THE BUILDING OF THE YEAR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 9

THE BUILDING OF THE YEAR.

A RECORD. ' • , If building activity be any guide, to the advancement of a city, Wellington's placo as a living oipbodimont of progress should be n high one. A recent computation made regarding the, amount of money that was involvod in' building in Wellington—buildings within city limits, excluding residences— totted! up to a figure somewhero in . the vicinity or £500,000 sterling, which is • an onormous sum when the size of the city is takon into consideration. Not only has tho amount of important building been greater during the year than in any other twelvo months in tho history of Wellington, but, what is equally gratifying, tho class of buildings erected has been moro substantial. Without going into tedious: dotail we might interest by noting a few of tho moro prominent structures that owo tlioir existence to tho past year's energy.. • Tluv groat fire of' October, 1006, has given a big impetus to building in Wellington central. The Trocadero restaurant has been restored, the old wooden Commercial Hotel has heen replaced with a commodious foiirstory building, and Messers Whitcombe and Tombs havo had splendid four-story premises provided for them by tho owner, Mr. .1. R. Blair. Next door, tho magnificent Bank of New South Wales has been restored to a condition excelling its original splendour. On the other side of the Quay, the Wellington Trust and Loan Company has erected a serviceable four-story building; tho New Zealand Insurance Cpinpany's.' new premises are in course of erection, and a tender is about to be lot for the erection of tho now Union Bank. Tfio new National Bank has

also boon completed during tho year. Nathan's huge block (a 100 ft. cube), on tho corner of Fcf.thorston Street and Grey Stroet, has betm completed, and is now a hivo of oommeroial activity, 'l'ho now Post Office. Hotel is,, too, on the point of completion. Mossrs. Mborehouso and Hadfield have built inin ferro-concrete; in Panama Street, next to a now brick erection of Mossrs.. W. H. Turnbull and Co. Routh's Building, on tho corner of Featherston and Johnston Stroots, is a handsome block would not- discredit any city, and a little farther down tho Wellosloy Club has nrected convenient and commodious premises' ovor tho'sito of tho old Wellington, Tinwaro Company's premisos. Right along the Quay building is and will continuo to bo busy. Mr. S. Kirkcaldio is having an up-to-date four-story hotel crccted next to tho Magistrates' Court,, and at tho Corner of Stout Street lind tho Quay is arising the steel,vstone, and brick' edifice that is .to shelter tho Public Trustee and other Governmont ofDcinls. Opposite tho Supremo Court a building for the Civil Service Club has been commonced to tho order of Mr; S."Kirkcaldio. The firm of Kirk-caldio-and' Stains are also extending their premises (in ferro-concrete) on tho Johnston Street frontage. / In Customhouse Quay..the Now Bank, of Australasia has been completed during tho 3'ear, and Mr. A. E. Kernot l»as erccted handsome premises next to tho'Widows' Life Building. Messrs. Sargood, Son, and Ewen have added a story to their Jorvois Quay premises to- copo with an expanding business. , The most commanding of the now buildln Willis Street is tho now Windsor 1 ftlaco Private Hotel, which is only a few off its ■ opening. Higher up -the. I.M.G.A. has erected by public subscription a . splendid four-story building especially de-1 Sl T?i e P^ r P ose ? of the Association. I lie Al trill istato has erected new promisesLin Boulcott Street, and tho Wellington Howling Club has erected what is said to be one of, the finest bowling pavilions in tho world. In lower Cuba Street a new building has been erected, at the rear of the Opera House for Mr. Baleombe Brown, and Mr. George M mder is erecting. over his commanding corner; sectioni a particularly fine building. o'tcn and Allan s now premises havo been completed, and are a credit to the firm in every .respect. .Along Courtonay Place way Mr. R.. H. Edwards has erected a four-story warehouse | -"T forerunner of. many', more in that locality. Messrs. ( Dwan Bros, have a private, hotel m course of erection. In CableStreet (on the reclaimed, land), Messrs! C. and H.-Odliii have erected a hu<*o brickblock for their timber and hardware busi- : noss. .. 1' urthor oast Mossrs. Laery and - Company have,, erected a handsome building on the corner,°f Allen Street and Victoria Streot. Mr/ F. Bolton is erecting-a big private hotel on, the cornor of Clyde Quay arid Victoria Streot; next door Messrs. Luke aud Mitchell are erecting'a largo warehouso, and not far away the'new destructor building is'in courso of erection. The new drillshed at Buckle Street is'all but', completed; Wellington College is having an additional building orected in its grounds; Other buildings completed or in progress during tho year include brick premises for Messrs.. Anderson and Son, of Molesworth' Strefet; • Messrs! Jrvine and Stevenson of Brandon Street; Mr. E. T. 1 Taylor's " Beehive Chambers in Courtenay Place; additions to Government and Parliament Buildings : . Murray, Robert's new warehouse in l'pathorston Street, and The-Dominion's cxtensivo I premises on Plimmer's Steps. . '■The buildings, mentioned, aro those that can; be .recalled without' reference to any authority; and by no mcans doos it protend to be a completo ono. The -heart of the builder 'has been glad ;for a long time in Wellington, valid there is no reason why it should not continue so, for tho building prospects seem to be brighter than ever. A few of -!tho new buildings assured and contem-. ■ plated include now Parliamentary. Buildings and General. Post Office, possibly- a jiew.Gov- ! ernmont 1 -House' and'; railwaystation-;• -warn-' houso, on Lambton; i Quay, and factory in Cuba Streot for Mr. Robert Hannah ; .Union OuikiMon-Lambton Quay;. Alliance. Insurfinoe .Company in-Grey Street;' offices for the' Union Steam Ship Company in Customliou'sc Quay;._. and new municipal . power house (additions). Many other big buildings are to bo erected in Wellington during 1908, and others are " in the air," but, from the magnitude; of some of the works on coiir tempktion, it can bo easily seen that huilding will not bo dull in Wellington during the next , twelve months.