THE LAST BARRIER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 155, 26 March 1920, Page 6

THE LAST BARRIER

TO .COMPLETION OF WILT,IS STREET .IMPROVEMENTS. "This Jmildjng mnst be nearly sixty vears .old." said Mr. Walter Smart to a ,'poMiKioN reporter, "and tire timber in ! it-is as.sound as-the day it was put up. 1 " Air. -.Smarife property is the last one •to jbc reduced by 10ft. in order that the new .street alignment may bp continuous in Willis Street, and Messrs. Mace and -Nicholson are at pressnt engaged in lopping off -.the front 10ft. .of ' the old shop, whilst at ithc .same time -they .are en•.voloping it .with .a substantial two-story reinforced concrete building. This job iit.oiild ibave been much (further advanced than it is now but for the cement shoii> 0 ugc, -which like stile coal and petrol sliortvages, has become chronic. Now an effort is ib.eing ;made to get the front part, at least complete, 60 that Willis Street may be put in -order in time for the visit of tho' Prince ,of Wales. So far . the poratlnn'have not attempted 'to go .ahead! with the paying of tho newly-acquiro.ds Jen feet rbctwoen Smart's premises and. ilho JD.uke. of Edinburgh Hotel corner, :and ■;the resiilt is an untidy, and, in wet .weather, a muddy, 'brick-strewn section .of side-walk, which could be put in order ti'ri:« Jew .days.

Included ,in :Slr. Smart's old builtlins? • was an Bin. by 6in. kauri beam, whicil had to lie sawn through in connection with the alterations. It was perfectly -jjonnd 'JUlip .rimu (heart) is also in ia ;Perfec,t state ,'of preservation. The re-moval-of .this building means the passing qf t.lio ilast of -the business premises in Willis Street which have.done continuous duty sincn the dawn of eommerco ;ln Wellington. .Manners and Old .flustomhouse Quay still possess a few pf those ,relics of -youth,