WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18202, 22 September 1922, Page 9

WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

WORK OF CONSTRUCTION. YEAR FOR PRELIMINARIES. PREPARING WORKING PLANS It is officia'.y estimated that the con-st-ruction of /'i Auckland War Memorial Museum 7 / jot be J/, into the hands . of buildf a Uitil the r ying of next year. Much preliminary v Jt\ has to be done before building /tV jus can be started. The first task, ' >hich is now in the process of organisation, is to raise the £78,000 needed to complete the Memorial Fund of £2C0,00C. It is considered that the fact of £122,000 already being in hand, though the public as a whole has not yet taken any part in the war memorial movement, is in itself a guarantee of final success. Then there is tho additional incentive now in the form of the selected design, which is on exhibition. It leaves nothing to the imagination; it is tangible evidence that the memorial will be worthy not only of a full measure of public support, but worthy of the service and sacrifice it will commemorate. Many citizens who have visited the o.ctiibition of designs have expressed keen appreciation of the design selected by the jury of award. The Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, is confident that tho citizens of Auckland when they give reflective consideration to all that is symbolised by the memorial will respond with characteristic thoroughness. It is anticipated that the balance 01 the essential fund will be obtained within three months. The local firm of architects, Messrs. Grierson, Aimer, and Draffm, whoso success includes appointment as construction architects, will require several months for the preparation in detail of the plans and specifications for the service of builders. Then, at least three months will be required for the calling and determrnation of tenders for the construction of the building. Thus, it will be about a year before the builders have the work in hand. SCOPE OF COMPETITION. EIGHT COUNTRIES INCLUDED. . 24 TOWNS REPRESENTED. Some interesting particulars are now available as to the scope of the extensive competition of designs for the War Memorial Museum. The geographical range of entries was exceptionally wide, embracing no fewer than eight different countries and 24 cities and towns. Both islands of New Zealand and four States in Australia were particularly well represented. Thera were 17 designs from Auckland, 16 from London, nine from Wellington, six 'from Dunedin, three from Sydney, two each from Adelaide, Brisbane, Singapore, Bombay and Vancouver, and on© each from Melbourne, New York, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester, Southsea, Lancaster, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, and New Plymouth., The three designs specially mentioned by 'the jury of award for exquisite draughtsmanship were numbered 7, 67, and 69, these being submitted respectively by Mr. C. Bruce Dellit, Sydney, l*ew South Wales, Messrs. V. • H. Hughes, and Raymond M. Hood,. New York, and Messrs. Massey, Morgan and Shearley, London. A hrsre number of people inspected the war memorial designs at shed No. 16 on the Queen's Wharf yesterday. The hours of admission to-day "will be from 10 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and at 7.30 p.m. THE APPEAL FOR FUNDS. COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES. Arrangements for raising the balance of £78.00') required to complete the fund of £200.000 for the War Memorial Museum wero further discussed yesterday at a meetinc of the citizens' committee. A sub-committee was appointed to prepare for the public appeal to be launched i next month, and another sub-committee was deputed to arrange for completion in the meantime of the special personal canvass. The nomination of an honorary organiser who would be able to devote his whole time to the campaign is also to be dealt with.