LOCAL PROGRESS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4459, 5 July 1875, Page 6

LOCAL PROGRESS.

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS. But few persons visit the Botanical Gardens when “ Winter comes to rule the year.” The acquaintance of most with these grounds is made only at the time “ when Spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil or “ fantastic summer’s heat” induces them to seek relief in sequestered nooks and sylvan shades. Nevertheless, though a visit at the present time may not be so agreeable as when made under the . propitious circumstances before mentioned, it is exceedingly interesting to those who are more enthusiastic m botany, or in the beautifying of the city and its environs. In addition to the business of plant inc, which necessarily occupies the attention of°the head gardener, Mr. Bramley and his assistants at this season, a great deal of m ork has been going on lately in the way of taking in and fencing additional ground. In all, about fourteen or fifteen acres have been added to the domain, bringing the northern boundary fence to the point where Sydneystreet terminates. At this point will be the _ new entrance to the grounds; and here ‘ already a number of well grown trees which have been recently transplanted' from the private garden of the Hon. Mr. Mautell, are thriving admirably, and within a short time will from a conspicuous feature. The centre of the gardens will be approached by a couple of paths leading up to the Houeymau’s Gully, one on either bank side. The first of these has already been cut, and the work performed with a due regard for the ease and convenience of visitors. Rising by an easy gradient the whole way, it presents a marked contrast with many of the other paths, which are steep out of. all reason, and render promenading rather a laborious toil than a pleasant recreation, The scenery up this gully is picturesque iu the extreme. Down the centre a stream dashes along, fed from each side by perennial springs, and ° the serpentine paths meander round numerous spurs and bends which, when clothed with graceful pines, will tend to make the scene much more attractive than at present, when the hills are covered with scrubby ti-tree knd unsightly undergrowth. Wa have heard a suggestion that the stream of water, which runs alike freely iu summer as in winter, should be so disposed-as to form a series of nonds, in which might he placed waterfowl, swans, &c. The effect of such_ an arrangement would amply repay the little outlay it Would involve, aud is worthy of consideration. But the trustees, who have hitherto done their duty so well, will' doubtless see the matter is not lost sight of, aud that the suggestion, if capable of being given practical effect to, will be carried through. The paths before mentioned lead up the gully, and meet at a point on the most lofty of the hills, aud thence lead -down to the nursery. The whole of the new ground has been fenced with a substantial four-railer, the work having been performed by contract; but there has not been a great deal of it planted this season, if we except the hill sides which extend from the main entrance on the Karori-road to the hotel, and a strip from Moxam’s farm to Boltou-street. Trees have been now planted the whole distance along the Karori side, and all are doing so well that, iu a very short time, the scrub, which is now allowed to surround them in order to afford protection from the strong bleak winds coming in from the north-west, may be cleared away. The belt of planting, from Moxam’s to Boiton-street, will run along the summit of the hill overlooking the town, and, when the trees shall have grown anffi- ■ ciently, will afford a pleasing sight from the city and harbor. In other parts, of the grounds the planting this season has been extensive, some 2500 young trees having been put out. So far as’ can he seen qt present, most of them have struck and are • prospering well. Those that were planted during last find the two preceding seasons have grown remarkably well. The pines and Wellingtonea, are looking healthy, and have formed into shapely, graceful trees. Some in the more exposed situations are a little faulty aud stunted, but those which have had a fair chance, by having been afforded the necessary protection from wintry winds, have grown quite beyond expectation. There are not a great many deciduous trees, and those •which have been planted do not seem to have thriven. Particularly worthy of note are the rhododendrons, which were presented to the gardens" some time since by W. Ludlam, Esq. These look very healthy, and are covered with buds. Several Moreton Bay figs, also, are growing into fine plants, and a variety of native shrubs have sprung up a considerable height, and are profusely laden with fruit of various hues, forming a lively contrast to the surrounding shrubbery. The nursery is being carefully tended, and the young plants are now cominencing to appear above the ground. There are a great number of pines coming forward. Allare raised from imported seeds, and generally speaking, are of the same kind as those already planted, and iu the grounds, but there are several new varieties, of which the netinospora pisifera, thuga gigantea, and abies pectiuata are notable. In all, there are eleven pits, besides several boxes containing four or five thousand seedlings, hut they have yet to meet “the winter’s fury, and encroaching frosts,” aud it is more than probable that many will be cut off. Still, this is the largest number of plants that have ever been raised in one season, and, therefore, next year’s planting will doubtless cover a large expanse of the added land. Of the new importations, those recently received from Sydney are the most important. This is a splendid lot of trees of a mixed species, -amongst which are nordmaniana pectinata, spruces, several cedars, including cedar of Lebanon, &c., many of which are entire strangers to the colony. They have taken well, and at present are in prime condition. A collection of plants, natives of Australia, are also thriving admirably. The camelia bed Is a perfect picture, and cannot be surpassed by any garden in the province; every plant is strong and healthy, and literally covered in bloom. Notable amongst the novelties are some China tea plants (shea hohea). These have been raised from 'seed, and the soil apparently is suitable for them, for they are growing very strongly. The gardens, as a whole, present a very respectable appearance, and reflect credit on the trustees and Mr. Bramley, who evidently have their hearts in the work.

