will be repainted and repnpered, but no .structural alterations, will be made. Lord Islington is more than ever charmed .with the grounds and the view obtained from them. Tho ■grounds arc in good, order, and. his Excellency lias expressed his complete satisfaction with them. • He thinks the residence Of Auckland is ono of tho most charming Governor's houses ho has ever seen, and lie has seen a few. Ho looks forward to many weeks', residence .on the shores of the blue and sparkling Waitemata.