THE NEW TOWN HALL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4072, 7 April 1874, Page 3

THE NEW TOWN HALL.

As some interest is being manifested by the general public in the proposal for the erection of a Town Hall for the City of Wellington, the following sketch of the design prepared by Mr Marchant, the City Engineer, will afford an idea of its proportions and adapta* bility to the requirements specified by the City Council. As the erection of the building will involve an expenditure in which every ratepayer will have to bear a part, it may be mentioned that the designs are open for inspection at the Surveyor's office. It is proposed to erect the hall on the reserved block between Waring Taylor street and Johnston streefc, fronting the harbor ; the dimensions of the block on the harbor front being 171 feet by 196 feefc in depth, the wholo of which is reserved for municipal purpose?. The designs bliow an edifice in the Grceco* Italian style, with the principal facade fucing tho harbor. The total length of the harbor front will be 153 feet, its height being fifty feeb from the ground level to the parapet. The chief features of tho principal fagndo are projecting wings at each end of the building, and the central tower 115 feet in height. The tower is intended not only to give the building a distinctive public character, hut also to be of utility as a clock tower, look-out, and fire alarm-bell tower. The Corinthian order has been selected for the decorative features, and a distinctive order for the full height of the main building, the columns and pilasters resting on a. basement nine feet above the street level. The principal entrance is approached, by a flight of steps under the tower, leading to the entrance hall (seventeen feet wide), to the right and left of which are corridors twelve feet wide, the full length of the main building, lending to the several offices. On tho right hand is situated the Mayor's reception room, ft spacious apartment of thirty-one feet hy eighteen feet ; the map room, twenty-six feet by eighteen feet, and four largo officcd in the north wing. To the loft are the offices of the Town Clerk, messengers' room, aafo, and four offices in tho south wing, corresponding to those of the north wing. The height of these rooms, from floor to ceiling, is fourteen feet. The lavatories are proposed to be placed on the basement floor, and approached under the principal entrance, which is centrally situated. From the dimensions of this staircase it should prove a notable feature of the interior of the building. The stairs rise two flights from the principal floor, and meet centrally on the landing over the entrance to the groat hall ; thence in a single flight to the upper floor leading to the Council Chamber, committee room?, the offices of the City Surveyor's department, and tho offices in the north and south wings. The dimensions of the Council Chamber are forty-eight feet by twenty-four feet, and sixteen feet in height ; but the dimensions of the room can be extended at any time by taking away some removable folding doors and taking in the committee rooms. This would make tho room a total length of 80 feet. The great hall or assembly room can be entered from three directions — from the principal staircase on the main floor, from the landing previously described to the balcony tier, and by two entrances from Feath*r ( ton Street. Its proposed dimensions are 93 feet in length by 49 feet 7 inches wide, the height from floor to ceiling 33 feet. The organ recess, in addition to the foregoing dimensions, will measure 22 feet wide by a depth of 17 feet. Retiring rooms, for the accommodation of persons at public concerts, are designed on each side of the organ recess. The balcony will be wholly supported by cantilevers, so as to avoid obstructions in the shape of pillars on the lower floor. The holt U designed to seat about 1,200 persons, and will be lighted from the c. i'ing. The large dimensions of the hall, taken in connection with the sum of money likely to be forthcoming for the work, will prevent richness of decoration or elaborate work of any description. The side walls will be relieved by pilasters and a coved wiling with deeply sunk moulded panellings, all Ihe work of which will bo so executed as to admit of future embellishment. There can be no doubt that should tho City Council decide upon carrying out the work, Mr. Marchant will have the honour of designing, and Wellington will be in possession of, the handsomest and most compact public building iv New Zealand. The plans have already been favourably pronounced upon by Beveral professional gentlemen and others who have inspected them, and marjy deserving encomiums hare been elicited.