SERVED ITS DAY.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1931, Page 7

SERVED ITS DAY.

NOTABLE BUILDING

"GOVERNMENT LIFE"

UNIQUE FEATURES

Many old Wellington residents will xegret the coming demolition of tho ■brick building which has for so many years past housed tho staff of the Government Lifo Insurance Department and the officers of other State Departments. Its pieturesquosky-line and ruddy colouring has .long-been a striking change to tho stucco and squaretopped parapets which characterise most Wellington buildings. Although it is out of date from a business point of view, and must give way to commercialism, it contains many architectural features that are well-worth preserving, and, if possible, of working into some other building. Upon entering the building to-day, tho observer cannot fail to be struck ■with tho beautiful tinted faience-ware which covers the walls and ceilings of the vestibule. This was specially made for the building by Messrs. Doulton, and is of the well-known Lambeth patterns. It is worthy of note that this pottery'was one of tho _ first samples of its class turned out in tho world.

It so happened that at the time the architect (Mr. F. de J. Clere) was designing the building one of the departmental heads of Messrs. Doulton's establishment was visiting New Zealand, and, calling upon him, mentioned their attempts at producing glazed ornamental tileware. It struck the architect that it was the best material for an "exposed thoroughfare like Customhouse quay was in those days of-muddy and. dusty roads, and ho arranged to use it. ARTISTIC FEATURES. The stained glass which i« a*"ther feature of tho building was probably the first used in Australasia in decoration •of a secular building. It was mad© by Messrs. Hawke, of Birmingham, and was specially designed for •the Government Life Insurance Depftttment. In these dosigns are monograms, dates, Boyal arms, and other appropriate features. No one with any artistic taste can pass the beautiful carved stone capitals without pausing to admire them. These were executed by Mr. Barrett, a sculptor of considerable reputation in England, and one who worked on buildings such 'as St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, under tho late Sir Gilbert Scott (grandfather of Sir Giles Scott, of Liverpool Cathedral fame), Mr. Crowther, and other eminent, architects of the Victorian! period. This carving is well worth preserving, and it is suggested that-the stones be carefully taken down and erected elsewhere. - ■ ,

PEOVINCIAL COUNCIL CHAMBER.

The old Provincial Council Chamber, in which ■ Featherston, Fox, and other leaders of those days must have debated'the public affairs-of the district, cannot, it is feared, be saved. It was originally intended that this legislative chamber should bo preserved, but as time passed it became much mutilated. The beautiful columns which originally supported'tho roof have been Temoved, in order"' to give more floor space for desks a»d other furniture. Its sido windows havo also disappeared. The chamber has, however, historical associations which make it of special interest to Wellington. The Council Chamber is of wood, bit is surrounded by the walls of ..the brick building. '. "Referring to tho whole building, it «cems a pity that so. fine" a structure should be .demolished, but the progress of tho city renders this imperative. In order not to embarrass .the officials in their work, tho building was construct- . Ed in three separate parts. This deBire for economy made tho task of the architect much, more difficult than it would have been if he had had a clear «te upon which to erect the new building. ' "DONE GOOD SERVICE." Tho building has, however, done good .service'for nearly'half a century—ryears in which the introduction of steel and concrete havo revolutionised building construction, and so rendered, an edifice built in the years referred to practically obsolete. The "Evening Post" of 4th November, 1892, records tlio ceremony of the - laying of the memorial tablet, which may still bo seen near tho northern corner of the building in Customhouse quay,* although the wording on the . marble slab is now rather difficult to load. ■ .. As'already indicated, the site where the Government Lifo Insurance Build; ingr now stands was previously occupied by-'tho Provincial Council Chambers. When it was decided to build the two wings of tho Insurance Buildings, there was no intention of immediately going on with the middle

Wock, but upon opening up the foundations it was found that tho piles •were so rotten that tho building abo\^ could not possibly have stood more than a year or two without considerable expense being incurred. The architects, however, decided to save the large handsome room which was "formerly ■the Provincial Council Chambers, and to build brick walls around it. This was done, and the Council Chamber was preserved • till the present time.