TO COST ABOUT £75,000.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 6

TO COST ABOUT £75,000.

FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANS,

A STEEL FRAME GRANITE STRUCTURE.

For tho last three or four years the General Post Offico of tho capital city of the Dpminion has been overcrowded to such an extent, that tho proper conduct- of business has been sjftnost impossiblo, and, though the offiqers of. that capitally-organised and smooth-running department have not publicly complained of the position, there was at one time a definite feoling that they were being asked to work under conditions that'should not exist. From time to time relief has been given by securing outside accommodation for some of the brarichos of the'service, but this has riot kept pace with tho wonderful growth of ..the business, and it was only when it was plainly obvious that a vory much larger offico would be needed that the Government decided to acquire tho whole block on which the, Post Offico stands. The deal was made at '■ terms. quite satisfactory to the Government, .but, after, haying bought' tho'site, 1 therq was hesitation about building. Premises were secured for the Savings Bank and Money Order office in Mr. Robert Hannah's building on Lambton Quay (next the Exchange Buildings), which gave a good deal of relief in public counter space. Then the Custom-house was built, and the suite of offices opcupied on tho first floor tvas made-'''available for ! other bulging-over branches of tho department. Still the work grew, arid only a. few weeks ago the top flat in Nathan's new building in Grey Street ,vas leased for the accomriiodation of tho Accountant's branch. In addition! .to.; this,' tho parcels office was moved to an -ancient.little wooden structure in Grey Street. This scattering of the s various branches all over tho town was merely a necessity to tide over tho question of accommodation until such tirne as tho Government could build, but it has been a very great' inconvenience to .the public of Wellington, and. utterly bewildoring to visitors not acquainted with tho Post-master-General's policy of disintegration. ■■■■ i- .. !. a • ' i ACTION TAKEN. Newspaper articles, Departmental reports, and the' lirgings of responsible officers at longfch decided the Postmaster-General (who is/the Premier) to build, and stops wero taken during' tho recently-deceased session to provide for £200,000' for now Post Offico buildings'at'Wellington arid Auckland. The northern city-is'being treated very fairly in the'building scheme,': as its new Post Offico is to bo practically a replica of the now half (or riiore) -of the'-Wollihgtori building —although ■.nothing; definite has'boon decided on with regard to\tho.sito. It was at. one time suggested that competitive designs'be called for in tho-'caso of the hew Wellington "Post Offico, but that idea'- was "abandoned, nnd earlier in tho year tho Government Architect. (Mr. 'John' Campbell) was instructed to supply alternative! plans. These , were finished a few weeks: ago, and orio was definitely decided-, upon this week by tho PostmasterGeneral. ■' " ". ' ■•■'".■

DESICN OF THE BUILDING. As befitting tho dignity and business necessity of tho General Post Office of New Zealand, the building will , be the , largest and most oxpensive of its kind in tho Dominion. Tho principal entrance will' be in tho centre of tho Featherston Street frontage, instead of in Custom House Quay, which entrance will admit to tho Tourist Department, which is to occupy tho quarters now utilised as a public postal office (with further accommodation overhead) —an ideal situation for tho tourist business—and tho public office of the Telegraph Department will be transformed into offices for the State Fire Insurance Department. The new Post Office will consist of a fine, impressive structure, consisting of four stories and a basement, : orocted in granite or other Now Zealand stone on the steel-frame principle, after ,tho mode of building that is being adopted in tho new Public Trust Offico on ' Lambton Quay, which \is-steel-tied iii every direction, and is as near earthquake-proof as is possible. ■ The front elevation (to Featherston Street) is designed on attractive lines, after the Gothic Renaissance style of architecture,, with low rounded doors and window' archos in perfect keeping with tho! domes' that: will .cap the, stump towers at oithor.corner. ...Tho basement will be lighted by barred windows as high as five or.six feet above tho pavement, which elevates tho ground floor proper that much above the street. Tho main entrance consists of threo arches divided by marble steps that giyo. access to a large vestibulo, from which, in the centre, two.largo Van .Kannel revolving doors lead to the , public offico straight ahead, and on tho loft to a stairway and electric elevator loading to the upper floors, and on tho right to' the parcels department in the basement.'

