PRISON TO MUSEUM. THE MOUNT COOK SITE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 8

PRISON TO MUSEUM. THE MOUNT COOK SITE.

AN INTERESTING CYCLE. Many a bittle lisa been fought about the Mount Cook site, and victory seems destined to chide at last with the lovers of the aesthetic. The ' brick building, like a very moderjs. version of an ancient castlo, raised by prison hands, iroTrns over South Wellington, and even challongest tho eye at sea. The stranger, gliding up tho harbour, has his oye arrested by the strncture, and when he is told that it was designed to be a gaol, he necessarily asks himself "what manner of a city is this, that puts its prison on the- most conspicuous site in the city?" When Wellington — rather the Government — intended devoting that territory to criminals, the sin was worse than tho toleration of wool-broking >n the Art Gallery. Wisdom came to the lenders of the people, and it was docroed that the prisoners would have n less pretentious boarding-house. Then students sought to have the cells changed to bowers of university learning, but tliA doors wore closed against them, but they were opened for men of the permanent guard, and the garrison has been happy there for several years. Another change is portended. Tho live soldier may give way to the dead lion. Cabinet decided yesterday to get the Public Works Department to report whether tho building could bo altered to make it a fit and proper place for . museum Some time- ago the Government called tenders for a block of buildings which would give additional loom to the Geological Department, a new structure for the Public Health Department, whose old abodo is in the last stage of senile decay, and a Maori Hall for themussum. Then came another decision to have a national museum on Mount Coo':, and j this involved a revision of plans. "A is understood that the arrangsmencs for the new block in Muscum-sL.'cet have been eountsrm?.ndcd, and thnt the- new contract will take account of only the Geological and Health Departments, leaving the musum ground available for other Government purposes. The Government is committed to a course of mu&eum improvement, but whether tho Mount Cook Barracks will serve the purpose remains to be seen. When tho' national project wao approved by the authorities Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of tho Dominion Museum, gave a representative of The Post a sketch of its scope. It would principally prOvido for a great display of Maori work, and tho museum would' be an educative institution rather than an old -curiosity shop. He had hepea ol a collection of jNew Zealand art, including pictures and specimens under tho heading of "technical." Aljo his desire was to have n room where children would hive an opportunity to take an intelligent interest in exhibits. "If the- alteration can be done I shall bo very well pleased," said Mr. Hamilton to-day, but, of course, he cannot give a delinitc opinion about the Eossibilities of the conversion till he as examined the barracks. , Ho wLI inspect them this afternoon. If tha report from the Public Works Department is favourable, tho Got eminent will probably expect the barracks to do away with the necessity for another building for the national schome, states another critic, but it is almost certain that some further building will be required. It is submitted that a bttilding designed for a prison ot a barracks is laid out in a style much different from the plan of a museum, and it is contended that if there would be a difference of only a f<aw thousand pounds between ths cost of a new structure and tho bill for, alterations in the barracks, it would bo false economy to have the conversion effected. The barracks could bs put to other uses — storage of materials, papers, and so on. Howevor, this aspect of the case is suill before the judge and jury.