NEW CIVIC BLOCK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 50, 22 November 1930, Page 12

NEW CIVIC BLOCK

Background for Memorial

COUNCIL’S DECISION The intention of the City Council in respect to land resumed at Quinton’s Corner, immediately to the south of the War Memorial “island,” and the new street, was disclosed yesterday by the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup. He stated that the land was to- be utilised by the City Corporation, as it was much too valuable to part with in view of the changes that were taking place in that part of the city. Mr. Troup explained that the resumption of the land, and the construction of a new entrance into Bowen Street, provided a new frontage on the oblique extending from the Turnbull Library to Lambton Quay. It has been stated all along that the City Council intended to exercise its right to provide for a background for the War Memorial which would be dignified and architecturally satisfying in all respects. As the matter was further considered it became evident that the better plan would be for the council to build, and so preserve that valuable corner to the city for all time.. There were several reasons which induced the council to come to that conclusion. One was that a new tramway dispatch office, pay-in office, and lost luggage offices were needed on a new site. At present these offices stand opposite the Lambton Railway Station, but soon most of the tramcars will terminate their journey northward at Bowen Street, instead of going along to the railway station or to Thorndon Quay. As it would be inconvenient to nave the tramway men running some distance from their cars, it has been considered necessary to provide offices at a moie readilv' accessible point. The new site created is considered an ideal one for the purpose. . Thorndon Quay Widening. Another reason given for the move is that sooner or later it is intended by the City Corporation to widen Thorndon Quay in order to make a straighter and more dignified entrance into Wellington from the rest of the North Island. To do this it will be necessary to sacrifice part of the land on which the existing tramway buildings stand. Still another point in favour of the retention of the new site for tramway purposes will be the building of the new railway station in Bunny Street. That long-deferred scheme is going to be the cause of material alterations in the tramway services, which will make “The Memorial” a very busy corner. Shops are to be provided on the ground floor frontage, and the. verandas before them will give shelter to waiting passengers. The rest of the building will be occupied as tramway offices or let to private tenants. For the present it is only intended to build four stories in height, but the foundations and walls will be of sufficient strength to take at least two additional stories should the demand arise. The building will have a frontage to the new street of a little over 100 ft. A Corner of Many Names.

Of recent years the location has been known to the public as “Quinton’s Corner.” Very'much earlier in its career it was known as “Brandon’s Corner,” when Mr. Alfred de Bathe Brandon, barrister, was the tenant of the corner building. Later this building became a registry office and then the corner was known as “Hill’s.” The old acute-angled corner disappeared many years ago, when a snippet, was taken off in connection with the widening of Bowen Street. The new civic building will be some 50 or 60 yards from what was originally “Brandon’s Corner.”