THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 35

THE NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

A HANDSOME STRUCTURE.

The work of erecting the library additions to the Parliament Buildings is now rapidly approaching completion. Much yet remains to be clone, but there is no doubt that the. building will be ready for legislators when Parliament opens on the 23rd of this month. The additions are in the Gothic style of architecture, and present a very handsome and striking appearance, which, however, have the effect of rendering insignificant tho old portion of the building, the* Speaker’s wing and library'.

The outer corridor lias been plastered. and the concrete roof panelled, with ornamental bosses and bold cornices; while moulded" columns and arches have been put into tho windows and the openings. The main front doors are the same as were there last year, but everything inside has been transformed. Just inside the. entrance there are two Gothic arches, each enclosing -a pair of swing doors, with coloured fanlights, and at the side of each door is a group of columns of imitation Devonshire and pure white marble alternately 7, with Gothic caps, above the doors being nicely-carved transoms. The floor of the vestibule is paved with Minton tiles, on each side being worked in the royal coat of arms, with the date 1899. The vestibule itself is a really splendid piece of decorative work, which cannot fail to excite admiration. The walls are colonnaded, the columns being in imitation Devonshire marble, with Gothic caps and arches, richly panelled above. The ceiling is also similarly decorated. The main, staircase hall is approached through two moulded arches, adorned with groups of columns, and the staircase hall is oi spacious area, and decorated in the same style as its approaches. The staircase is of coke breeze concrete, covered with Keen’s cement, polished and beautifully finished. On each side of the stairway at the foot is a newel of Keen’s cement, on each of which is placed a figure of a Maori child holding up a cluster of electric lamps. The other newels at the staircase landings are of brass.

On the left of the staircase hall is a pair of richly and heavily carved swing doors, of beautifully-figured rimu, near which is the room of the sergeant-at-arms, in the outer wall of which are let coloured-glass lights, the fanlight over the door being of the same material.

The walls of the staircase hall are colonnaded in, the same style as, the vestibule, and the ceilings are. nicely panelled. In the roof is an octagon cupola light, filled in with stained ornamental glass, bearing the royal coat oi arms and the rose, shamrock and thistle. On the walls below the cupola are a number of shields, on which will be inscribed the names of past Premiers of the c-olony', with the dates of their coming into and going out of office.

The doorway on the left gives access to a corridor, on which opens the messengers’ room oh the right, and the Cabinet rooms on the left. This corridor leads to the Chamber, and is colonnaded with columns in polished imitation Devonshire marble, the caps of the columns being richly carved and moulded, and the roof panelled. On the right of the main staircase ball lies the staircase hall of the new library buildings, approached by a pair of carved swing doors, with coloured fanlights, above which is a roller iron shutter, which can be brought down so as to completely shut off the library from the other portion of the building. The library staircase is similar in construction to the staircase in tho main building, and the ceiling is similarly decorated. To the right of the staircase is a corridor leading to the catalogue and two reference rooms, to each of which are hea vily-moulded glass swing doors, with coloured-glass lead light fanlights. These rooms are large and lofty, and particularly well lighted. To the left of the staircase are the rooms where the library books will be stocked. There are four of those rooms in all, two to each floor. They are of a sufficient height to enable the attendants to reach the books with ease, and so arranged that there will be no difficulty in getting any book that may bo required. There is also a lift for the purpose of conveying the books from the basement to each of the floors. Fronting the staircase ball is a handsome polished Australian blackwood counter, and near at hand is the librarian’s room. The staircase, which is wide and well lighted, opens at the top on to a spacious landing, the book-stacking room being on the right, and the main reading room on the left. The reading room is entered through a pair of hand-somely-carved swing doors, with stain-ed-glass fanlights, and is a really handsome apartment. It is 70ft long, 47ft wide and 16ft Gin high, tlie roof being upheld by five cast-iron columns encased in terra-cotta, and finished with polished Keen’s cement, with beautiful-ly-moulded caps. The room is lighted with seventeen large windows and nine clusters of electric lights, and is heated by means of four large fireplaces and two hot-water radiators. The main staircase leads to a corridor divided at half its length by a handsome arch, decorated with groups of columns.. To the left are the committee rooms and press reporters’ room,

and to the right is a passageway leading to other committee rooms, and communicating with the Legislative 'Council Chamber. The doors of the committee rooms are all carved, with stained-glass fanlights above, and imitation Devonshire marble columns on each ride, with ornamental carved and moulded caps and moulded and enriched architraves., Round the walls of tho corridor, under the enriched cornices,,. are Gothic arches, with moulded bosses, and Gothic panels in the ceiling. The Speaker’s and ladies’ galleries are approached through a pair oi carved swing doors, with stained-glass lanlights and plainglass sidelights. To the left of the main staircase, cji the ground floor, is a corridor 1 rating to the two strangers’ rooms, which are on the’ right, while on the left, is the telegraph office, and opposite that, a sound-proof telephone room, just outside the entrance to the lobby. The building is heated principally by means of hot-water radiators, and is remarkably well lighted. The plaster work is of a most artistic kind, the walls Resembling polished marble, no well has the work been carried out. Tho ceilings are of asbestos fibre, and the new building is as nearly fireproof as possible. Tho building was designed by Mr T. Turnbull, architect, and the plans for tho internal arrangements were designed by Mr Campbell, Government Architect. The contractors for the work are Messrs J. and A. Wilson, of Wellington, who, in spite of great difficulty caused by lack of men, have carried out the work in a most creditable manner.