The Men Who Planned the Work.

A brief mention of the men most directly concerned in the technical development of the scheme may not be out of place. The name most closely associated with the investigation and planning of Wellington's railway requirements is that of Mr. F. C. Widdop, M.Inst.C.E., Chief Engineer, New Zealand Railways. His investigations have extended over the past twenty years. It has, however, been the duty of the writer to handle the planning of details in their later stages. Transportation conditions have changed greatly in recent years, and some of the old ideas have had to be recast. The final consolidation and harmonising of the functions of a railway station bring out numerous difficulties, and many new possibilities have had to be explored before reaching an ultimate decision.

The station building itself must necessarily lie outside the scope of the engineer. He may map out its ground plan in relation to his platforms and sidings, but to translate that ground plan into a worthy structure requires the architect.

It was wisely decided by the Government that the best architectural ability in Wellington should be made available to the engineers, and so for the past two years Mr. W. Gray Young, F.R.I.B.A., has been in close collaboration with them. He is directly responsible for the plans now presented to the public and will handle the job to completion.

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