Our Illustrations

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 22, 2 June 1909, Page 16

Our Illustrations

CALIFORNIA BOYS ON TOUR. /TT\ R. GARNET HOLME, of Jesus ill College, Cambridge, but for ill the last two years in charge f of the dramatic work of the Stale University of California, arrived by the through express last week from Wellington, he being the manager of the Californian Boys' tour. He had ■n interview on Wednesday with the chairman of the Education Board (Mr, XJ. J. Parr), Mr. P. M. Mackay, Colonel <l. W. 9. Patterson., and tha Mayor (Mr. <l. I). Grey). Seen by a representative v»f the Auckland “Star" shortly after! }»is arrival, Mr. Holme gave some inlercsting particulars regarding the Cali-, Bnrr.ia Boys’ Club, which, he stated, was started by Major Pixßtto in a little. Xoom In Ban Franeuico some 15 years ago. In 1006 the club had a membership M POO. Here the lads received gymifeaaium training, were taught military) thrill and outdoor athletics of every dejkerlption, nlso tfecHived Instrurion in flasket niaking, wood -earring, day modelling, and all kinds of handicraft, musical Bnd dramatic work. There was also aj fine brass band. The earthquake lefty the club without a liocne, and a fresh. Start had to be made. The old boys, .however, rallied round the Major, and As a result there is a new clubhouse, ft may be mentioned that every mem■fcer of the California Boys’ Club now, on lour was in the resoup camps during .the exciting days following the earthquake. Most of the boys are the sons ®f small tradesmen or working men of San Francisco. An invitation was forwarded from Australia for the Calp tornia Boyp’ <3ub to visit the Commons Wealth. Accompanying the invitation) was an offer to hospitise the for four months. 'Wt want,” said Mr, Holme, “our boys to meet the boys of New Zealand. At Wellington th 6 YAf.C.A. has arranged for them to W received Into the homes of some In your dty Mrs. Leo Myers (to whoia t had loiters of introdactnon) has asked tp have two boys as visitors during their stay here, and Mr. P. AL Mackay* Colonel Patterson, and the. Bev. W. Gray! tbixon are Interesting themselves in the Blatter of providing homes for tha other T>oys.’’ “Will they stay long in Auckland?” w Oh, no, for they have to go to Sydney The boys should arrive here on the Sd'th of June, and leave on tha 26th.” “What is the object of the tour?” *"We want the boys, while they are( fcere, to see all that they can in tha time at their disposal. As vou people Sn Auckland are, I understand, great 8n athletic*, ii should Interest you to learn that we hire with us the champiou boys’ baseball, basket ball, and football Iranis of Ban Francisco. The ages range tram 12 to 29 years. While we are in Auckland, the boys will give a concert m the Choral Hall, at which your May of eas promised to preside. I may tell Jrou that each summer a partv of 4(5 boys of the club marches for five weeks .through the State of California. No bov is allowed to start out on this trip unless he can nrove himself valuable to Abe party. The expenses of this expedition are raised by the giving of the same entertainment ns is offered "t, this foreign trip. The visit of the American boys to Australia and New xealand should not only prove immensely, lielpful to the boys themselves and those Interested in such work, but should also •*>e a» important step in the bringing together and the better mutual understanding of the two great Englishspeaking peoples.* IHI NEW GOVERNMENT HOUSE AT WELLINGTON. Among onr illustrations wRI be found two sketches of the new Government

House, which wilt soon form a commanding feature on the landscape near the old Mount View Asylum. The work of excavating for foundations has been commenced. The resilience has been placed in sach a position that Its erection can be considerably advanced before it becomes necessary to dismantle Mount View Asylum and find accommodation for its patient* in the extensions of mental hospitals now in progress elsewhere. There are to be two imposing frontages, one to a garden, which is to be kept as private as possible, and the other faciag the north, and the carriage drive, which will run from {Sussex Square up the hill to join the existing drive. Foundations of concrete will be provided, and then briek will come into use for the base, rising to the height of the verandah. Above this the usual timber structure will be used, but the walls, instead of being covered with weatherboarding, will be of a rough-cast plaster, with the main timbers showing. These beams will be stained dark, and, contrasting with the white plaster and the red roof-tiles, will give the residence an exceedingly picturesque appearance, strongly suggestive of the Elizabethan style of architecture. By designing the building with two long elevations, the maximum amount of sunshine will be available in all the principal rooms. The garden front will face the north, the sunny aspect, and will be quite shielded from the public means of access, the main entrance to the residence being on the south side, in the centre of the building. Outside will be a porte cochere —the covered porch for carriages—and then a vestibule leading into the spacious entrance ball 40ft by 25ft. Leading off this will be the grand staircase, similar in design to that at the old Government House, in that it will have two branches, or return staircases, reaching from the first landing to the uppesr corridor. On the Tight, upon entering the building, and overlooking the northern aspect, will be his Excellency’s private sitting-rooms, while at the extremity, the eastern end of the' ground floor plan, will be situated the drawing-room, 31ft 6in by 26ft. with a spacious bay, off which will lead a large conservatory. Doors will also lead from this bay into the ballroom. 77ft by 40ft. or rather more than twice the size of the old ballroom. This win be provided with a special entrance for guests, having cloakrooms and a large anteroom. There are to be IS bed and dressingrooms for his Excellency, his suite, and guests. While the new residence will be spacious and its exterior picturesque, the cost has beeu kept the Government architect (Mr. J. Campbell) is to be congratulated upon the manner in which he has endeavoured to meet all these requirements, at the same time keeping within the estimate originally submitted by the Pjanie Minister to Parliament—viz., £-25,000. It is expected that the building will be completed in ■Tune. 1910. The work is to be done by day labour under the superintendence of the Public Works Department. It was in the Late sixties that the old Government House, which in its final days is doing duty as a Parliamentary Building, was first commenced, the contract price being £ 10,583. There were a number of extras, the contractor failed to complete the work at the contract price, and it was estimated that the building, when complexed in 1871, was worth £ 16.245. THOMAS BAIXINGEB AND CO, LIMITED. By an oversight in late weok's issue the name of Messrs Thomas Ballinger and Co., Ltd. of the Empire Plumbing

