THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1608, 27 November 1912, Page 5

THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE.

YESTERDAY was a red-letter day in the building, history of the City ,'of Wellington. Not bo much, because it was the date of ■ the opening of the/riewv.General Post. Office—which has been', in' course of construction for the past three, because it saw'.thb ' the. culmination'.of: the completion of tiie first : wholly • stone ;Wding in Oyellingtok, and -'thein-, the whole, of the' Dominion:. '.The Erection -of this huge edifice of' occupies over half the block surrounded by. Customhouse Quay,"Featherston. Strret, Panama Street, and Grey .Street-rwas 'entrust- ' ed by ; the Governmerit-toMessrs. J. and;A. Wilson, Ltd., who.-just previously : had made 6uch a. fine job"of :the Public Trust : 'Offiice. in 'Lambton Quay,/and;;the massive pile which now looms'up in'the centre of Wellington's ," commercial-quarter,', is; !a : testi-. mony 'to their .capacity .'as Contractors, and :to the' fine < building 'granite which they have-had' to. handle in; the building thereof.- It hasbeen-a -sight'Of uhcommouinterest, for* &e'reasons ;stated above, to watch the pile grow,'and grow, as block 'was;' piled ,on block—lifted - from, y the ground'by human-like claws, poised;!: in midair, ; by the cranes perched roof-high on great.'gantries,and tben:;by/ whistle' signs.: to : see 'them lowered , gently . into their allotted places. It appeared to be. very slow work to'those occupied'.daily in the quarter, but a building of granite which is to see out our children's children, and probably their children's children; cannot,.be-rushed up in any .quickfire American fashion' without something suffering. ' The crowning glory of this pile is that it has been.;built of a 'granite-of won-, derful strength, fine texture, and handsome appearance, which exists in; almostiimitlessisupply to -Wellington. . . 1 . . ;

A SERMON .IN STONE. Visitors; to Wellington often .ask: "Why are thefe no--stoiie WelAnd the answer invariably has been: "Because we 4 have no building stone."' This is quite an erroneous -statement, :■ but: , one : which lias been made in all innocence, for the simple reason that the stone of which the new- General Post Office is" constructed, though known to exist for some considerable time, had not been exploited commercially until Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, Ltd. (the builders of the General Post Office) took over the quarries. Now the public has an opportunity, of .'appreciating the wonderful beauty and picturesque qualities, besides that air, of substantial permanence- which a good stone -. possesses over other building materials. . Those who build to. last will -now recognise, that a stone building in Wellington, is not an impossibility—that it. is a.material to be considered first of all where a structure is built to "enduro the centuries." That the Government was wise in selecting this Tonga Bay'granite as the material: for this fine State building who will dispute? There is a dignity and repose in stone—an honoured imperturbability in aspect which commands respect and attention, and gives weight and circumstance to its neighbourhood! Plant a handsome, stone building in the centre of a, slum area in a largo city, and the invariable experience, is that there ensues an architectural uplift. Perhaps that -is what Shakespeare meant when he ; talked, of ''Sermons in stones I" The new G.P.O. is a fine sermon!

. ' ABOUT THE , BUILDING. , The'foundations "of the:, new General Post Office'were not the contract for. the .erection of ; the . building. They were laid, 'well and deep, by the Public Works Department' (under Mr. J. D. Louch) some time before, the tender .for the. building was accepted, so ■?.that .the', work of. Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, Ltd., commenced practically, atthe ground level,

though they, of course, have had all to do with the finishing work in. connection with the vast area of cellar accommodation that exists below the level of the sidewalk. ; . , Theibuiiding, opened yesterday, presents air impressive -elevation to Featherston Street,-of ,172 ft;, one of 12Gft. to Panama Street,'.-and : 129 ft; to Grey Street. It con-sists-'of a basement,,'four floors, , and a flat ;roof, ' from . which a magnificent view of -the '.city, arid ' harbour- is obtainable.' .'The building is four stor- ' ies" .in ' height . 'over . the area of . the. clock except that portion over the public chamber, - which had necessarily to "be ;reserved as a .light-well for the hatural'illumination of that central apartment, and for the'interior lighting of tie offices on the various floors. Tho impressiveness of the appearance of the building can. be .'gathered from the fact, that the height of. the parapet .is 74ft. from the footpath, pavement,-'and the height of the domes (there-is one on each corner) is : 100ft. from : the'-apex : to the ground. The style , .of architecture adopted by. Ltlie Government architect , (Mr.- | John. Campbell, F.R.1.8.A.),, may :be. .classed wider, the:,: generic heading of modern renaissances-it is of panelled stone, massive, yet well balanced, with three-quarter lonic pillars, adorned with extremely- handsome capitals .rising from ' the level of the second floor -to a point a'few,-feet below the pediment. . Had these pillars, of- which there, are ten, been carried down to the level of the fipt floor, it is calculated that the architectural grace would have been enhanced. The pil-. lared recess, the statuary over the main entrance , (in the centre of the Featherston Street frontage) and the handsome parapet; and - pediment in high' relief break up the building nicely in front. The entrance'might have been more (Commanding, and- the steps steep than they are, but both are not unhandsome. The lattice windows (with frames of steel) are also a feature in the'outward-appear-ance of the structure. The 6ky-line is most effectively broken by a heavy pediment of Tonga Bay granite (richly carved in high relief), domes (also of the granite), one of which is pictured on this page. This is an admirable illustration' of the extreme suitability of this granite both in plain, and ornamental work. . Note the dignity and grace of the ornamental buttresses, and the delicacy of the floral design festooned over each window. When it is stated that the wallsof. these domes, where thickest, are about; 4ft. in. width, the reader will be able to judge of the solidity which marks the general structural idea in the new General Post Office. Similarly the parapet is very massive and handsome, and the great cornice which projects nearly four feet from the front of the building is a very fine piece<of stonework, in which some of the largest blocks in the whole building were used. The picture of the main, entrance will convey with no little emphasis the beauty of the stone in this class of work. ,

