CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1912, 10 April 1880, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Amongst the many improvements which are noticeable in the business premises of Christchurch, the new premises of Messrs Twentyman and Cousin in Cashel street, which have just been completed, claim notice alike from ttie solidity of their structure and elegance of appearance. The building is three stories high, and the architecture is of the character known as the domestic Gothic. It is built of concrete, faced with brick and stone mouldings and dressings. The stone used is Timaru and Heathcote Valley. The frontage on C.iohel street is 35ft., having a depth of 75ft. The lower floor, which is devoted to the retail trade, is 18ft. in height, the upper ones being 12ft. The upper floors are carried by eight iron columns, which support massive iron girders. By an ingenious arrangement both the columns and girders, instead of being unsightly, are rendered ornamental. The front windows of the lower shopare of plate glass, and are 16ft. high, protected by steel revolving shutters. At the far end of this department is the lift, which is used to convey the goods from the receiving and packing rooms adjacent to the upper floors. The shop itself is very handsomely fitted up, and contains every article requisite to the trade. Access to the second floor is gained by a sft. staircase. This is devoted to general furnishing ironmongery, and is the same size as the lower one, viz, 75 x 35. The third floor is devoted to saddlery, harness and saddlers’ ironmongery. This is lighted by a skylight in the roof, arranged on Cranston’s patent system. The whole building has been most substantially built, every precaution having been taken to render it practically fireproof. The only communication with the other portion of the building is by means of a small door, which is protected by double iron shutters, so that practically in case of fire occurring in either of the build • ings the other could be completely cut cff. The building is about 50ft. from pavemea. to cornice, and the front, though not elaborately ornamented, is sufficiently so to relieve it from the sombre and barn like appearance of too many of our buildings. Mr Mountfort was the architect, and the cost of erection has been somewhere about. £4OOO.