AUCKLAND'S TOWN HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13435, 13 March 1907, Page 8

AUCKLAND'S TOWN HALL.

THREE DESIGNS SELECTED. j FINE STRUCTURE PROPOSED. PRIZES GO TO VICTORIA. \ A special meeting of the Auckland City Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider a -report on the designs for the proposed new Town Hall, and for which a loan was authorised by the ratepayers some time ago. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. Arthur M. Myers) and Messrs. C. J. Parr, A. J. Entrican, R. Tudehope, H. M. Smeeton, C. D. Grey, R. Farrell, L. J. Bagnall, W. E. Hutchison, and A. E. Glover. REPORT OF THE ARBITRATORS. The Mayor said that during the past seven or eight days Mr. W. E. Bush (city engineer), Mr.€l. C. Kent, and Mr. P. Oakden, architects, of Melbourne, and Mr. E. Mahony and Mr. R. M. Watt, architects, of Auckland, who had been appointed by the Council, had been engaged every day and evening in considering the various designs that had been sent in. They finished their work on Monday, and he had called a meeting of the Council immediately, for the purpose of receiving a report from the arbitrators. ■' ' The city engineer then submitted the following report:— -- ; - ' • We have the honour to report that we have made a careful and exhaustive examination of the designs submitted in competition for your proposed 'town Hall. The number of sets put before us was 46, of which one was incomplete, it having only the plans without any elevations or sections. We are unanimously agreed in our selection of the three best designs as follows:— First Design marked XXVII Second ... Design marked V .Third .:. ... Design marked XVII . ... ; i ! Of these XXVII. is pronouncedly the beat in its fulfilment of the several requirements and conditions of the competition, in general planning, and in character of both external and internal design. As regards cost, there can be no doubt that the problem set by the conditions of competition has been a very difficult one, the sum named (£60,000) being barely sufficient to cover the accommodation asked for on the site selected, more especially when the somewhat exceptional difficulties .in' securing a good foundation on that site tire taken into consideration. We are, however, of opinion that (subject to the rigid economy as'to finish to which we refer below),' all the three designs premiated, fairly comply with the condition as «o limit of cost. Of course each competitor is bound - by the • condition stated in clause 6. which requires him to obtain a tender (necessarily on proper working drawings and specification), for the amount of the estimate, and we have no fear but that the author, of design XXVII. will cheerfully accept that condition. We, however, consider that the cost can only be be kept within the stipulated amount by the exercise of rigid economy in material and finish, and by treating the exterior in cement. This applies to all the designs. We would strongly advise that the exterior be finished in stone or with plain faces of brick and stone dressings. We estimate that the cost of this will not be more than an additional 10 per cent, upon the total cost, and it will be better to incur this extra, even though it may necessitate the only partial completion, at first, of some of the less-essential portions of the buildin?. In any case the completion of the portions of the building planned for future extension of the engineer's and other departments, and of the upper part of the tower can be postponed. These do not necessarily come in the schedule of accommodation laid down in the conditions.. As may naturally be expected, there is not one design but which, we think, can be improved by some slight modification. We. have left with the city engineer a list of suggestions dealing with each of tho premiated designs. The suggestions we have made would not involve increased expenditure. In conclusion we have only to state that in no instance has the authorship of any design revealed itself to any one of us. either by its treatment or draughtsmanship, and that we are in absolute ignorance upon this point, not only in reference to i/he selected designs, but also as regards the remainder.—'Signed) Walter E. Bush. A.M. Inst. C.E-; Ifnrr- '" Kent., M.A.. F.R.1.8.A.; Percy Oakden, F.E.V.1.A.; Thos. Mahoney, Robert .■». Wait-

The Mayor said the arbitrators were satisfied the conditions had been,complied with, and the question of cost had also received consideration, and they, considered the Council would be wise in selecting design 27. ' At the instance of the Mayor the councillors adjourned and inspected the plans before the names of the competitors were disclosed. The three placed designs were closely inspected, and then the other designs, the city engineer explaining them. On resuming the Mayor moved, "That our arbitrators being satisfied that No. 27 complies with the conditions laid down for the competitive designs called for, be awarded the first prize of £400, that No. 5 be awarded the second prize of £200, and No. 17 the third prize of £100, subject to the conditions being complied with." He said it was a matter for congratulation that the Council had received so many designs. It was quite evident from the number of designs sent, and the class of buildings submitted, that the plans must have involved a considerable amount of time and expense. It further showed the action of the Council was correct in going about the selection in a proper way. It showed that those who had prepared the designs had every con- - fidence in the Council giving every consideration to any designs sent in, and it was also satisfactory to learn that the five gentlemen appointed had unanimously arrived at the conclusion that they had. It was quite apparent that the successful designer was a man who had fully calculated all the requirements of the Council! , Mr. Farrell seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

On the motion of the Mayor the town clerk (Mr. H. W. Wilson) was instructed to unseal the names of those sending in designs. The designers of No. < 27 are Messrs. J. J. and E. J. Clarke, architects, 395, Collins-street. Melbourne. Mr. J. J. Clarice was architect of the Brisbane Town Hall, tendered for £64,000; new public office, Brisbane, £120,000; Waverley Town Hall, Sydney; and Orange Town Hall, New South Wales. With Mr. E. J. Clark, Mr. J. J. Clark was architect for the Fre'mantle Town Hall additions ; won second prize for the Melbourne Hospital, £75.000; first prize for Women's Hospital, Melbourne, £53,000; and National Mutual buildings, Ballarat, £17,000. Mr. J. J. Clark, was also architect for the city baths, Melbourne, £18,000: Newcastle Hospital, New South Wales, £6500; Maitland Hospital, New South Wales, £10,000, etc., etc. The firm winning second prize is William and Herbert Black, Camberwell, Melbourne. The former is Follow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and Associate of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. Mr. H. Black is Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Messrs. Clegg and Miller, architects, of Ballarat, Victoria, secured the third prize. The Mayor said that Messrs. Kent and Oakden would be prepared to meet the Council on Monday next, to explain anything in connection with the designs. Mr. Farrell said the lighting of the building would require some explanation. Mr. Bush said that the lighting was specified on each design. Mr. Entrican suggested that as Messrs. Hutchinson and Farrell were practical men, they should go into the designs and report to the Council. Mr. Smeeton expressed regret that no New Zealander had been successful. Mr. Glover remarked to the same effect. The Mayor: We had the benefit of their brains. A Councillor: Victoria scoops the pool. Mr. Entrican: They deserve it, I suppose. Mr. Bagnall: They have more opportunities and larger experience than we have here. The Mayor said he believed that the architects were very pleased with the designs as a whole. * The fact that 47 designs had been received, showed that competition was good. Mr. Bush said the draughtsmanship in the plans had been admired by the arbitrators. The Mayor said they had had the benefit probably of the best talent of Australasia, and it was a matter of satisfaction that the work of the Council had not been in vain. He congratulated the Victorian people, and the architects who had secured the prizes. A Town Hall Committee, consisting of Messrs. Hutchinson, Farrell, Smeeton, rEntrican, and Baguall, was appointed to con-

fer -with the architects and city engineer, and make.; any recommendations deemed necessary. , The committee will meet on Monday next; and confer with the judges. It was also decided that the names should be placed on all the designs, and that they should be opened for public inspection for a week in the Society of Arts building.