MR. KITCHEN’S NEW SHOP.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 130, 15 August 1868, Page 4

MR. KITCHEN’S NEW SHOP.

We have this week the pleasing duty of describing the new shop, now nearly completed, for Mr. D. Kitchen, saddler, immediately opposite the Express office, Blenheim. Wo are not in the least overstating the fact, when we say that we have not seen many finer establishments in the Colony, out of Wellington, Auckland, or Dunedin; the handsome appearance of the front, as well as its proportions, render it at once noticeable to every passer-by, and with some trifling exceptions in the details, we may venture to say it meets universal approbation. The size of the floor space is 38 by 20ft., with walls 14ft. high, the whole of which forms one spacious shop, lighted at the back and on one side by ordinary windows, above which is a storeroom, extending over the whole building. The material used in the construction is nearly all rimu and matai (or red pine) ; the walls outside are weatherboards, and on the inside are lined with dressed, boards. At the rear of the building a small office has been attached. The front is in two windows, each containing a single square of plate glass, 9ft by 6ft. 6in. in recess, with a pair of folding doors in centre, sft. wide and Bft. high, with circular-headed plate glass panels, finished with neatly worked raised mouldings, and fanlight above to correspond. The coiling of the recess or “ soffit” is divided into six panels, with elegant raised mouldings. Both doors and windows are of maitai, and varnished. It is intended to fix iron revolving shutters to the front windows, on their arrival from England. A handsome cornice and parapet raises the front of the'building to about 21ft. in height, supported at the sides by pilasters upon very neatly carved brackets or trusses, surmounted by capped supporters, with the cornice and parapet between, above which is a tablet, with carved scrolls, supporting it on each side. A raised footpath and curb completes the erection, and adds considerably to the effect of the ensemble.

The fittings inside comprise spacious glasscases in each window and on each wall, and a counter to correspond, of matai. The inside walls are, as well as the fittings, stained and varnished.

It drily remains for us to state that the work, which we are authorised to state, has given every satisfaction to the owner, has been performed by the following contractors, under the supervision of the architect, Mr Douslin; the carpenters’ work by Mr. Davis ; the painting, &c., by Messrs. Norgrove; and the carved portions by Mr. Falconer,