THE ARTS BUILDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19197, 10 December 1925, Page 14

THE ARTS BUILDING.

MAIN CONTRACT COMPLETE. FURNITURE BEING BUILT. CLOCK FOR THE TOWER. GROUNDS AS AN ARBORETUM. Now that tho street front-ago of tho new Auckland University College arts building has been cleared and the grounds are (ieing planted and put- into order, citizens' may see what the complete scheme will tie like. To an eye which has assimilated She highly original building—and incst ftuck landers have already come to like it i—the college' and its grounds will soon tie one of the city's most beautiful fealures. The Fletcher Construction Company, tontractors for the building, have completed their wprk, except for the painting If a few window-frames. Tho contract included most of the interior fixtures, such is cupboards, lockers, blackboards, and library shelves. Tho floor coverings—practically all cork carpet —are in piace. I?he electric light installation is incomplete at present, but work is well forward. Yesterday workmen were putting inishing touches to the two boilers which !eed the central heating system. About £BOOO is being spent on furniture tnd equipment. Like the interior woodwork, this is of rimu, built to the Irch.itects' designs. So far only a few lozen long desks and a hundred or two ihairs are actually in the building, but there will be no trouble in having all in place bv the opening day, March 12 next. Hall and Clubhouse. Cloth-uphoistered seats and backs will ie used for the 500 chairs in the "music•oom," or assembly hall. One reason for [his is that clpth absorbs sound, and the txpedient will' improve the acoustic properties of the hall, especially when all (he seats are not occupied. More ornate lhairs and a large table will be placed ii tiie room set apart for the College touncil. It is probable the registrar and lis staff will move over from tho old Grammar School into their offices in the lew building before the end of this year. The furniture for the students' clubloase has not yet been taken in hand. f«n advisory committee has been set up [o consider how the building should best !>e equipped, and it is unlikely that anyIhing will he done until the students 'themselves indicate what is needed. The iouncil has let furniture contracts to a ralue in excels of the Government grant >f £6OOO. Tho remainder will be prorided out of the college's own funds, ielped, no doubt, by private donations. fceedJess to say, any gifts which pnblictpirited citizens choose to make toward (quipping the building will be very welcome'indeed. Cash will be more accepttble than gifts m kind, for the good teason that everything should harmonise is far as possible; with the novel architectural style of the building itself. The students arc contributing what honey they can for the fitting-up of their thibhouse, which, it is hoped, will ultimately contain two full-sized billiaid tables for the men and a fully equipped tearoom for- the ladies. ' Bright-Coloured Walls. Although it is unfair to judge the, interior of an unfurnished and as yet unhhabited building, the arts faculty's new iome is already a "very likeable place. Except in the purposely rather dim roinnda beneath the central tower, light, ind a.r are everywhere. A visitor must !>e struck by the lack of corridors. So lleverlv has,; the structure been planned ihat all but ' a minimum of space is given Iver to useful rooms. Most of the apartments have walls of the familiar white flaster, but the music room, library, and It,,dents' common rooms are strikingly Coloured in'warm shades ranging from >ale cream to orange-yellow Tins alon* parallels the unconventional qualities ot jne exterior design. jn a month, or two tho four large cpenh<rs at the top of the tower will be no [,i!ger black holes. A contract for a bur-faced turret clock has been let to the tann Engineering Company, of Auckiind, and should be by the Ipening daw The clock will be driven by heights in the ordinary way, and will not tontaiu striking mechanism. However, it las hoen designed so that chimes ean be Idded later /if desired. The College Coun!il felt that as the striking clocks of the Public Library and the Town Hall were lear at, hand 'it was not advisable to put kdls into the university tower unless ttonev was available to provide a set Iquaf to the best procurable anywhere. The tower is. large enough to aecommolate a whole carillon, and it is possible •hat in the more or less distant future one nay be installed, with or without an trrangement by which tho clock may Vie nade to strike certain of the bells every (uai'ter-hour. Tennis and Cricket. The grounds of the new building are to ie fully utilised. Some day, no doubt, !hey will he further built upon. In the lieantirne they have been given over to leveral different purposes. A grass tennis •ourt is being prepared immediately in 4ont. of the students' club-house. Further lo the north, next to the Government tlousa boundary, fl plot has been set {side for a practice cricket pitch. Further down toward Symonds Street, there •■'ill be two chip tennis courts. The terrace which' has been formed on the astern side' of the main budding, inside. be old stone barrack wall, has been laid (uf, in lawns and flower-beds. A fine plan for beautifying and using lie rest of the grounds lias beesi carried lut already in part. The spaces between the htiiding and Princes -Street, along the lioverument House' fence, behind the eluhlor.se, and in various-odd corners, arc to ie planted with New Zealand trees and Ihruhs. Already about £SO has Been pent in this way under the.supervision of I'r. T. L. Lancaster, of the.biological detriment, in/ collaboration the archiieft, Mr. 1!. A.' Lippincott. The method if planting may best be sc-m on the liorthir'n part of the Princes Street frontage. The flowering plants have been distributed according to tho colour of their tloHKoms. Mauve veronicas, yellow kowhai ind red manuka are examples. Trees lave been planted only in spots suitable or frees, and shrubs where shrubs alone (re needed.

Native Botanical Garden. In time, the college will have a native

Mit.mical garden unequalled in Auckland, Perhaps even in the NortSl Island. _ Auclitnrl Citv iuvr; no adequate collection of lative plants. The Domain and the city tnrks have been laid out' chiefly in exotics, . ind there is nothing that can compare, for with the New Zealand section of •' i:e botanical garden in Christchurch. Tin's regrettable, because in the climate of iuckiand every New Zealand plant can b grown except hardy alpine species from he South Island. If all goes well Auckland University College will fill the de!.:iency before long. All the plants will le labelled, and the gardyi i*= tjrta..v to be of great value to biology tud»nts, ... ,7 ' »' ■ Collecting native plants is a rather slow lid expensive business. Hence the col i go will be most grateful for gift s from latuvaijsts and others who feel inclined to find plants for- thft collection. This is one tiore way in winch pubiic-spiriled people " : »y help tho cause> of higher education if Ihey are so m'uideo,