DELAY IN BUILDING

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1935, Page 9

DELAY IN BUILDING

LIBRARY AT NEW PLYMOUTH. OBJECTION FROM COMMITTEE. Objection to a suggestion from the New Plymouth Borough Council that, owing to financial difficulties in the calling of tenders for the new library, the present library building should be strengthened for earthquake resistance was made by the public library and museum committee in a letter received by the borough council last night. Criticism was levelled because of the difficulties of temporary storage of museum exhibits while alterations were taking place, and the committee suggested that measures for the construction of the new building should be immediately proceeded with. Consideration of the question was deferred by the council until after the finance committee had an opportunity of discussing the financial position with the council in committee at its next meeting. Although the library committee approved of the sketch plan of the proposed new building, providing that basement accommodation necessary . for future developments should be introduced, the council took the view that the present sketch plan did not provide for the ordinary future expansion of the library and museum, particularly the museum.

In regard to a letter from the town clerk setting out the suggestion he made to the council on August 5 that in view of the possibility, owing to financial difficulties, of some delay taking place in regard to the calling for tenders for the erection of the proposed new library and museum buildings the existing Carnegie Institute buildings should forthwith be made secure as far as earthquake resistance was concerned, the library and museum committee submitted the following comments:— “With reference to the letter suggesting the immediate necessity for strengthening the northern wing of the Carnegie Institute this committee, while appreciating the cause and necessity for public safety, begs to point out the extreme inconvenience that will follow this action if carried out before the new building is ready for occupation. The double and treble handling of the many hundreds of museum exhibits involved in the storage and packing temporarily, with possible loss or damage, the transfer of the whole of the library books to other quarters and the general upset caused thereby, makes the committee most reluctant to have to accept the town clerk’s suggestion.

Transferring from our present quarters into the new building would be a simple matter compared with the work, trouble and expense that would be entailed by storage and packing to temporary accommodation. This committee would request that measures be taken to start in the near future the erection of the new library and museum building in Egmont and St. Aubyn Streets and thereby obviate the inconvenience and expense involved in transfer and storage.”

In regard to the sketch plan of the proposed new buildings, the library and museum committee submitted the following comment: “That this committee approves of the sketch plan, as to main features and space allotted, submitted by Messenger and Taylor, subject to further consideration, in co-operation with the architects as to detail, when specifications are available. The committee request that such basement accommodation will be provided as will be adequate for future requirements.” In the finance committee’s report to the council a recommendation was made that, in view of the fact that in the opinion of the council the accommodation shown by the existing sketch plan was not sufficient to provide for ordinary future expansion of the library and museum, particularly the museum, the architects be instructed to show the walls on the eastern, northern and western sides of the proposed building five feet further out than at present shown and to cut back the temporary walls adjoining Messrs. Flyger and Carter’s building by five feet and make such other alteration in the position of the proposed building as will enable the lawns on the eastern and northern sides of the building to remain the same width as already shown. The architects would also be requested to submit an estimate showing the additional cost of carrying out this instruction.

In the event of the resolution being carried the report recommended that Cr. F. Amoore be authorised to confer with the architects and explain the council’s views in regard to the matter.