CONTRACT SIGNED

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 162, 5 April 1938, Page 12

CONTRACT SIGNED

Exhibition Buildings, First Section EARLY START LIKELY Reports To Meeting Of Directors Incidental to the monthly meeting of the directors of the Centennial Exhibition Company yesterday the contract for the construction of the first section of the exhibition buildings as between the company and the Fletcher and Love construction companies was signed. The contract is Tor the two great flanking structures (north and south), one on either side of an open courtyard, covering nearly 13 acres of ground. Those present were Sir Charles Norwood, Messrs. F. Campbell, J. W. Heenan (Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs), J. T. Martin, C. Todd, J. Read, W. A. Appleton, W. McLay, D. J. McGowan, K. E. Luke (city engineer), M. Cable (tramways and electrical engineer), H. E. Avery (secretary to the exhibition company), Edmund Anscombe (afchitect), J. G., MacKenzie (director of parks and gardens). Plant And Labour From Dunedin. The work will be done under the direct supervision of Mr. R. C. Love, who was responsible for the erection of the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition. Mr. Love, who is already operating in Wellington, stated yesterday that a good deal of plant was being brought up from Dunedin, some of which was actually used in the erection of the Dunedin exhibition. The contractors are also introducing a good deal of skilled labour from Dunedin, mostly carpenters. Mr. Love has already made arrangements for the hoard and lodging of some 90 men in private homes situated in the exhibition area. In addition a hall in Coutts Street has been leased and is being fitted up for tlie accommodation of 50 single men, who will be engaged for IS mouths on the big job. Mr. E. Dymock will be the clerk-of-works. A start has not yet been made with the construction work in connection with the exhibition, but the office for the builder is at present being erected at the northern corner, near to Kingsford Smith Street. There will probably be a turning-the-first-sod ceremony some time next week. Miss Eileen Deste has been appointed official photographer to the exhibition company. • No. 2 Contract.' At yesterday’s meeting of the exhibition directors it was reported by the architect, Mr. Anscombe, that he would be ready very shortly to call for tenders for No. 2 contract. This was the erection of the administrative buildings and the service block (north and south respectively of the main entrance on the Kingsford Smith Street frontage of the exhibition), and the illuminated tower chamber, which is to link the two other buildings together at the western end (where there is to be an entrance from Resolution Street). The secretary, Mr. H. E. Avery, reported that a further 860 shares in the company had been allotted, and that a donation of £250 had been received from the Vacuum Oil Company. Inquiries For Space. Tlie secretary also reported that inquiries for space had been coming in freely, and that the allotments up to the present were satisfactory. At the same time there were a good many manufacturers in New Zealand who had delayed booking space on the ground that there was plenty of time. As the space was going well, such firms should realise that it was to their advantage to get in early, and so secure the location and area they desired, for actually the opening of the exhibition was only 18 months away. Close co-operation, it was stated, was being established between the Exhibition Company and the National Centennial Committee (set up by the Government), to the mutual advantage of both bodies. Mr. A. W. Mulligan, secretary of the National Centennial Committee, had been appointed a member of the Accommodation and Transport Committees of the Exhibition, while the chairman of the Accommodation Committee, Mr. C. W. Earle, and the chairman of the Transport Committee, Mr. D. J. McGowan, had been appointed to act on the National Committee.