- THE INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT. The interior arrangement of the newGeneral Post Office should make for expedition, .in nil departments of the businesses with which it is concerned—and they are more than meet the eye. Hitherto, the suh-departments of the G.P.O. have been as a scattered flock—now they are to .herd together' under the one expansive roof. .Heretofore' a stranger calling at the General Post Office to caslua money order would-be told to find' the office in Lambton Quay, the parcels post have been located down, at the old DrillShed, and the Dead Letter Office has been in'Brandon;'Street, whilst.the mechanical branches ■ have been skied in Nathan's Building.. So. that to-day -there will be a regular feathering of the clans brought together after years of enforced separation; .

Tiie main entrance of the G.P.O. takes the form of a flight of rather steep, short steps; three open arches and a fairly spacious vestibule ■ (dOft. by 18ft.). This vestibule (which strikes one as too small, Ilol t that all the P.O. branches are in .the one building) is neatly tiled with Pilkington glazed, tiles, picked out in cream and sage-green, the design that is adhered to on the stairways and on every floor above the vestibule shaft. The floor is beautifully inlaid with Mosaic tiles in a very handsome design. Eight opposite the centre archway are double swing doors'of Tasihanian'blackwood (which has been used extensively throughout the building in the fittings). The northern archway , is opposite an elaborate electric passenger elevator, and the main stairway leading to the floors above. : At one end Of the vestibule is the entrance to the Post Office Savings Bank, a convenient apartment which occupies the corner of I'eatherston and Panama Streets, and at the other end are the postal slots. Entering the central swing doors;one finds oneself in.what is probably the finest post office public chamber in : Australasia.A MAGNIFICENT PUBLIC CHAMBER;. Having stepped in through .the doors, you are at 1 once in the centre of an ellipse, formed by some'4ooft! of counter, with a

tractive kiosk for the disposal of stamps, of hectagon design, with divided desks for the public fitted all round. There are also two other stands of glass-topped green baize-filled desks for the public in the centre of the chamber. The stout jarrah floor has been covered with cork linoleum. Brass plates hung on the grille plainly indicate the particular business of the various offices. At the far end ; are a couple of' slot telephones for the use of the public, enclosed in neat little cabin-, ets, which preclude the possibility of any conversation being overheard. The chamber is naturally lighted by a huge dome (27ft. in diameter), surrounded'by Seven smaller, domes (of a similar design, glazed in electro-copper, and presenting a designboth chaste and beautiful. This is really a feature of the building,-and one that is bound to claim a lot of attention'from the lover of the artistic in decorative design. The southern flank of the ground floor is separated from the publie chamber by a ceiling-high glazed partition, and is sacred to his Majesty's mails. This'huge'apart-: ment extends from the Featherston Street frontage right back to the old Post Office, and "is designed to provide plenty of room for the expansion of the postal traffic.- The mail cart-and motor lorries obtain access to the mail-robin- by,a. 10ft. right-of-way'from the Panama Streetside.

top of polished Tasmanian blackwood, faced- with grey and brown mottled marble panels, and protected by' a very handsome bronze grille, of square-cut design. The joinery work in the chamber is of a very high order. Not ionly are : there the' eohnters, .which are fine examples of workmahship, but bel&id them are the partitioned offices, divided by neatly-designed and made screens of blackwood,stopped with panels of Flemish glass, which refract the light, although almost opaque.- In the centre is an at-

