THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1349, 11 June 1878, Page 3

THE NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

[ehom the peeps.] Amongst the many recent additions to the buildings of Christchurch, not the least imposing and certainly not the least useful, are the new Government Buildings which, now that the trees have been removed, form so prominent a feature in Cathedral square. It will yet be some months before the building will be ready for occupation by the officers of the departments of the public service who will be located in it, but sufficient progress has been made to warrant an account of it being published. Although the general appearance of the structure is characterised by simplicity, almost verging on plainness, still the stylo of architecture chosen, the Italian, is a relief to the preponderating ugliness of most Christchurch buildings. Another advantage arising out of this simplicity of design is the economy of space, which must to a certain extent always be sacrificed in a building erected less on useful than on picturesque principles. The following departments of the public service will be carried on in the new buildings, viz.: —The Post Office, Telegraph Office, Custom House, Emigration and Public Works, and the gain to the public in the economy of time and general convevienco arising out of this concentration of departments under one roof will bo immense. Commencing literally at the beginning, the foundations are of the most solid description, being composed of cement concrete with a greystone base from the Boon Hay quarry. The superstructure is of brick, built in cement with Oamaru whitestone facing. The building has four frontages, the principal ones being to the east and north. The main or eastward frontage is parallel with Colombo street, and when finished will present, as is indeed apparent now, a very elegant appearance. The brickwork, which will bo all tuck pointed, contrasting harmoniously with the white stone ornamentation of the windows. The main front is 120 ft. in length, the northern face overlooking Cathedral square 130 ft., and the southern and western sides sGft, each. The entire building will cover an area of about half an acre of ground. The height of the building from the basement to the gables will be 42ft., the altitude of the clock tower running up to 83ft., and terminating with a light iron pinnacle. It is a matter for regret that steps were not taken while there was yet time to add another storey to the edifice, which would have greatly added to its imposing appearance, as well as giving greatly increased accommodation for various other departments, which might have been judiciously included in the general plan. The basement storey is lighted on the eastern front by ten windows, ornamented with segment heads, and the northern front has the same number of a similar description. There are three in each of the other sides. Eleven windows give light in the upper story in the eastern and northern frontages, and the stone ornamentation of these last is of a half-circular form. Tiro windows of the two remaining sides are of a similar character to those on the lower or basement storey. A richly carved band or ribband runs across the eastern front intersecting the windows at about two-thirds of their height. The upper storey is supported by a dental cornice and plinth of Oamaru stone. The ground lloor is devoted to the Postal, Telegraph, and Customs departments. The pediment to the entrance of the Post-office on the north side is supported on piers and columns, while a handsome flight of steps of the Iloon Hay stone lead to the principal entrances on the east and north. The Customs and Telegraph departments are situated the eastern portion of the buildings. The private boxes in the Post Office are reached by a

flight of steps on the western side. Mails will be dispatched and received by a door in the rear of the building. The face of the upper storey is enriched by a vermiculated band, which extends from end to end of the building, and presents a very neat appearance, serving as a foil to the otherwise sombre effect of the plain brick work. The windows on this storey are constructed with circular heads, having a Gothic label supported on either side by columns. A cantelever upper cornice runs round the eaves as well as round the gables. Prominent on the lower part of the clock tower is a highly ornate coat of arms, richly carved on the east front, and further enriched with a wreath of stone work, which separates the coat of arms from the clock face. The diameter of the latter is sft. Sin. A cantelever cornice runs beneath the roof of the tower, which is surmounted by an open canopy for the bell. Returning to the basement storey, entrance is effected at the back of the premises from the south-east corner, and this will bo closed in by iron gates supported by stone pillars. Some idea may be given of wbat the interior of the building will be like when finished. The Post-Office and Customs departments on the ground floor will comprise twelve rooms of an average height of 15ft from the floor to to the coiling. The public room of the PostOffice will be amply spacious for all purposes, its dimensions being 4Sft by 25ft, the sorting room being 7ft longer and of the same width. The public room of the Customs department will measure 32ft long by 25ft wide, and looks out on the east front. The remaining rooms on the basement storey will be of dimensions proportionate to the rest of the accommodation, and will be each an average length of 25 ft by 18ft. The upper storey is gained by a grand staircase facing the main entrance door to the portion of the building devoted to the Telegraph, Emigration, and Public Works departments, as well as to other offices, which will be included in this part of the structure. The public room of the Telegraph office will measure 48ft. in length, by a breadth of 25ft. Ascending the stairs, a long corridor leads to the several departments located on the upper storey. This corridor will bo 98ft. long and Bft. wide. The telegraph instrument room will be 55ft. long by 25ft. wide, and the remaining apartments, fourteen in all, are of dimensions similar to those below already described. The whole of the interior of the building will bo finished with three coats of plastering and a dado throughout all the rooms and corridors, 4ft. high from the floor. The corridors and main staircase ceilings will bo furnished with plastered cornices. Every modern improvement and appliance for thoroughly ventilating and warming the building has been introduced, and the comfort of the employes and the convenience of the public have each received the most careful consideration. The roof is of slate, closely boarded with tarred felt beneath the slate. The contract for the interior fittings is not yet let, but it is intended that every detail shall be executed in the most complete manner, with a regard to the judicious blending of the ornamental with the useful. Provision for laying on the gas will be made prior to the flooring being laid down.

It is estimated that the total cost of the buildings and fittings, when finished, will not be less than £20,000, Mr Reece’s contract amounting to nearly £15,000. The architect for the building was Mr W. H. Clayton, the contractor, Mr D. Reese ; the clerk of works, Mr U. Hurrell, who has had a great deal of experience in the Government service in most of the principal cities in the colony, and whose supervision has been unremitting, aided by the foreman of works, Mr R. Smilee. In all probability the new Government Buildings will be formally opened for the transaction of the public business about the beginning of the new year.