“IMPROVING” A BEAUTY SPOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17455, 5 February 1925, Page 8

“IMPROVING” A BEAUTY SPOT.

VANDALISM IN THE CITY. “A thing; of beauty is a joy for ever,” or until such time as a Government Department proceeds to “improve” it. Ruskin didn't write the proviso, though probably he would have done so had it been his sad fate to see the old Government buildings as they exist in Christchurch to-day. Christchurch has long been proud of the Provincial Council Chamber and the remainder of the buildings in the block, but its pride has been based rather on the conception of the pioneers and its noble execution than on the actual spectacle that is presented to the eye after the activities of succeeding generations have placed their marring sign on the block. The quadrangle, particularly, has become a thing to weep over. As it was designed it was a. beautiful spectacle of verdure framed in buildings of classical line and venerable aspect, where the general scheme merged into one harmonious whole to make a picture of solidity and permanence and of cun ning and striking architecture. That was the dream, and it was a dream worthy of the mefn who have left Canterbury such a splendid tradition and such a fine collection of monumental structures. The reality is an architectural chaos, so profound as to render even beauty of design an anachonism. The quadrangle really no longer exists. Against the background of the northern tower there is arayed every sort of architectural fragment from the nobie and classical touch that seems to make every stone animate ot the crudity of the common bush shack. Building has gone on piecemeal at various times, and rooms have been added to meet the exigencies of a crowded moment. They have evidently been wanted hurriedly. for their style bespeaks hasty erection. There are’ two wooden shanties that obtrude their ugliness to jar on one’s sense of the beautiful. They have not one thing in common with the buildings around them. They arc: of the architectural type commonly met with in very small country towns, and make no pretence to serving any other object than the highly utilitarian one of keeping out the rain and weather. Near the tower is a chimney that the builders made low. Evidently the fire smoked, so an improvement has been effected by taking from tho top of the chimney a long length of iron piping. This gives the appearance of leaning somewhat drunkenly for support against the tower to which it is attached. Across a corner of the quadrangle there are stretched a number of light and telephone wires, set low down, and looking like nothing so much a s an aggregation of clothes lines. The back-yard atmosphere thus created is heightened by the immediate proximity of the two wooden shacks. Viewed from such an angle the dark stone walls of the Armagh Street block seem strangely out of place, and the moss marks of tho stone give a strwnge air of unreality. The roofs are a patch-work almost- as remarkable as the buildings themselves. Patches here and there show out prominently because of their liberal coatings of red rust. The building behind the new deeds office is a red building in every way. It is built of rod brick that strikes a jarring note amid the grey stone of the othe*r buildings. It has window shutters of an aggressive hue, while the rusted roof makes a completing patch of most prominent red. The new deeds office appears to he stooping to its fall. The ever widening cracks along the eastern wall bear testimony to the subsidence of the foundations, a subsidence which vain efforts have been made to check. The derrick, the shattered concrete pile, and a miscellany of gear that tho workmen left behind, are still there in untidy disarray to remind the passer that at least* one departmental “improvement” is doomed. Meantime workmen are busy in the quadrangle, putting down concrete foundations for new lavatories. The work has not been stopped despite the protests that have been made- by the Beautifying Association and the Mayor, and the request that nothing should be done until deputations have waited on the Minister of Public Works and presented their views. The lavatories are to be built just at the rear or the recently added wooden structures, and will put the final touch on the obliteration of the vista that totmerlv existed. The Minister ha.s been asked by the Beautifying Association to make arrangements for the erection near the office of the Official Assignee of a building that will conform to the general scheme to replace the deeds office that is threatening to collapse, '•lie society has suggested that. the stone portion of the Armagh Street frontage should be removed and that competitive designs should be called for the building of suitable accommodation for the Deeds Department. A\ ben representations were made on the matter to Sir Heaton Rhodes be replied stating that be bad interviewer] the Hon J. O. Coates, who would be prepared to interview a depn. tat ion. in Christchurch on the matter AA'hen. yesterday, it was learned that a. contractor had made a. commencement- with the erection of the lavatories the Mayor telegraphed asking that the work should he stopped until the deputation met Air Coates. The vork war, still proceeding, however, this afternoon. TO -MORROW'S DEPUTATION. The Alinister of Public Works has wired the secretary of tho Beautifying Assoeation that he will receive a deputation at. Warner's Hotel at 9.15 a.m. to-morrow. A reply has been sent accepting the invitation, and also asking that the. Alinister receive the deputation in tho Provincial Council Chambers. Dr Hight (representing the Historical Association) and the Canterbury members of Parliament will form part of the deputation to the Minister.