THE WAR MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WAR MEMORIAL.

In the completed War Memorial (Museum building, with its spacious Court of Honour and beautifully proportioned Onot-aph, there now stands revealed the citizens' tribute and their desire to perpetuate the,,memory of those who gave their lives in the Great War. Just, as the Greeks of Athens grouped their temple.'i on tho Acropolis, the most commanding position in their beautiful city, so the' citizens of Auckland have jrorthilv chosen their most beautiful and commanding, situation for this their moat notable building. The site is Observation pill in the beautiful Domain. It is fitting, therefore that the architects' conception of the form which Auckland's memorial would assume was inspired by that magnificent example of Greek architecture, the Parthenon. Built when Alliens under the leadership of Pericles was at the height of her glory, this superb; culmination of Greek art ra-

tains oven :in its present ruined state a grace and symmetry that has never been iurpassed. Its sturdy but gracoful columns have fcecomo a symbol of strength and dignity, and its sculptured marble frieze, of which the best specimens are now preserved in the British Museum, is regarded as the

most perfect example of the sculptor's art. The broad horizontal form of the memorial building is in perfect harmony .with the gradually ascending green slopes of the Domain, and the undulating background of Auckland's volcanic cones. One realises that a dome, a tower, or a spire could not have achieved such harmonious simplicity. The white columns and walls relieved by the dark shadows between the columns and by the wellpi oportioned flanking windows, form a facade of strong simple contrasts, the outline and principal features of which cannot be lost even from the most distant ;riew. The monumental character of the whole building is thus apparent from the first glimpse, and tho more one studies its detail the more conscious one becomes of its memorial significance. A study of the grouping of its masses reveal's the purpose and arrangement of its plan. The northern portion with its increasing height, projecting pavilions and lofty colonnade surmounted by a central bronzecrested mass, obviously dominates the ,'Whole structure for a definite purpose—purpose which is declared in the strikingly appropriate inscription carved ©n the pediment which the colonnade supports. !Fbe whole earth is a eepulchre of famous ftl mea ' ffney are commemorated not only by columns and inscriptions in their own coun m try »nt in 'foreign lands also by memorials ' graven not on stone I3ut on <he hearts of men. Tho words of this inscription particularly suited to a memorial of men who travelled half way round the earth to serve title Empire, were uttered by 'Pericles at the time when Greek art was producing that architectural masterpiece .which lias so influenced the design of this building. The eight Doric columns in number, •ize and general proportions form almost a replica' of the end colonnade of the Parthenon. The frieze of the Parthenon with its panels of sculpture in high relief served its purpose of architectural enrichment, and at the same time illustrated incidents .of strife and achievement ,

SUPERB MUSEUM BUILDING.

in th© history and mythology of the Greeks. So in a more simple yet peculi«rty effective manner tho panels of frieze of Auckland's memorial, modestly carved in outline and low relief, form an enriched band encircling the building and depicting incidents in the experiences of those whom this building would commemorate.

Commencing at, the south-east corner of the building one follows the progress of this frieze and in following is reminded of the hardships and achievements, the sacrifices and triumphs, which are tho history of New Zealand's part in the World War. The last panels at the south-western corner recall the final triumphs of Le Quesney and the panels of the projecting pavilions of the east and west facades refer especially to Gallipoli and Palestine.

Immedialely above the ground floor windows, and conforming to the progress of the frieze above in chronological order, we find carved in the stone lintels place names of the various battle fronts which again call to mind the particular areas in which Now Zealanders were engaged. Again tho projecting east and westpavilions recall Gallipoli and Palestine by their lists of important battles and place names of those areas.

On special occasions of remembrance, such as Anzac Day, it would be difficult for a community the size of Auckland to arrango an appropriate ceremony inside any building, but on the spacious Court of Honour fronting the memorial there is ample space for the thousands who will

desire to participate on such occasions. In the centre of this Court of Honour wo have for tho focal point of such a ceremony an exact replica of the Cenotaph in London around which in the heart of our Empire's capital city the same occasions aro so worthily celebrated. Thus will our ceremonies of remembrance be directly linked with similar ceremonies in the Old Land.

the east Maori hall, the Maori court, tho west Maori hall and the ethnological hall to th# entrance again without being conscious of any dividing partitions. The first floor has less floor spaco, as it does not extend over tho Maori court, but a complete circuit is again possible. On the east side of the well of tho entrance hall is the hall set aside for the display of New Zealand birds. Behind it, down the cast side of the building, is tho hall of New Zealand natural history, a place whero speciinons of the biggame fish are admirably displayed; then across the building runs tho shell gallery, linking the hall with that of foreign natural .history, which corresponds exactly, and this in turn leads into the hall of New Zealand geology and palaeontology on the west side of the entrance hall. On this floor European antiquities are also housed. They are on the roar side