PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1388, 14 March 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

PREPARING THE SITE. The Minister for Public Works has nolified tho City Council that the Government intends to close Sydney Street and Street in terms of the Act governing the erection of the new Parliament Buildings. The streets named will probably be closed in a few days, and the work of preparing the site will , then bo gone on with. Turther than this matters are unlikely to go until some measure of political stability has been established. Should the "Lfberal" party remain in power it is probable that the plan ultimately adopted for the buildings will be tho first prize competitive design modified by the introduction of features taken from the design which obtained fourth place. Both plans were drawn by Mr. S. Campbell (Government architect). There remains the possibility that tho party now in power may be shortly turned out of office. In that event, it is understood, a Reform Administration would be content to houso Parliament in a much less expensive way than is contemplated by the present, Government. The street alterations involved .in the projected preparation of tho site are considerable. The present area of Museum Street is to be thrown into the Museum grounds, and a new street formed in a line with Wellington Terrace. This will cut into, the grounds of old Government House and the gatekeeper' cottage, gardener's cottase, and tho stables will havo to be demolished. The street will then run from The Terrace; across the present Sydney Street to the grounds of old Parliament Buildings. Access to Hill Street will be afforded up tho slope' at present used by pedestrians. Sydney •Street will be closed from its junction with the new . Museum Street to its junction with Charlotte Street. Bowen Street will bo widened by lGft. Gin. Spoil obtained in the widening and street formation operations will be used to fill in tho gully crossed by the "tube."