NEW ZEALAND HOUSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13699, 14 September 1908, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND HOUSES.

-coxtkmptible abchitkcturk

"Contemp'ible," was tin* term applied by HJ» Excellency the Governor to colonial architecture, "when opening the Mannwatv Art Socfety't exhibition last week. "Tbetvbotximpoiunt form of an which people in New Zealand might >trive to cultivate," he said; "that i*. architecture. I don't, of tunrW, refer to any town in particular--to I'almenton. <>r Auckland, or W«llin*ton-~but a* New Z«-aland generally- There i* nothing m»rv ronternptible* than the average hou.w which :* perpetrated in Xe*r Zealand. Why. your booe* here are ji*t about equal to erected in the wore ««|wctab!e |*.r'.ii.n of ih* Eaat Ettl of tendon; even llromJey «n beat anything y«u have jjot heie. Of course, I recognise that <>ne <>;' the great difticulue* i* that most «»f tbi» people- bave no: had the opportunity t<» ace and appreciate the grand architect ur" of the Old World, of Florence, and xWe other great places, and even <».' the charming litth- country town* of she Old Country. Of coutti*." continued hi* K&ceUem'V. with a »nule. "although I am an aUurdly ecfJ»u«iaMk- Irishman. I mwi confeM that Ireland is a munl-tr eiuner »l*u in the nutter ut architecture. and that many «f the modern Ik.um-. are *boroinat"on*. There ought to 1* vm>«fcetter hoor.e* here. They are all ttacily the torn*— th<* same tin r«»f. pain'ed the eano red, and probably the wrung red the <an>» drab mod colour ou the front, and tlie same horrible tin thing to hold the water in a*. tb«* bask. I can't think that th«-*w abominations ar>« built pui-ly for :l»e purpose of satirist nu.o.y. Y»»n can't be no needy in l*almer«t«>n N«»r:h. I am not trying to abuse New Zealand,

because you all know that I liave very great regard for the country and it* people. lam simply referring to lihis one .point, which demands attention" His Excellency referred to one or two (harming houses which he bad teen in the neighbourhood of Palmersron, and a number in the Hawke's Bay district. He suggested nhat Paltaerston might at some time have an architectural exhibition, wherein could be exhibited .designs for houses. It would be the first held in New Zealand.