Works was incorrectly piiated as ‘•Bollinger Bros.” under an illustration of the Dixon-etreet works of the firm. The misprint was too obvious to be read otherwise than a mistake, but at tho request of the firm we have pleasure in drawing attention to same in order to prevent misunderstanditq;. the frimley exhibit at the AUCKLAND WINTER SHOW. A NOVEL DISPLAY. (See Pa*e 23.> The Frimley Cannery exlubit attracted a great deal of attention. Mr. J. K. Wheeler, the Auckland agent, went to a lot of trouble to make the display novel and artistic, nnd the crowd that gathered around the stall all the week amply testified to his success. The Governor himself spent fully quarter of an hour there on his tour of inspection, and congratulated Mr. Wheeler upon being the representative of one of the finest industrial firms in the Dominion, the land value of whose orchards has advanced from £35 to £2OO per acre. The stall, which was in pavilion form, had a background of the firm's canned goods arranged in groups, tiers and pyramids, their elegant labels making a pleasing bank of rich colour. These labels were also used to finish the edge of the raised dais, and tastefully introduced in panel effect on one side of the stall, forming a blank wall, draped with alternate rays of gathered sateen in sunflower and fan shape, and interspersed with lycopodium, the colours of pink, pale green, heliotrope and old gold blending harmoniously. The labels, whose richness and elegance were the subject of frequent comment, were printed at the “Star” Office. The goods comprised tomato sauce, green peas in tins and packets, tinned vegetables of all kinds, including tomatoes, tinned fruits of all kinds, jams, and pie fruits. Some of the tins were opened, and the

contents turned into giaaa disltes. Mat* pies being appetising enough te make the mouths of the bystanders water. The fruit is preserved in halves, of the largest and best quality, free from mash, one standard, the best, and nothing but the best, being rigidly maintained. Inside of a little railing, the goods forming a pretty background, stood two girls and a boy, dressed to represent a Frimley plum, peach and vegetable, respectively, and were, of course, the centre of attraction. They handed out amusing circulars representing a Maori attempt at imitation of the Frimley Works, and little packets of court plaster, bearing the legend, “Stick to Frimley.” The Plum (Miss Mabel Abbott), a bandsome brunette, wore a short skirt of leaves in sateen, nicely veined and edged, Frimley Plums, cut from the labels, forming a border. The buby bodice was .of soft heliotrope silk, with zouave in yellow, and groups of plums applique, and a loose scarf of yellow silk knotted at the left side. Her cap was an inverted plum tin, with ribbon streamers in green heliotrope and gold, with plum drops, and she wore black openwork stockings and liigh-beeled shoes, presumably to represent stalks. Tire Peach (Miss Kathleen Robinson) was a dainty little blonde, short and plump, with long flaxen hair falling over her shoulders. She wore a soft pink satin dress in Empire style, reaching to the floor, with Empire sash in golden yellow, and Frimley Peach in brown cut from labels forming the hem of skirt. Her large hat of rustic straw was edged with pink ruches, the crown decorated with sprays of peach blossom, and she carried a spray of the same in her hand. The Vegetable (Master Dick Turner) wore clown's attire, with loose red pantaloons, green blouse and red spotted tie, white straw shoes, and red and white striped stockings. Over this were pasted bunches of green peas and other vegetables cut from the labels, his peaked cap being also made of labels. His faoe was blackened, and he acted the part well by moving about among the crowd and causing much merriment.