THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 10

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

ARCHITECTURAL DISPLAY. NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE. GOVERNOR-GENERAL ON HOUSES. [BY TELEOKAX'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. It is hard to imagine a display of such technical subjects as plans, elevations, etc., having a charm that rivals that of "art for art's sake," yet the exhibition of designs, plans, water colour drawings and photographs of architectural subjects shown at the art gallery under the auspices of the New ZealanjJ Institute of Architects, aroused wonderful enthusiasm on the part of an unusually large gathering of representative citizens. The subject most favoured by the draftsmen wan that of commercial buildings, but public buildings were also strongly represented. The beautiful work of prominent architects found expression also in such designs as the Auckland civic centre and memorial museum and prominent was the proposed development of Palmerston North in 1950. The Governor-Genera!, Sir Charles 1 ergusson, and Lady Alice Fergusson visited the display. In welcoming them the president of the Architects' Institute, Mr. W. M. Page, said that the object of the exhibition was to try and stimulate a deeper and more general interest in architecture, which would result in the building of more Signified cities. Architecture was a tremendous force in the lives of men, and a city full of beauty lUid a wonderful influence on the people. Sir Charles Fergusson had done them the great honour of consenting to be their patron. Previous Governors had held the office, but this was the first occasion upon which an active interest had been taken by the patron. Sir Charles Fergusson said he did not feel entitled to deliver an address on art or architecture, and would content himself with making a few observations from the point of view of the ordinary man. It must have struck most men at times when looking at cities how much more satisfactory it would have been had there been some central authority in their laying out and designing. Often lack of foresight had spoiled harmony in decorating a town. It was found that a far better effect could always be obtained by co-ordinated effort, and, tho same thing applied in town-planning. Piecemeal work was never a success, while general designs for the whole scheme invariably lent it an air of harmony and beauty. With regard to dwellings, Sir Charles said it was not alone a question of beauty in designs, but also a question of convenience. Houses with beautiful exteriors were often found to bo very inconvenient inside. Comfort depended on accessibility and a thousand and one other things that added to the convenience of the occupier. "I would like to see the institute turn more from palaces to cottages for a while. I would like to see an exhibition of plans for houses which would arouse real interest in the community in New Zealand. _ Hie natural beauties of our towns make it almost impossible to entirely mar them, but it is due to us to see that these beauties are not in any way .detracted from." •