CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1953, 28 May 1880, Page 2

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

MESSRS HOBDAY AND CO.’S NEW PREMISES. Daring the past few weeks such alterations and improvements have been made in the building occupied by Messrs Hobday and Co., and known as Waterloo House, that the old. one, standing as it did on almost historic ground, bas all but disappeared. The site of the commodious and substantial shop now erected has, as will be recollected by old residents, a portion of the famous gully some twenty feet deep, which by popular vote each resident in the street Had to contribute his share of actual work in filling up. Sincejthat time the spot has passed througn many mutations, and it was while excavating the foundations for the new building that the workmen came upon a post and rail fence at a depth of eight or ten feet below the surface. As stated, Mr Hobday, in carrying out his improvements, has all but entirely swept away the old wooden building, and in its place is a well-lighted, commodious, and handsome brick shop. The work of improvement is in course of extension to the remaining small portion of the old building fronting on Oolombe street, so that in a very short time the corner site will be occupied by a handsome block of brick buildings. The entrance to the main shop is now on Cashel street, instead of at the corner, an alteration which tends to the comfort of visitors. The entrance is by a recessed doorway, the floor of which is of Minton’s ornamental tiles, bearing the name of the firm in ornamental letters. The shop itself is 45ft by 30ft, excellently lighted and ventilated, and fitted so that the greatest facility is given for the working of the various departments. One peculiarity about the shop is that instead of blocking the front windows entirely up, making them, in fact, an outside showroom cut off from the inside shop. The windows are made to serve their proper purpose — i.e., affording light without deteriorating from the show made. The upper floor over the shop, which is supported by three iron columns is divided into reserve stock room, dressmaking room, fitting room, and the private office of the firm. All these are well lighted and ventilated, a great desideratum in work rooms. It is not necessary to go into the whole of the details of this part of the building, the more so as at the time of the visit paid these latter rooms were filled with young ladies, which would, of course, deter any pressman —the timid bashfulness of the fraternity being well known—from enter, ing. It will suffice to say that no expense has been spared by Mr Hobday, not only to make the new building thoroughly complete in all its details, but also one which for substantiality and appearance will be a credit to the city. A very handsome verandah of the O.Q pattern runs along the Cashel street frontage, and will ultimately be carried on into Colombo street. It may be stated that Mr X. S. LamDert was the architect.