MESSRS LEVIN AND CO.’S NEW STORE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3730, 11 December 1906, Page 2

MESSRS LEVIN AND CO.’S NEW STORE.

The contract for the above work has been let to Messrs Young and Petley, of Wellington (who were also successful contractors for the N.Z. Shipping Co.’s new store), and operations will be commenced at once. The building measures along the river frontage, two hundred and five feet, and on the northern end one hundred and thirty feet, with a frontage of two hundred and thirty feet to the railway, with a southern end measurement of sixty-three feet, making the building the shape of a large wedge. The whole of the building is to be built upon piles, some of which will be driven to a depth of over twenty feet. These piles are all of iron bark, the lengths of which vary from fiften to thirtytwo feet. Three jetties run out from the building twenty feet into the river. These are for receiving and shipping goods direct to and from the store from the steamers and river boats. The two southern jetties fit the hatches of the “Queen of the South” and the “Himatangi,” and both hatches of the ship may be worked at the same time. The northern jetty is for receiving the fibre and material from the river boats. Alongside this jetty is a coal depot, measuring a hundred feet by thirty feet, and from this depot the Company’s steamers are to be supplied with coal. The fibre from the railway is landed at a platform in the centre of the building, and a cart entrance is provided for the southern end.

The outside of the building from an architectural point of view will not be what may be termed beautiful, as no attempt has been made with that idea in view, but for the class of building it will compare more than favourably with similar buildings of the larger centres. The river and railway frontage have five sign gables, with deep frieze and projecting cornice and each frontage has three pairs of sliding doors. The southern end has two gables finished in a similar manner, and the parapet is returned all round the building. The walls are finished outside with iron and at each corner of the building is a heavy capped pilaster, and on the whole the outside has a pleasing appearance. The inside gives an unbroken extent of floor with an area of eighteen thousand square feet. The root which is formed ot heavy principal rafters and stringer beams is supported on storey posts, and the whole building is lighted from the ropf by means of rows of skylights. The engine room occupies a separate corner of the building in the north-east corner and close by are the compartments set aside for the gas plant and coke store, and also lavatory, etc. The dumping plant occupies a position near to the railway entrance and close to the engine room. The offices are in the north-west corner of the building and a good view of the workings of the store may be obtained through the glass partitions which separate them from the main building. The architect for this important work is Mr J. W. Rough, the contract price being ,£4,531-