THE CHANGING FACE OF WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 175, 21 April 1937, Page 6

THE CHANGING FACE OF WELLINGTON

City With Growing Pains

MANY IMPOSING NEW BUILDINGS

(By

H.P.)

Wellington has an attack of growing pains. Ever since the centenary loomed over the far horizon there has been something stirring in the hearts of men and politicians leading them to take action in a direction that will mean an access of dignity to the capital city and, at the same time, provide work for those who so recently were too long without it. One need scarcely draw attention to the changes, actual and potential, that are coining about as the result of the building of the new railway station. Where there were once only a few old rusty goods-sheds and semi-neglected railway tracks in a dishevelled section of Wellington’s reclaimed land _ now stands one of the finest buildings in the ci tv and the most up-to-date railway station in Australia and New Zealand. That is saying a good deal, but it is no exaggeration of facts. The provision of that handsome structure in Bunny Street means that the “low-brow” Lambton and Thorndon stations will disappear in a night, so to speak, and Wellington will be none the worse for their loss. They have served the city well, but their plain and utilitarian aspect belonged to bygone days. It is to be hoped that the space these stations occupied will be filled in some manner that will more readily conform to latter-day ideas. ‘ Facing Bunny Street there is rising a new seven-story hotel in a position which no one a few years ago would have visualised as the site of such a tine building. Then there are already rumours that the Government Printing Office may be demolished, and the whole of the land between the Houses of Parliament and the new railway station opened up. That would mean a new Government Printing Office, possibly on the block about to be vacated by the head office of the New Zealand Railways, which is to be located in the new station. Tn the not so distant future another great change is coming. This is the erection of the new conservatorium for the' National Broadcasting Service, the advent of which was first announced by ■ Professor James Shelley, director, on the opening night of the new station at Titahi Bay. This is likely to alter the aspect- of that- section of the city at the rear of the Houses of Parliament, as it can be taken for granted that the Government will absorb Museum Street and so consolidate its holding in that direction for the purposes of the new conservatorium, of which great things are expected for the cultural advancement of the community. Central Library and Environs. Another section of the city due- to “change its skin” before the year of the centenary is the block between the Town Hall and Willis Street. Toward the end of the month it is possible that, tenders will be called for the new Central Library. Following its erection changes must take place. These will include the demolition of the present library and the taking over by the city council of the education board’s property next door. What will eventually be done with the resultant space has not yet been decided, but whatever, is done must be for the betterment of the city; Already the Wellington Education Board hag made arrangements for new quarters. It was proposed at one time that new offices should be erected on the site of the old Te Are School in Upper Willis Street, but that idea was jettisoned last year when an exchange of property was made between Government departments whereby the education board was to be given that section in Abel Smith Street that was formerly occupied as a yard and workshops by the Post and Telegraph Department, and the Government would take over the Willis Street property as a site for the new dental clinic to which the old Mansions Hotel will serve as a hostel. At Buckle Street. Another change pending will be the removal of the Mount Cook Police Station from near the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum. It is proposed that a new police and training station be erected on the site of the old girls’ school in Buckle'Street. That school has for long been used by the Education Board as a workshop. In that connection the widening of Buckle Street will have to be taken into consideration. The city council’s decision to widen that street to 80 feet has been given expression to only opposite the carillon tower, but as a direct main road through from east to west Buckle ,Street has claims to consideration. The Roman Catholic authorities have announced that they cannot very well make final plans for the building of a new St. Josephs Church until the city council gives effect to its ideas about Buckle Street, so that the widening of the street is a matter of some moment to the general improvement of that part of the city. When the Destructor Goes. Clyde Quay will come into its own as soon as the destructor goes. Its days are numbered. The new drainage scheme provides for new electricallydriven machinery to replace that which partly depends upon heat generated by the destructor furnaces. By the time that machinery is installed the city council will probably have made up its mind what use it will make of the land now occupied by the corporation yards. Already architectural improvements are being effected in that quarter of the city. The new Central Fire Brigade station, probably the finest in Australia and New Zealand, faces it to the east and on the northern flank the Post and Telegraph Department is about to erect a very handsome five-story block' for its accountants’ branch and engineers. The corporation yard site has been under discussion for a year. Many hope that it will lie preserved as an open space, a reserve or rest park which will lead naturally and artistically to the waterfront and . Oriental Bay. Others have suggested that it provides the very place for a tepid bath of Olympic Games length. Perhaps the two ideas can he gracefully linked. From this survey it seems likely'that it will be a very much improved Wellington that will greet the centenary in January, 1940.