NEW CITY BUILDINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1819, 4 August 1913, Page 6

NEW CITY BUILDINGS.

PROGRESS OF CONTRACTS,

IMPORTANT WORKS REVIEWED. Within the next six or eight -weeks will seo tho completion of several iino now buildings in tho heart of the city, A year ago there was only a very ancient aiul dilapidated old store-room of wood anil iron standing on that valuable block of land between Manners Street (east) and \V<ii;etield Street adjoining Luke and C'o.'s foundry. To-day it is entirely built over from trontage to frontage. The Manners Street frontage boasts the now Grand Opera House, the extoi ior of which is all but completed (including the-cement facing and lettering of the facade). A small army of workmen are at present employed on tho steel-work brackets for tho two galleries. Tho main principals have been 111 position for some time past, and tho cross girders are now being riveted in position. It is unfortunate, perhaps, that no fewer than six street pillars are used to support the galleries. The most modern idea is the complete cantilever, but two and three-pillar galleries are fairly common in luter built theatres. The cantilever is also avoided in the erection of the balcony which is to traverso tho centro front of the new theatre. A lino of light cast-iron poles, erected on tho old' building alignment (from which tlio theatre building is set back 10 feet), is to carry the balcony. Tho roof (with tho exception of tjio sliding vent) over the dome has' been erected "over stage and auditorium. The theatre should be ready in ample time for opening in December. At-the back of tlio theatre is the new brick building.erected by tho trustees of tho T. (i. Jlacarthy estate for Messrs. Magnus, Sanderson* and Co., motor importers, as offices, warehouse, and garage. Practically all the brickwork is completed', and the interior linings and fittings are now occupying the attention of the contractor, Mr. J. M'Millan. Mr. J. M. Dawson is the architect. A hundred yards awny, at the corner of Manners Street mid Lower Cuba Street, tho now To Aro branch of tho Bank of New Zealand makes a handsome and dignified show. This building, designed by Mr. Win. Turnbull, will, from tho point of architectural beauty, outshine any other in the immediate vicinity. It is a very solidly-constructed threestory brick building, wHich will provido ample accommodation for the hank stair, as well as a number of offices for fotting. T'li,a building is a credit to the bank, the architect, and tho city. A little farther 'along Manners Stroat (next to tho Duke of Edinburgh Hotel to bo precise), a new picture theatre and a three-story addition to the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel (tho one contract) are rapidly approaching completion. The tnoatro is being provided with a novel and altogether picturesque facad«, thoentrance (from Manners Street) and the opening of the recessed balcony iabove describing segments of a circle, both in height and depth. Tho top arch is nicely broken, up with columns in pairs. The new entrance to the hotel and an exit from tho theatre arc provided o>n tho Willis Street side. Messrs. Hoggard and Prouse are the architects, and Messrs. Qa.mpbcJl .and Burke the builders. Messrs. Humphries Bros, have just completed tho' erection of model stables for the Wellington Automobile Bakeries, Ltd.. in Upper Tory Street. The stables are fitted with 20 stalls, four loose-boxes, a hay and chaff-room, and four harness rooms. Each stall has a grating of jarrah battens, which rest on a grooved concrete floor on a slight grade, so that all drainage has a quick run away. Special ventilators aro provided for each stall, and tho old-time troughs for feed aro superseded by large eilamelled sinks—tho one for water bein£ kept filled automatically, and tho other tor feed. Tlio stables are finely lighted by glass louvro (w'hich traverses nearly the full length of tho building), and skylights, and the whole of tho interior is picked out in two delicato shades of light green. _ Special attention has been given to drainage, and sanitary conveniences. The stables were designed by Mr. Jas. Bennie. Skcteh plans have been: drawn by a local architect for tho erection through a city block not half a mile from tho G.P.O. of a big arcade, on tlio lines of tho'sa which aro so popular in Sydney. If tho scheme as designed is consummated, tho building will cost in tho vicinity of £40,000. ■ Sketch plans aro being prepared for a now building to corttain quarters for' tho Orphans and Savage Clubs.