OUR CITY WAREHOUSES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4400, 27 April 1875, Page 3

OUR CITY WAREHOUSES.

The people of America take it as an accepted fact that when a railway station and a church are erected in any particular locality the success of that locality, commercially and otherwise, is assured. In like manner it may be regarded as a healthful indication of the expansion of trade that many of our most energetic business men are erecting costly mercantile establishments in the environs of the city, to meet the demands of increased population. The principal haunts of commerce in the business centre have been materially added to by the erection of gigantic stores for Jacob Joseph and Co., Thompson, Shannon, and Co., Edmondson, Sellar, and Co., Johnston and Co., and Nathan and Co.—a combination which puts the rest of the colony in the shade—but it is not to any of these to which attention is directed on the present occasion. Unquestionably. the greatest trade will be done where population is most thickly located, and it needs not a great amount of foresight to see that before long Te Arowill be to Wellington what George-street and King-street are to Dunedin, Taking time by the forelock, Mr. James Smith, of Te Aro, has made preparation for this . increase in trade by demolishing part of his drapery establishment, which has been rebuilt upon a plan designed by Mr. T. Turnbull, an architect who has achieved considerable professional distinction in other parts of the "world. Under Mr. Turnbull’s skillful arrangement Te Aro House has become rather a model establishment, and is therefore deserving of the full description which our reporter supplies. As a historic incident, it may not be out of place to mention that Te Aro House, on a somewhat lesser scale, has been in existence since 1845, when the trade of the period was conducted by a Miss Taylor. Subsequently, the business fell into the hands of a Hiss Smith, who conducted it up to 1866, when Mr. Smith appeared upon the scene, and since then the business has made such rapid advances that the recent improvements were indispensable. The present building stands upon a piece of ground 92ft. by 55ft., and is divided into four principal departments —the general drapery department, 49ft. by 26ft.; the clothing department, 42ft. by 14ft., to which is attached a fitting-room ; the carpet department, 42ft. by 14ft.; and the millinery department, 39ft, by 21ft. 6in. The clothing and carpet departments are ranged respectively on the right and left of the general drapery department, the millinery department being at the back, facing the main entrance. Beyond doubt the millinery room is the finest room of the kind in the city, and as it is a special feature in the building, it is noticed first. The approach from the drapery department is through a handsome elliptical arch supported by clustered columns with carved capitals and pedestals. The room is lighted from the roof, as is the establishment throughout, by stained glass windows, the mechanism of the roof bein'? so. contrived that the light "is introduced' upon an entirely new principle, which has the advantage of throwing a perfect light on all goods, enabling them to be seen in their true colors, a point which is of the greatest importance in testing the finer and more delicate fabrics. Mr. Turnbull’s great effort has been to secure the success of the lighting process, and it must be satisfactory to have the testimony of Mr. Smith to the fact that it is the best of the kind he has ever seen in a very long experience. As may be imagined, the millinery room, with its array of multicolored articles of feminine attire, contrasted with the neat finish and fittings of the room itself, presents a very attractive appearance. Attached to this department is the sempstress s room, where a number of sewing machines are kept busily employed in the manufacture of ladies* clothing, and in a convenient situation is a lavatory for the saleswomen. The carpet and clothing departments present no feature deserving special mention except that they contain a varied and extensive stock, and possess all the advantages of being excellently lighted Systematic arrangement being the guiding principle, a well-devised suite of offices is attached to" the drapery department, comprising the usual cashier's desk, a book-keepers room,'and a private office for the proprietor. Convenient to these, again, is a despatch office, where parcels for the railway or for delivery m any part of the city are placed, thus ensuring punctuality and despatch, which seems to be a ruling motto amongst the twenty shop-people employed. Dor purposes of display the general drapery . room is fitted with enamelled iron tubes, which for lightness and durability are found to be superior to the costly and troublesome brass fittings. At the Dixon-street entrance to the building is situate a large yard , and packing-room, into which the drays i .with goods from shipboard discharge': their freight. ■ Above the pack-ing-room is the reserve store, where six months’ stock of ready-made clothing is displayed for inspection by intending purchasers. Or to be ready at hand to replenish the stock m the retail department. On the lower floor is another lavatory, for use by the male employes. A perfect system of gas and water appliance is available, so that the gas may be turned on to any single room, and so with the water. At every point the hose and the tap are ready in case of fire, so that the flames could easily be extinguished if there was anyone at: hand to apply the hose. _ Added to all this the establishment, is thoroughly ventilated throughout, and what with its business arrangements, its lavatories, ita exceptionally fine light, and its perfee gas and water system, the building is, as it already been pronounced, a model One. A entirely new description of sunlight has been ordered from Home ; but what the effect will be can only be imagined. Mr. I urnbuJl intends to supply the same kind of sunlight in the new Presbyterian and in Mr. Ugf, s church. To use the words of Mr._ Smith, the secret of his success in business is to supply his customers with the right class of goods, and of first quality. To carry out this idea he employs two buyers in London, who advise him all tho latest novelties, and treat in most cases direct with the manufacturers on Mr. bimtn s account. To give an impartial opinion of JVlr. Turnbull's work, it must be pronounced faultless. Every inch of space has boon turned to profitable account, and in such a manner tna the convenience and suitability of the arrangements could not be surpassed. Mr. S. Drown, the contractor, has also performed his part ox the work in a faithful manner, and the result is one creditable to all alike.