NEW BUILDINGS IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4249, 2 November 1874, Page 2

NEW BUILDINGS IN WELLINGTON.

That Wellington is rapidly advancing in architecture, as well as in many other respects, must be apparent to the most careless observer. Time was, not long ago either, when the Supreme Court, the Odd Fellows' Hall, and a few other buildings of, the same age, were regarded by the with an amount of pride justly pardonable in those days. But the advance made by the city within the last two years could never have been dreamed of by the most sanguine and " visionary" of the older residents. Were a Wellington Kip "Van Winkle to again shuffle'on this mortal coil, his astonishment would be none less than that of Irving's renowned creation. It is im- . possible to look in any direction without new buildings the eye, the wealthy well-to-do business man and the mechanic, eaeh doing his best to erect a dwelling worthy of his station. The most noticeable of the newlyerected buildings is, of course, the University, a description of which appeared in our columns a short time ago. Next in architectural pretensions is the pretty Catholic Church in Boulcott-street, and it is a decided feature in Te Aro. Then comes a host of business premises—Messrs. Nathan and Co's. ; Messrs. Johnston and Co.'s, Messrs. Edmondson, Sellar, and Co.'s, E. W. Mills's, William Gibson's, and many others —which would not suffer by comparison with any of their class in New Zealand. The larger stone and brick buildings of Dunedin and Auckland may be more durable, but it is a recognised fact that in Wellington are to be found the finest wooden structures in the colony. Of the buildings in course of erection or contemplated, those of the General Government will be by far the grandest. The brick warehouse now being raised opposite the Empire Hotel for the new firm of Jacob, Nathan, and Co. will be an ornament the city will be proud of, and which we trust will disabuse our neighbors' idea that a brick or stone building of more than one storey is an impossibility in the Empire City. The new premises of the National Bank of New Zealand, in Grey-street, are being rapidly proceeded with, the plasterers having begun their portion 'of the work. some time since. When denuded of scaffolding, this structure ought to present an imposing front. A large two-storey shop is being built on the reclaimed land for a Dunedin upholstering firm ; and McLeod and Co.'s new saw-mill has added not a little to the business appearance of the same locality. Several new and handsome shops are replacing old shanties on the Quay, and additions to«the Theatre are being proceeded with. The two new churches shortly to be commenced in Te Aro—one for the Church of England, the other for the Presbyterian body —will tend to improve the appearance of that portion of the city, and afford ample sitting room for the numerous members of those churches. We have been informed that not fewer than ninety buildings are in course of erection, and as many more contemplated. The building trade in this city was never brisker than at the present time, and builders look forward to summer with lively anticipations. Vacant building lots in every part of the town are daily becoming " beautifully less." The extraordinarily high rents ruling should sufficient inducement for speculative people to continue building, dear as timber is, for the influx of population now going on and anticipated will make more house accommodation an absolute necessity.