MESSRS. JACOB JOSEPH AND CO.’S NEW PREMISES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4457, 2 July 1875, Page 3

MESSRS. JACOB JOSEPH AND CO.’S NEW PREMISES.

To the enterprising mercantile firm, Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Co., must be given the credit of having erected the first really substantial business premises that have been built in Wellington. There have been a very large number of buildings either recently finished or still in course of erection, of various sizes and intended for various purposes, and of these we have from time to time given extended notices. Many of them are commodious and highly ornamental, giving evidence of the great ability of our local architects, but still in the strict sense of the word they cannot be termed substantial, being constructed of wood, or wood and zinc. The cause of this perpetual building in wood is mainly owing to the excessive expense of other material than wood, for few persons are disposed to pay £4 10s. per thousand for a yet higher price for stone. Messrs. Joseph and Co., however, have broken through the custom generally obtaining, and at a cost of something like £IO,OOO have raised in Willia-street the first large buildings in which the materials used are bricks and concrete. There are two buildings, the first to notice being the warehouse and offices. This abuts on Willis-street, and has a frontage of 32ft., by 80ft. deep," the elevatddn being 52ft. There'are three storeys, in"ac!®tion to which there is also a cellar, 18ft. by 30ft. and Bft. high, with a cemented floor. To the ground floor there is a large main entrance, and a second entrance to the back premises. The main entrance leads to the countinghouse, behind which is a private office. Both these apartments are beautifully furnished aud fitted up with tables, desks, counters, and other necessary conveniences, all constructed of kauri pine, rimmed with cedar, and furniture polished. Immediately behind the office is the staircase, which continues right through the various storeys and occupies a space lift, square. Over the head of the staircase is a lantern light 12ft. by 24ft., glazed with subdued light, and by this means a flood of light pours down into all the apartments. Behind the staircase on the ground floor comes the first warevoom. This . is fitted up very conveniently. A counter 3ft. high runs round the walls, above which is a large quantity of shelving, and in adcliriou, there are some half-dozen tables, 16ft. x 6ft. A patent lift lias been introduced after, the fashion of the warehouses in Melbourne and Sydney. It is worked by hydraulic power, and is capable of sustaining a weight of at least two tons, aud, connecting the cellar with the upper storey and all intermediate rooms, is of great utility. On the second floor, there

are the same fittings as below. Alongside the walls run counters, and above rise * ler upon tier of shelving, while the middle of the room- is filled up with large transverse benches, and the same may be reported in regal'd to the upper storey. The whole of these fittings are of ha-" 1 ’ 1 P m ®> rimmed with cedar, and elegantly finished. In addition to the large lantern light previously mentioned there are also a number of windows, those in front being glazed with plate glass, so that the establishment is well lighted, and patent ventilators supply air. About 22£t. to the rear of this building, has been erected a bonded store, 32ft. by 24ft, containing three storeys. This, also, is constructed of brick, and after the maimer of ordinary stores. I hero is a powerful hydraulic crane lift, which, with the patent lift fixed in the warehouse, was manufactured at IMUIs s T-Aou Foundry. This store will be kept under the supervision of a Custom-house officer, an - arrangement very common in Melbourne. Goods may thus be packed or manipulated in any way to suit the convenience of the firm, the officer being present to see that the revenue does not softer. As a whole, the premises are really a credit to the citv, without ornamental in appearance, and within commodious and handsomely furnished. We trust the enterprise of Messrs Joseph and Co. will result in the realisation of their most sanguine expectations. We may mention that Mr. Toxward was the architect, and that the contractor, Mr. McKenzie, has faithfully and honestly carried out the plans.