THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 176, 13 April 1923, Page 4

THE GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT

MR. J. MAIR APPOINTED

Air. J. Mair, who is one of the most highly qualified architects in New Zealand, has been appointed Government Architect in secession to Air. John Campbell, who recently, retired on superannuation. Air. Alair was born in. Invercargill about 46 years ago. He’ was educated at the Southland Boys’. High School, and was for some years assistant to Air. Sharpe, engineer to the Bluff Harbour Board. In 1900 he came to Wellington and joined the architectural branch of the New Zealland Railways. He remained in that branch for three years, then became man«ging clerk to Air. AVilliam Turnbull, architect. After twelve months in that position, he went to the Pennsylvania University to take a- three years’ intensive course in Jus profession. .When ho had obtained tho highest credentials (from that binversity, lie joined the stuff of Cxeoifxe B. Post and Son, New York, one of tho largest architectural firnis_ in America, as assistant designer. Here he collaborated for a time with Air. Henry Ford, the world-famous townplanner, who has lately been associated with the task of rehabilitating the ruined parts of Belgium. In 1911 Air. Mair went to London to sit for his A.R.1.8.A. certificate, which he obtained. On his way back to New Zealand he visited some of the French and Italian ateliers. In Pl2 he commenced practice in Wellington, and in 1918 he joined the staff of the Railways Ordnance Branch as architect for tho hospitals which were being erected for the use of soldiers. Ho supervised tho erection of fixe King George Hospital and of the Waipukurau Sanatorium. Since 1920 Air. Alair has been architect to tho Education Department.