ART UNION HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24656, 11 July 1941, Page 4

ART UNION HOUSE

WEATHER - HAMPERS WORK OPERATIONS OF VANDALS Unfavourable weather in Dunedin during the past month has been a delaying factor in the completion of the art union house at the junction of Pitt street and Heriot row. The chairr men of the Patriotic House-Committee (Mr H. McDowell Smith) said yesterday that the interior of the house was too damp to allow the committee to take the risk of continuing with the papering and painting, because of the rainy spell experienced lately. This also was the opinion of the supervising architect (Mr J. H. White), who was not prepared to do this work until the house had dried out sufficiently. It was explained that all houses were more or less damp at this time of, the year and the absence of a drying wind in recent weeks had aggravated the position. The City Council had undertaken to prepare the grounds surrounding the house, but this, work has not yet been started. When asked the reason for, the delay, Mr McDowell Smith Said that here again the weather had been the deciding factor. A disturbing feature of the somewhat chequered career of the art union house was revealed by Mr Smith. Vandals, presumably children from the district, had been breaking into the house and doing some damage, he said. In one case they had attempted to remove the screws from the door handles, apparently with the idea Of removing the fittings.