NEARING THE END

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 10

NEARING THE END

RONGOTAI CONTRACTS

GOMPACT SOCIAL RENDEZVOUS

[THE TOWER CLOCK

The remarkable progress made by; the -contractors with the Exhibition buildings is such that today a start wq& made on the last building commenced under the existing contracts, the Turangi Road entrance. This is one of the three main entrances, Kings- j ford - Smith Street and Resolution Street being completed. Turangi Road w^l see a great proportion of the trambpxne visitors. ,The completion of rurangi Road entrance will not see the end of the contractors' work. There txs several small jobs, and one big one, - already started, that will , take tome time to finish. The main activity on the site at the moment is in the tower block, where the contractors have 400 men engaged, apart from plumbers and electricians and others connected with sub-contrac-tors, and some of the city drainage staff. Altogether there were 500 men working there today. The tower | block, which has only begun to take! shape recently, will be one of the main j assembly places m the grounds. Its interior measurements are 287 ft from north to south, and 210 ft from east to west. From the block rises the main tower, which is 180 ft to the top of its | flagpole. Today flags were flown for the'first time from all tall points, and will-remain up henceforward until the close of the Exhibition, as a guide to the highest actual points of the buildings to pilots flying their machines in and out of the aerodrome. I BALCONY VIEWS. j It is 134 ft from the ground to the gallery at the top of the tower. There is,-,no lift, and the gradually-graded j steps number 268, quite a pilgrimage. There is no doubt that it will prove a popular climb, as the balcony, round the-top, 22ft square, with a walk of _t"t wide, gives a wonderful view of the Exhibition grounds spread out below. There are two balconies near the foot of* the tower, the higher one some 40ft above- the ground. Just below the lowest balcony will be the cascades, purling over a series of troughs and glass, with, changing coloured lighting behind the glass. This, with the special- tower exterior illumination, now complete, will be one of the main resections in the pool below. Oh the northern side of the tower block will be the assembly hall, hold-ing-nearly 2000 people, and under its gallery, backing on -the northern wall, will be the directors' board room, president's and chairman's rooms, and a reception room. The stage of the assembly hall will be as large and well equipped as ■'" that of any city theatre. On-the southern side of the block is the women's section, with the social hall 28ft "by 55ft, writing room, rest rooms, etc. There is a banquet, hall _Bftby 36ft, kitchen/and supper room. There are two main entrances to the block, and one of the features of what wijl be a greatly-used section of the Exhibition will be, a covered drive(*ray, allowing dry entrance in any Breather. This block" is fully framed and very nearly floored, but the partitions, doors, and fittings will take some time to install. It will not be long before the amusement park will begin to take form. It is to be taken . over from Rongotai College on. Monday next, and with the uryival of the engineer of the concessionary, company on April 17 will soon Ijecpme a scene of great activity. CRECHE AND KINDERGARTEN. 'Near,the Turangi Road entrance a rreche has been commenced. This will Be I a great convenience to mothers riiitixig ihe Exhibition, as they may leave their younger children there in ♦Barge of a nurse. There are two play rooms, about 22ft by 20ft, and there is i Jatchen where mothers may prepare their children's food. Older children may be sent to the kindergarten. This is being built by -ontributions from various firms, and. ifier-the Exhibition is closed, it will ac-re-erected on a site to be determined, and will form a free kindergarten, built and furnished by public sSort. . _ . The contractors have received instructions to erect the Port of London Authority building, the chief architecairal- feature of which is that the main jates will be exact replicas of the gates, )Ver 100 years old, which are a landnark and the pride of East India Docks, [nside the building will be portrayed $c activities and progress of the Port >f. London Authority. The reflecting pools in the main paride are now all but finished. All are and most of them floored. With neat brick kerbs, and ornamental jorders, they will look attractive when illed, and will break up the large cental open space with their myriad relections, continuously changing colour vith the magnificent decorative lightrig- system of the grounds.