640 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[ti Oct.. tqoq. 



VICTORIA IN LONDON. 



A notfworthv exeat of the current year has been the official opening 

 of the new offices of the Go\ernment of Victoria in London. The 

 ceremony was p>erformed by the Colonial Secretary, the Right Hon. the 

 Earl of Crewe, and attracted a considerable amount of attention through- 

 out the United Kingdom. 



The building consists of six 

 storeys aud is erected on land 

 leased for 99 years from (he 

 London County Council, having 

 a frontage of 6:; feet to jMel- 

 bourne Place, and 25 feet to the 

 Strand. This 25 feet is the 

 western portion of a frontage of 

 195 feet 6 inches between Mel- 

 bourne Place and the eastern 

 corner where Aldwych joins the 

 vStrand. The whole front had to 

 be designed so that the new 

 building should form a suitable 

 part of the complete scheme 

 which has been approved by the 

 London County Council and is 

 heie illustrated. 



The architect, ]\Ir. Alfred 

 Hurr, F.R.LB.A., when explain- 

 ing the design of the building, 

 said — 



I \eiiture to tliink Uiat, if the re- 

 mainder of the lilock Mere eieetetl and 

 occupied l)y the Coiniiionwealth of 

 Australia, and the five other States, 

 the complete building "ould make a 

 i^ondoii hoiiie worthy of the Coiumon- 

 wralrh. 



In addition to tiie offices of 

 the Agent-General (the Hon. J. 

 \V\ Taverner) and his staff, a 

 reading and rendezvous room 

 victoria's new LONDON OFFiCE.s. |,,,s been provided, nnd will be 



much aj)preciate<l li\ \'i(iorians resident in or visiting London. Pwo 

 spacious exhibit rooms and three large windows jxrovide ample ac- 

 commodation for eft'ecti\e displays of the varied produ(i:s of the State. 



Before he declared the new otlices open for the transaction of busi- 

 ness, Lord Crewe said — 



I have to congratulate the Ciovcrnnient of Victoria on securing a site for their 

 offices in an e\ce])tionallv favourable jjosilion, between the west of London and 

 the city. When the Agent-deneral turns his steps westward he can engage in 



the semi-diplomatic activities of his office, activities to which, so far as the Co onial 

 Office is concerned, I am hajjpy to think, are always of a cordial and friendly 

 character If he turns eastward, he finds himself almost immediatelv at the 



centre of the commercial activities which form a large part of the duties of his 

 office. 



