Mr James Symons’ New Residence.

Manawatu Herald, 17 February 1903, Page 2

Mr James Symons’ New Residence.

TE AWAHOU. On Saturday we had the pleasure of being shown over his new residence on Harbour*street,by Mr James Symons. First we may say that the building is the handsornness, the best planneiyM and the best finished house in town, and as it was the creation ' Mrs James Symons, it speaks very' highly .for both her capabilities and taste.

The house occupies the site of the Old home of Mrs James Symons’ parents, and faces Harbour-street, getting a splendid view of the river from the front windows. The building outside is an ornament to the town, the front and north sides being broken with bay windows and hipped roofs, The frontage is thirty-eight feet, and is approached from the garden by a Alight of concrete steps to the verandah. We may state that verandahs and concrete steps are here, there, and everywhere around the house. On entering the house off the verandah you find a very pretty hali, some 10ft by Bft, with coved matchedlined root, with a screen partially filled with fret-work, shutting off the passage into the other part of the house. The walls are covered with a handsome dark green paper. When the curtains are hung to the partition this hall will be most tasteful.

Off the hall, to the right is the draw, ing-room, 34ft x 16ft, the walls al, through the house being raft in heigl.tl The fireplace has a handsome wooden carved mantelpiece, and the grate and hearth are set in glazed fancy tiles. The paper is a light chrome in colour, and with a handsome border running under the cornice looks very well. This room has a bay window Overlooking the river, and will be much appreciated by visitors. To the left of the entrance is the spare bedroom, 14ft x xrft, with fireplace, and windows looking both north and west. The above two rooms have ceilings lined with narrow tongued and grooved boards, painted. To go further into the house you have to pass through the hall, into passages some five feet in width, dadoed with a kind of oilcloth, and to the left you coma to the diningroom, the largest room in the house, being 26ft x x6£ft. Here the walls are papered in terra-cotta, and the fireplace is somewhat similar to the drawing-room, except that the heart is laid in tiles close together, that are not larger than 310 x x£in each. There is a bay window in this 100 m looking north. TDown the passage and alongside the diningroom there is a side door, fitted with an electric bell, and this passage extends back so a# to be in line with the kitchen. Along this passage are two bedrooms, 12ft x 12ft and 12ft x 13ft, the last one having a fireplace in the corner. Adjoining this room is another bedroom, 2ift x 16ft, which also has a fireplace. The two last rooms have windows facing east. At the end of the passage running east by this room is the backdoor. On the opposite side to the bedroom is an office, and a bathroom, fitted wijh a large bath, fitted with, hot and cold water, as well as hind basin.

The kitchen, opposite the passage by the diningroom, is 15ft x 12 ft, matchlined and is fitted with a raa ge, A cupboard is fitted r jne of tha recesses caused by the r <ihimnsy. , - Off the kitchen is the scullery, a pleasure for those who have housework to do, as a trough fitted with hot and cold water for washing dishes, is provided, as well as a draining stage. Behind the scullery is a large storeroom fitted with all necessary shelves. A 'ack door, facing south, opens out scullery. Outside there is a properly fitted washhouse and boiler, and in the grounds a complete stable and trap shed. , ... The house is liberally supplied with rain tanks, and proper provision by drains has been made to take waste water away to the stream. Mr F. France had the contract for the building, and has apparently done bis work very well and to the satisfaction of Mr Symons. The cost is said to have run into four figures. '*