More Spacious Site to be Constructed Progress in connexion with the War Memorial has been somewhat delayed in consequence of—difficulty in obtaining estimates from Home. It will be remembered that in May the Committee selected the design submitted by Messrs. Stewardson & Spence, and instructed the architects to prepare complete estimates for the granite and bronze work. The architects are still awaiting a reply to their Homio inquiry as to the cost, of the top statuary group and flanking features in bronze—the most important item—the cost of which, pending cabled advice. they estimate at Tls. 30.000.
This brings the total estimated cost of the memorial to Tls. 55,000, to which has now to be added about Tls. 8,000 for necessary improvements to the site. Such improvement the architects consid: 7 ered indispensable to the success of the scheme,, and their suggestions have received unanimous approval by the Committee, Tue Bexp Extexsioy.
As to the nature of the proposed alterations to the Bund site, at the end of Avenue Edward VII. the site at present is undoubtedly cramped for such a monument, which must depend largely upon spacious surroundings for dignity of effect. The Bund extension terminates at the limits of the International Settlement, in a curve sweeping back to the former Bund line, thus making a broken water front at the point where the memorial is to be placed. Moreover, it is a practical impossibility at present to obtain any parallel aystem between Bund front and pavement curb, or any properly axial placing of the memorial relative to Bund front, pavement, and adjoining streets, Tt is considered important that the memoria} should. be placed to show to advantage from the river as well as from the land side, and it is therefore suggested that vast. improvement would be effected in the site, if the Bund front, were extended as suggested. The alteration would permit, of a poral Jel treatment of Bund, memorial, and pavement. This would—also give a spaciousness about the base, and it is intended that the plinth of the balustraded enclosure should strike up in a strong vertical bastion from the sloping Bund face, further to emphasize the memorial from the river.
The cost of this Bund extension is estimated by the Public Works Department to be in the region of Tls. 8,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.