THE NEW G.P.O.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1239, 22 September 1911, Page 6

THE NEW G.P.O.

A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING WITH SOME DEFICIENCIES.

TO BE FINISHED AT END OF MARCH. ■ Tho contract lime for tho building-of tho new General Post Office—one of tho few buildings in Wellington which can boast three frontages to important city streets—elapses about tho middle of November. After the paragraphs which have appeared from time to time- respecting Ihe manner in whioh the work has-been delayed (not by tho contractors, be it understood), it. will not- bo news to anyone that the building'will not-bo anything like, finished by that time. There will bo four to five months of finishing work after tho. contract expires, and therefore'it is not likely that the increasing business of the Post Office will be transferred to the new building until early in April next. To the lay eyo there does not seem to.be so much moro work lo do, or rather, the work that remains to be done is of so straightforward n character (such.as concrete work, plastering, finishing, and furnishing) that one could easily conceive it to bo from eight to ten weeks from completion. Only tine of the three big cranes remains for tho hoisting of materials to the top of the building. The concrete roof has been laid on, and a start will be made to cover it with Neuchatcl asphalt as soon as the weather moderates. The ornamental Tonga Bay stone pediments,' impressively massive in character, are now in position, and a good idea can be obtained of tho several elevations. There is still about a month's work before the stono parapet will be completed, but that will not complete the stone work, as a domed tower is to be erected on tlie south-west corner, tho weight of which will be carried by the specially strong steel girders which, at present outline the tower , well. It is hardly necessary to say that a magnificent view of tho city and harbour is obtainable from the roof, which is about twelve feet above the iron roof of the present General Post Office.

To descend to earth—the ground floor (elevated about six feet abovo the ground) is a foundry, sawmill, and plasterers' shop all in one. The main entrance is from blie centro of the Feathcrston Street elevation, narrow steps admitting by three comparatively small arched entrances to a vestibule, which appears to be far too small for the requirements of such a building. This, and the three entranceways referred to, do not fit in with tho imposing dignity of. such a pretentious edifice, and there will bo trouble yet over the small area of the vestibule. This trouble has bpen. so accentuated in recent years in the existing General Post Office that it is surprising more room has not been provided.

As if to compensate ■ for the cntranco deficiencies, the public office, which is to serve for post office, telegraph, and Savings Bank business, is really a noblo chamber. It occupies the whole of tho ground floor, fight to the back of tho building. It is lighted by the side windows and also from a huge central dome, and seven smaller ones, which form the bottom of the light-well, which is to supply the natural light to the interior offices on the floors above. Even with this provision it is doubtful if the light will be any too satisfactory, as the form of construction blots out light from that quarter, and none is admitted at all from the eastern side of tho building. Much of the rough plaster work has been dono down below, and on the first awl fecond floors and the concrete floors are well on tho way to.completion. There is.to be a passenger elevator arising from the vestibule, round which a much too narrow staircase, winds to tho top of tho building. There is a, fine air.of permanency about the structure, which is built to endure against tho ravages of time, and it is just a pity that the deficiencies noted exist, as this is ono of the most pretentious State buildings in New Zealand. When the business of tho G.P.O. is transferred to tho new building it will bo done in a day—probably: , on a Saturday afternoon and Sunday—without .any break in the continuity of the postal traffic.