POSTAL MACNIFICENCE. The public offico is a magnificently-lighted rectangular hall, 78ft. by 58ft., which is circlod with a counter (only broken by the er.tranco), in the form of a great ellipse (04ft. by 40ft.) . Tho counter space is divided ' into compartments for savings bank ,and money order,, telegraph, posto restanto, and registered letters. ' In the centre of tho public elliptical space there, is shown a circular offico enclosure, which would be of ornamental iron grille work, for the sale of stamps. Such an arrangement as this will amply provide against overcrowding at tho counters. The mail room, 123 ft. by' 53ft., occupios the Grey Street frontage, whilst tho savings bank and money order office, 110 ft. by 52ft., occupies the Panama Street frontage.. Each branch is-in touch with its respective counter space. A cart entranco, sufficiently wide to permit out and ingoing vehicles to pass, is provided from Panama Street, with a" turning: spaco, and loading and unloading stand at the'end n6xtto tho mail' receiving and despatch rooms. An electric'elevator is provided to facilitate tho carriago of parcels'from vans to the parcel offico,'or vice versa,.,in addition to a shoot beneath tho loading platform. .Particular attention has been'paid.to. tho lighting and ventilation ofoyery room and branch, which will be overywhero effective, excepting in the basement, where,the lighting, though tho best possible, will in parts have to be sup-

plemented by artificial means. A light well is shown in the centre of the block—Boft. by 56ft.—over the public office, in which there will be a main dome light 32ft. in diameter, besides smaller subsidiary domes or lanterns. The- public office will only be separated from the money order and savings bank branch on the one side and tho mail room on the other, by low glass screen partitions in large openings between piers, in such a manner that there shall be cross-vontilation through from side street to side street, .and affording the appearance of great spaciousness to'tho public office. Tho. main lavatory accommodation is abundant, and is concentrated between' the, largo new light well and tho existing light well in the present building, this arrangement affording cross-ventilation and abundance of light. Bath rooms -for. telegraph messengers or others are. provided in a mezzanine floor, adjoining lavatories. The parcels branch will be in tho basement; also four largo strong rooms, and, .in addition, a kitchen, refectory, two retiring rooms, carpenter's shop, bicycle store, ■ etc-. The designs make provision for a sixth floor in a Mansard roof, which will probably .bo, required in the future. .An ■ electric book lift- is provided, .-connecting (all', floors wjth -basement, ' for conveyance . of. all books and papers to and from the rooms.

HOW THE SPACE IS ALLOTTED. The above will give a good general idea of tho massive scalo on which the now building will be erected, but a more detailed survey of tho manner in which, this floor will' be taken iip shows that the basornent. will be occupied by the parcels office, strong roomsi store ■ rooms, a'carpenter's .shop,-and a refectory (meals'are to bo.provided- for certain branches in the , new scheme). On the ground floor will be the public post and tolegraph offices, savings bank, and money order office, and stamp store, with all accessories-in the way of waiting rooms, lavatories,' etc. The first floor will bo occupied by tho head office staff—the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Inspector of Post Offices, Inspector of Telegraph Offices, Secretary's clerks, : record rooms, waiting room, board room, lavatories, etc. Up another flight will be the dead letter ( office, clearing-room, accountants (general), money order clerks, and a refectory, and oil tho top floor will be the instrument and punching rooms (tolegraph), on tho Panama Street frontage; an office for the Superintendent of Electric Lines, and a letter carriers' room (Grey Street side). In the centre of this building .there will be a big light well that ends in the vast dome that forms the ceiling of -the- big' public office on the ground floor. : • THE COST. It : is-estimated that the building will cost ■about £75,000—a greater price than has ever ; been paid "for" a building in Now Zealand with the exception- of the Exhibition; It is not'intended to alter the existing Post Office externally for tho present, though' later the matter of bringing it into uniformity with the 'new structure may be. considered. • Tenders for the new Post Office are to bo called for immediately. . ;