AUCKLAND'S NEW POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1529, 27 August 1912, Page 8

AUCKLAND'S NEW POST OFFICE.

* UP-TO-DATE ARRANGEMENTS. • (By Tclcgraph.-Spccial Correspondent.) Auckland, August 2G. The internal arrangements of Auckland's new post office, which has taken thico years to build, and which will lw opened next mouth by the Prime Minister (tho Hon. W. F. Massey), will outrival anything of tho kind in New Zealand. The cost of the structure is .£96,0(10. The basement hns a fronUigo of 180 ft. by 140 ft. deep. This is, divided into a largo parcelreceiving mid "delivery department attached to which is a Customs Department for tho examination of dutiable or suspicious goods. There is an electric switch room next, and a blow-house in connection with tho pneumatic tubes, through which tho tblegrams' aro sent from the* public counter 1 to the operating-room. Dinner rooms havo been designed for the use of the boys, letter-carriers, and clerks,, and an excellent kitchen fitted with a gas stove and washing-up apparatus. Three lifts for passengers and parcels rise from the basement to the top floor. Four strong-rooms, proof against- the most wily .burglar,-are 20ft. long by. 20ft. wide. From tho street tho visitor enters tliTpugh the main archwav, a splendid feature of the building, to the left of which is the Savings Bank and Old Age Pensions' Department. Entering by the large swing dooi-3, there is seen the central hall, capped by a beautiful dome surmounted by five cupolas to light up the public department. Four massive columns support the roof, and round these are placed writing desks for tho uso of the public. In the centre is a splendidly-built kiosk arrangement, where postage stamps will be sold. Sweeping gracefully round is a fine dark-stained counter, faced with' marble .panels and partitioned oft' into the money order, telegraph, registered letter, telephone, and letter-delivery departments, and an . in-, quiry office. At the back is a huge mailroom, with- two largo doors opening out on to the dumping platform, where the mails will bo received from the trams. On tho first floor aro tho -postmaster, assistant-postmaster, clerks, lottcr-carners, officer in charge, punching-room, operators' rooms, as well as the telegraph messengers and dispatchintj-room, the telegraph operators occupying tho largest space. The second floor will not be required for tho Post Office .Department, nnd is to be utilised by the railway staff. Tho third and last floor of the building provides for telegraph mechanic and the Pacific Cable Board (nine rooms). Behind is a largo racial hall for the general staff. The roof represents a huge drill ground. It is covered with reinforced mi>Hlioid, a water-proof material of American manufacture. Two huge flanking domes are to be pierced, and through tho apertures long poles forty feet in length will be fixed, supported by strong guys. The trellis-work of the wireless apparatus will then be stretched from polo to .po'?. It is interesting to note that tho building is erected on piles which had to be sunk 50ft. below tho footpath.