870 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J, 



Many clients appeal to an architect, expecting by this 

 means to obtain in the quickest and most economic manner a 

 building of suitable magnitude. Such demands are simple 

 and straightforward ; they reduce the jjractice of an architect 

 to a level very little above that of a commission agent, and 

 by constant repetition overwhelm the architect and totally 

 prevent the possibility of any artistic scope. 



Such is understood as architecture in the colonies. In 

 truth it is nothing better than building, and the architect but 

 a superintending builder. Under these circumstances many 

 may be excused if they join in the oft-repeated assertion 

 that there is no art in architecture, and therefore there is 

 some reason in the kindly conten^pt that the layman extends 

 towards the colonial architect, who claims to practice an art. 



As the layman ignores the possible existence of art in 

 architecture he makes no demand for it, and consequently 

 there is no encouragement for its supply. The most moderate 

 study of Architecture will thoroughly convince anyone that 

 the practice of it must be essentially of a highly artistic 

 nature, and that it is a full sister art to Music and Painting. 

 These words, so oft i-epeated, are only half understood by the 

 inteUigent public, and until their value is wholly acknow- 

 ledged, architecture must necessarily be precluded from 

 exercising that ennobling influence which marks the most 

 valued characteristics of a fine art. 



The .impassioned utterances of Ruskin, published in 

 England at a time when architecture was masquerading in 

 the worst form of plagiarism and deceit — when the best 

 endeavours towards freedom and truth of any individual 

 architectural genius aroused strong opposition, and were 

 awarded with the public opprobrium — have undoubtedly laid 

 a most valuable foundation, upon which will be effected the 

 best means of architectural redemption ; and I feel confident 

 of support and approval when I claim for the bulk of 

 Kuskin's architectural writings a very great importance, and, 

 while not being a Ruskinite, I even go further and claim 

 for them an essential position as containing the ethics of 

 the art. 



His influence upon the craftsmanship of architecture has 

 been infinitesimally small, but his writings must always 

 remain invaluable monuments of ethical teaching to all true 

 students of architectural art in its highest development ; and 

 even the leading architects of his time, after constantly 

 decrying the value (to the profession) of all his architectural 



