NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865

Otago Daily Times, Issue 670, 10 February 1864, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION, 1865

THE BUILDING.

Messrs Cornwell and Horseman, the contractors for the Exhibition Building, are making good progress with their work. They commenced actual building operations about three weeks ago; and already 1400 loads of blue stone have been used and the basement is rery nearly completed. At first, there were some fears as regarded the foundation: the employment of concrete was not considered improbable. But when a i.ot very deep stratum of peaty bog had been removed, a shale or shingle bottom was found, than which nothing could aflord a more satisfactory foundation, for so substantial a structure as is to be raised. There is abundance of ela,y within the reserve, which is as good for brick making as any yet used in the Province. Half a million of bricks will be needed: and already 200,000 of them have been moulded, and the larger proportion of them kilned. At each corner of the building, a well has been sunk, and a plentiful supply of water has been obtained from between the clay and the gravel, which is useful for other purposes than mor-tar-making. A work shop 100 ft. long is being run up for the use of carpenters and joiners, of whom a considerable number will be required for a short time; so that it will be much more economical and expeditious to have them together, on the ground, than to have the work disposed over different yards : there I being as yet no single yard in the j city sufficiently extensive to meet the ( requirements of the contract. The basement will be finished by the 17th instant, when the. corner-stone is to be laid; and there will then be a mass of stone work 14ft high towards Great King street, where the land is lowest, and averaging from 3ft to 4ft thick. The stone which is to be laid, to receive in the prepared cavity the different documents and coins which will be deposited during the com- i ing ceremony, will, when dressed, be 3ft 9in long, 3ft broad, and 2ffc deep, being the largest mass yet dressed in the Province. The cor-ner-stone proper will, of course, be of less dimensions, but still it will be a fine block. ' Both are of bluestone, and have been got from a quarry in the Town Belt, at a point nearly due west of the site of the building, and which the contractors have been permitted to open. The bluestone for the basement has been obtained from a quarry in Maclnggan street. We have already stated that the building will be 140 ft long and 108 ft wide; and we.j now append a few particulars as to the intended erection. The style will be Italian, and while appropriate enough for the: purpose to which the building is specially to be applied, it will be particularly appropriate for the ultimate purpose — that of a general market. Except in the basement, brick will be the material used, and the whole exterior will be stuccoed. The ground or lower story will be boldly; rusticated; there being on each side five flat-arched windows flanking a central doorway. A decorated string-course and cornice will mark the division between, the storys, the upper one having two rows ; of windows; one series being three-light, divided by pilasters, and having circular heads, while the other will be nearly square and not at all relieved. Should it be found necessary to block up the former series during the continuance of the Exhibition—as will no doubt be the case, in order to obtain a sufficiency of wall-space—there will still be, abundance of light in the gallery, from the ; small square windows and the central lan-: tern. A cornice and balustrade will complete the elevation, which will have a height; of 35ft, except that between the central pilasters on each side, a pediment will be intro duced. We have spoken of a central entrance in each front of the building—towards Groat King street and Cumberland street. It must be added that this entrance will, in each case, be through a tower which will have a square of 26ft, and will rise to a height of 120 ft from the present grouad level. In the gallery story the tower will have a window of three lights, each long and semi- circular headed, the whole flanked by pilasters and surmounted by a pediment. Then will come the cornice, which will be heavier and more enriched; than along the general line of the building; ; and above it, in each face of the tower will: be a window with a balustraded balcony. There will be still a fourth height, nearly' plain, covered by a sharply-pitched roof, and surmounted by a flag-staff. At each angle of the building, there will be a small turret or miniature campanile, finished after the style of the towers, but less elaborately. The ends of the building—fronting Frederickstreet and Hanover street—will have each a central doorway; and the details of the work will correspond with those in the main elevations. So much for the exterior, the effect of which promises to be exceedingly pleasant— not at all fantastic, but appropriate and solid. In the interior, there will be a gallery 16ft. high and 26ft. wide, running round the building; and the roof will be slightly coved and have in its cencre a high lantern-light, 60ft. long. The question of decoration remains yet to be discussed by the Eoyal Commissioners or those whom they may appoint. , We understand that the building is to be roofed in and ready for the plasterers by the Ist of May ; so that Messrs Cornwell and Horseman will have a busy time of it, to keep within their contract limits. The streets in the neighborhood of the building, are undergoing a rapid and most satisfactory transformation. Messrs Lonme, Geggie, and Co. will in a few days complete their contract for the forma--3 ion of Great King street south, from Stuart street to Frederick street. That portion of the street, from a succession of hillocks and of clay, with hollows of bog and stream, has become a fine level drive, fully formed, although not metalled to so great a width as might be desirable. But more metal may be found, if the Government, when they see how well the L 35,000 loan has been expended in different parts of the city, can only be induced to advance more money, for the permanent completion of those streets which have now necessarily to be left somewhat incomplete. Mr Mackenzie is at work on Great King street north j | and when he has done there will be a nearly level and perfectly straight road not much ! less than two miles long. Hanover street, St. Andrew street/Frederick street, and Ctimrberland street, will speedily be commenced; and when they have beeu completed, the site of the Exhibition Building will be approachable in all directions. We may add, that for the ceremony of the 17th instant, a large gallery will oe erected, specially for the use of ladies ; and that announcement being made, the Commissioners may expect tbe politest but the most persistent applications for tickets.