The private boxes are situated at the Fea-therston-Grey Streets corner, and there, too, the expansion of the'future has.received. consideration. The other (northern) side of the public chamber is con-* served for banking, money-order, and- telegraphic business, and is open clear to. the Panama Street frontage. The. finish throughout is in Keen's cement, and there 'is an. entire freedom from • elaboration in design. The number 'of huge pillars " which are used to support the, building is a matter for wonder, still they serve to break up .'the emptiness of the . larger rooms, and no doubt , give solidity to'the whole structure. The Savings Bank ; is an apart- ' .ment 120 ft. long by-50ft. broad, fitted in the same style as thebig public chamber, and provided with a-row of desks, arranged against the front wall. A feature of all the office is the drawer accommodation, of ithich there is ample., This is arranged on the'roller principle.' The drawers work in and. out with- the greatest ease, but cannot fall out, no matter how hard they are nulled. All the filling work was executed at the joinery works of Messrs. J. arid A. Wilson, Ltd.,. in Buckle Street, arid reflect - the highest credit on that firm. UP ABOVE. - - On. the first floor the offices are divided into-three groups, the long rooms on the Panama and Grey Streets sides for the telegraph operators and letter-carriers respectively, and the Featherston Street offices for. the chief electrician, chief telegraph engineer, and their clerical staffs All the rooms are large, well lighted, and most, comfortably and serviceably finished. On the floor above there are palatial apartments for the PostmasterGeneral, heavy pile carpet, desk and chairs of the glbwing Australian red-bean wood, green papered walls, and every minor office convenience. Adjoining is a fine office for his secretary. The Ministerial suite is on tho Grey-Featherston Streets corner. On the other side of tho central stairway are splendid offices for the secretary, assistant secretary, chief clerk, inspector of Post Offices, etc., whilst in the two flanking wings are located the' head offioe, divisional, end record and correspondence staffs. On the third (top) floor are tho headquarters of the accountant and controller and assistant controller of the Post Office Savings Bank, and their, numerous staff ; and higher still there is .an expanse -of flat roof, floor than wy other in the oifo and Quito

BUILT TO ENDURE.

THE. "LARGEST STONE STRUCTURE W NEW ZEALAND.

CONSTRUCTED' OF TONGA BAY GRANITE.

(BY J. AND A. WILSON.)

possible as' a lawn tennis or ' bowls ground. With concrete floors (underneath the wood sheathing) plastered inner walls and'stoEe and brick outer ones, the new Offico is practically fireproof. There is one thing that is too often neglected in largo city buildings, and that is provision for artificial heating. This, in the case of the General Post Office, is being done by an elaborate system of hot-water radiators, supplied from boilers located in the basement (where, by the way, is also situated the Parccls Post Office). No one need ask the time in the big building—there aro "magneta" clocks (electrically controlled) everywhere, and in addition there is a double-faced drum clock suspended over .the main entrance at a height of 40ft. from the ground. An .innovation in the post and telegraph offices is the Lampson pneumatic system of transferring letters and messages! which are drawn through brass pipes by air suction; '

TO BE PROUD OF. On the whole, the new General Post Office is a structure Wellington may well be proud of. In design there may be details -which one could take exception to, but the structural scheme is a sound one, "the material of ■ the best, and the workmanship of a very high order. It

free from flaws, and can be procured in any size. J. and A. Wilson, Ltd., lias purchased the freehold of some 500 acres of land at Tonga Bay from, the Tonga Bay Company, wit'hi all the buildings, plant, and machinery, and have opened up .extensive quarries on the property. They have found it necessary, in order to be able to meet demands for supply of large quantities of stone in .a limited time, to greatly increase the plant, -which now consists <jf four jib cranes and one which is on the wharf at. Tonga Bay, one at the machinery house, and two in the quarries. The machinery consists of a frame saw for sawing stone into slabs, and planing and moulding machines. The power is supplied by a 35 horse-power steam. engine and boiler. . A number of cottages have been erected at the works for housing the employees, and the Department have lately arranged for a regular, mail service. An abundant supply of water is obtained from a reservoir constructed on the property, Tonga Bay granite takes a good polish, and ia 6uitable for monumental work, for pilasters and bases for shop fronts, columns at entrances, etc. The hardest of it is quite equal to the Scotch granites, and in colour is rather lighter than the

THE MEW G O PoOo

is a building that is calculated to bear 'up against the ages, although erected on a spot, where fifty years ago, the immigrant "lime-juicers" swung at anchor.

MATERIALS AND COST. To the mind that worries about such things it will be interesting to know that in the erection of tho new General Post Office, Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, Ltd., used'nearly 600 tons of Tonga Bay. granite, which will • cpen people's eyes' as to • the extent to' .which the quarrying industry! will , grow when Wellington takes seriously to budlding in stone. In addition, the great block is tied together with 400 tons of steel girders and standards, and no fewer than 1,000,000 bricks. The contract has occupied three years. The contract price was .£90,923. .. Another new feature as',.far as post offices are concerned is the provision of adequate electric passenger and goods elevators. A very large and handsome passenger elevator rises,from the main' entrance vestibule to the top floor, and there is a serviceable goods elevator,' travelling fromj the strong-rooms in the basement to the highest floor, which will make the storage' of all; important books, ledgers, and records, an.-easy matter. '