FREE LIBRARY AND ART GALLERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 6

FREE LIBRARY AND ART GALLERT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Wβ are pleased to note by your issue of yesterday that the building of the new Library and Art Gallery for Auckland is likely to be proceeded with at last. Wβ think it is a matter for congratulation for ill parties concerned that the tendering for this important building is bo remarkably close, u it is an assurance that both architects and contractors have given the plans the don consideration required of them. We think, too, that the ngurea published yeaterdtj should help to guide " the powers thai be" in deciding all future architectural competitions, at aoyrate on one most important point. We refer to the withholding of the premium nntil the prize design has borne the test of being tendered for In Iu entirety, Now, if one looks back into the history of this particular competition, one cannot help noticing two or three matter* which are both, interesting and instructive. 1. The absolute necessity there exists for employing a professional expert of known ability and integrity to select the best and most suitable designs, with dot regard to purpose and site, and leave the matter of cost to be decided by public tendering. In the matter of selecting the belt and most suitable design, the highest authority ought to be obtained, and in the colony this is no easy matter, as we can ill afford to allow one or two of the best to stand aside for this purpose, and if they did, they would hold a rather invidious position. Bat had these designs been sent home to, tar, Mr. Alfred Waterhouae, and with them fall particulars as to site, &c, to get his award, time and expense would have been saved, and all the competitors, we hare not the slightest doubt, would have willingly accepted his decision. To review the designs would i be useless and invidious at this stage, bat it is only fair to Messrs. Grainger and D'Ebro to compare the sub-committee's estimate on their design with the actual tender received, viz., £35,917, ae against; £19,505, presuming, of course, that the present accepted design is in accordance with the first. Messrs. Grainger and D'Ebro'i estimate was about £21,500. We ask the simple question—Which hae proved the moit reliable ? and seeing that the sub-committee had the advantage of being in the locality, how have they made such au error ? No doubt the sub-committee's misleading report influenced the architects somewhat in preparing their first set of working designs,« aleo Major Wales, who, it will be remembered, took his design away to prepare working drawings, as he felt so confident that the firet design could not be done for the stipulated sum. We hope, Sir, that in future when competitive design* are invited, that due regard will be paid to thta and other matters of importance, which wul give some ehow of fair play to all part"* concerned. —We are, &c, KON COMPEXIIOKS.