A DOUBLE SUCCESS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 10

A DOUBLE SUCCESS

NEW ZEALAND ARCHITECTS

CARRY OFF TOP HONOURS.

Quite a romance lies behind the briefly cable fact, which appeared in yesterday J8 "Evening Post," that the first and second places in the competition for the Rome Scholarship of Architecture had both been won by New Zealandera. .It demonstrates that the Dominion's sons can do more that hold their own when it comes to competition with the outside world in arts ,and crafts, and also that dogged perseverance will gain its just reward.

hTe, Prix' de Rome, or the Rome Scholarship of Architecture, is the bluo ribbon of the architecural world, being awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The Henry Jarvis studentship is awarded to the competitor who comes second in the examination for this coveted prize. Each carries with it tuition at the British Schol of Architecture in Rome, the former for three years and the latter for two. '

Mr. A. D. Connell, the winner, is a New Zealander hailing from Eltham, and Mr. Basil Ward, the ,-runner-up, comes from Wellington. Both started their profession in New Zealand. The whole of Mr. Connell. 'a New Zealand training was gained in tbe office of Mr.' Stanley W. I'earn, architect, of Wellington, and Mr. Ward spent the last eighteen months of his training in this country, after previous experience in Napier, with the firm of Crichton and M' Kay, in Lambton. quay. Having struck up an acquaintance which rapidly ripened into friendship, these two enterprising young arehietets, whilst still resident in the Dominion, decided that they might have a better chance of making their fortunes if they journeyed overseas. Nothing daunted by lack of means they decided to work their passages Home, and in January of 1923, two hitherto immaculate young city ment discarded their usual dress for overalls, both having signed on as greasers on the ' Karamea. ©nee in London, their merit was quickly recognised, and both ; worked together in various schools and gained employment with leading architectural firm. Mr. Ward asissted the chief architect engaged in the altreations and rebuilding of the Bank of England in London, one of the most important of'the many big works at the rpesent time being carried out. Now both of them will be working together again as a result of their double success, and within the space of a few years, it is prophesied by their New Zealand friends, one of the leading firms of British architects will operate under the name of Connell and Ward.

Never previously has tho Rome Scholarship been won by a New Zealander, 'although on two other occasions the Jarvis studentship has been gained by a Dominion architect. In 1921 it was awarded to Mr. E. W. Armstrong, and in. the following year to Mr. George Checkley. But the winning of both first and second: places by New Zealanders is a unique distinction for the Dominion. ' - • -