THE EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19465, 28 April 1925, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION.

HEAVY DEMAND ON SPACE. IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT EXHIBITS. BUILDING TO BE EXTENDED. Already the Exhibition authorities are feeling the heavy demand that is being made on space in one or two of the buildings and a special meeting of the directors w-as held last evening to consider the advisability of enlarging number 1 hall, 25,000 feet of which has been taken up by the British Government, which means that unless some alteration is made, the passageway traversing the middle of the hall at right angles with the entrance will be overlapped by the Imperial Government exhibits. The chairman of directors (Mr J. Sutherland Ross) said that it was suggested that this building should be brought forward another 30 feet. This would overcome the difficulty of spacing and the work would bo done on schedule rates, plus the additional cost of moving the face forward. Mr C. Todd: Sav roughly about £IOOO. Mr Arthur Barnett: It is a tremendous liberty with the architectural beauty of the scheme, isn’t it? The Chairman; Well, that would be so if all the buildings were on the one frontage, but they are not. Mr Todd thought that there would be a certain amount of congestion in front and there would not be half enough room for parking cars. Mr Hayward: The British Government must be considered even to our own inconvenience. I don’t think that the objections are serious nor that bringing the face of the building another 30 feet forward would make any more congestion. Mr Ross: Another thing would bo to ask the Imperial Government to take less space. , . A chorus of dissension followed this remark. “That would be very dreadful, said Mr Hayward. . . Mr Ross: Still I had to bring it before the board. . . The chairman remarked that buildings 1 and 3 were, already over sold. Mt Todd said that he would lik© to so© the buildings symmetrical, but if it were not possible he would be willing to waive his objection. . Mr Hayward: They will be symmetrical, but not in a straight line. Eventually Mr Hayward moved that the building bo extended 30 feet forward. The motion was seconded by Mr Halsted. In reply to a question the chairman said that tho architect had advised that there would be no difficulty in making this lion. The main difficulty seemed to be a matter of symmetry. The chairman further pointed put that the extension would help to camouflage the quarry' “and that’s not one of our beauty spots.” No alternatives were suggested and the motion was carried unanimously. Before the meeting closed it was reported that the tender of Messrs Fletcher and Love of £272 8s 6d for the erection of the information kiosk had been accepted. The contractors had undertaken to have the work done in 10 days from the time ; or starting. This was the lowest of three tenders. ST. KILDA COUNCIL’S SUPPORT. At last night’s meeting of the St Kilda Borough Council it was unanimously decided to approve of a levy of £l5O as the council’s grant in connection with the Otago Court at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition. The. Mayor (Mr 0. Todd) and several councillors expressed their hearty approval of the intention to make the grant, and said that it was the duty of every public body in Otago to support the Exhibition whole-heartedly. '