CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 12 February 1913, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

SOME NEW BUILDINGS.

Building operations are not so. slack in. Wellington as some people would have the public believe. There is >o "boom" on m this city at present, lor which the many should be thaukml, but there is no slump m Wellington, and little depreciation, has taken piacc.in the value of city, property. 'i'rauesnion stuto that thenDusmess is showing ' a distinct improvement on previous and on tho whole there is a distinctly hopeful outlook for Wellington.'-' One, practical proof ot the gradual forward movement-is the' building which is going on in Wellington. ■ Unfortunately, during the boom of five years ago, Wellington rather overdid' the thing, and the result was. that ol tho office space did not lot'so'readily'' as anticipated. ' But since then- Wellington has gradually picked up, and has just about caught up to the building jump of five S.,A?goou deal of work -in'.the.-buildirig- ; line 'lias .'just been completed in Wellington, ineluding the new G.P.0., the new His Majesty's.Theatre, additions to the Wellington Woollen Company's warehouse, in ■Willcston Street, additions' .'-to" the Wol-' lmgion 'Meat hxporc Uo.'s works at Wgahauranga, and Sbarland and Co.'s big warehouse in Dixon Street. Amongst tho larger jobs now in hand are the new Opera House in .Manners Street, the rebuilding of Whitconibe and Tombs's warehouse, on Lambtou Quay, the new Hank of New Zealand,, in Manners Street, Aulsebrook and Co.'s new warehouse' in Wakefield Street, and tho big tea kiosk and entertainment pavilion in Oriental Bay.' ; ,T n .er° is A good deal of work' pemuug, chief among which will be the .contract for tho erection of the first section of the new' Parliamentary Buildings, which is to bo commenced this year. ■ Messrs Hoggard and Prouse have just 'let a contract to Messrs.. Campbell and Bourke for the erection of a new picture theatre and substantial four-story additions to the Buko of Edinburgh Hotel. The now theatre, to be called the Britannia, is to ba built round tho Duke of Edinburgh 'Hotel, and will have its main ' entrance on tho Manners Street side—the section now occupied by Moran's toy shop, tho shop next door, and tho right-of-way. It will extend back .over 120£t., whilst a large exit-vestibule will'conduct patrons into Willis Street. The theatre will bo constructed on modern principles, nud every provision will bo made for the comfort and safety of the public. The entrance vestibule will take the form of a single arched span-.Mit...wide, the back, of the' Vestibule'(which, is pierced by the entranccsto the auditorium) describing' tho section of an arc, and to be consistent a handsome marquise verandah will span the sidewalk. Ventilation, lighting, and the interior decorations of tho theatre will receive special attention. The thcatro will be. leased by the company responsible for, its erection to the J. D. Williams (New Zealand) Company, and will be run in conjunction with the Empress Theatre. ; Part of the same contract is tho erection of a four-story addition to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, over the section which has been so long vacant, immediately on the south side of tho hotel in Willis Street. The ground floor will consist of a new entrance and stairway vestibule, with a large bar. at the rear. Tho first floor will contain sitting rooms and bedrooms for tho proprietor, and an up-to-'date kitchen and service rooms. That part of the existing building now ■ occupied by the culinary department is to bo .transformed into a large dining-room. The two upper floors aro to contain 18 bedrooms, with ample bath and lavatory accommodation. The roof will bo flat, and will be made available as a promenade. The- contract prico for the new building (theatre and hoteT addition) will be about ,£12,000. The same firm of architects have let a contract for the erection of a largo addition in brick to the Cnba Street premises of James Smith, Ltd., the first part of a , comprehensive scheme for remodelling the whole of the company's . block on the corner Of Dixon and Cuba Streets. Tho contract price is .£SOOO, and the contractors aro Messrs. Murdoch and Wallace.

Messrs. Hoggard and Prouso drew tho plan 9 of recent additions to the Wellington Woollen Company's warehouse in Willestoh Street (.£10,000), and the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at Ngalmnranga (.C1000), and another of their buildings, a three-story steel-frame building in Johnston Street for Messrs.'' Wntkins, Hull, and Wheeler, accountants, auditors, etc., is On tho point of completion. The building, which cost .£7OOO, was erected by Messrs. Campbell and Bourko. - The. samo firm have plans in preparation for a new store for the New 7ionln.nd Shipping Company, to bo erected in Waterloo Quay. . Tenders aro to bo called for this work shortlv. . They, too, designed the new Public Trust Office in Auckland, a very handsome and dignified .structure in steel and concrete.' In addition to providing accommodation for tho district manager and his staff, the upper floor is arranged to suit tho requirements of tho Health Department.