HIPEOVEMENT3 IN THE PAELIAMENX HOUSES. During the past few weeks carpenters have been busy in the Parliament Houses, making extensive alterations and improvements for the comfort and convenience of members during the ensuing session. In the Legislative Council chamber the alterations have been trifling, and do not call for more than a mere passing notice ; but in the Representatives’ chamber much has been done. It has been altogether remodelled, so far as the arrangements for members are concerned. The two side, doors at the western end leading to the library, re-freshment-room, and, similar apartments, have been taken out, and in lieu of them a pair of larire folding doors have been placed in the centre of the wall, and directly opposite the Speaker’s chair. Prom this door a passage between the seats leads to the floor of the house, in which passage will be placed, when occasion requires, the bar of the house. Instead of all seats being on the same level as heretofore, they are new placed upon permanent raised platforms, giving four rows of seats on either side. Thus the two front rows are a step above the floor, and the other tw'o rows each a step above the other, so that the fourth row is three steps from the floor of the house. The is divided in the middle by a passage running north and south, and the seats on the western side form what may be termed the Ministerial and Opposition comers. To the east, of the passage is placed the table of the house, the Ministers table, and the Government and Opposition benches. These latter are raised similarly to the seats on the western side, but run longitudinally, instead of being placed semicirciilarly as those on the western side are. The whole of the members seats are new, and are designed to match the Speaker’s canopy, having sjiiral or twisted legs, the upholstery being of the very best description. They are all covered with maroon morocco skins, expressly imported by the Government, for the purpose. Small tables of Gothic design, similar to those in use in the

Legislative Council chamber, are provided for each seat, fitted with drawers aud Lhubbs patent locks, so that each member will have his private drawer. The Ministers table and the table of the house are also new, of Gothic design, having cloth covers glued within marrin, and like the members’ seats and tables, are of heart of kauri pine, French polished. The most striking feature in the whole work is the highly ornamental canopy of Gothic design, within which the Speaker’s chair is to be placed. This has coupled spiral or twisted pillbivs on either side, supporting a cusped and perforated arch iu front,, and a plain arch at the back of the chair. The caps are foliated, and a foliated band to match extends round the canopy, with a springing to the plain arch, in which will be placed the Royal Arms. On either side of the chair proper (an ordinary easy chair, in harmony with the members’ seats,) are shelves for works of reference, and iu front a desk corresponding with the architecture of the canopy. The structure is exceedingly elegant, and a fine specimen of the skill of Mr. W. H. Clayton, the colonial architect, from whose drawing it has been built. Between the members’ seats plenty of. space has been left, so that gentlemen may enter , their places, or move from one spot to another without inconveniencing other mem; hers. Under past arrangements, members, when a division has been called, have had to pass either to the right or to the left part of the house, according to the side on which they vote, but two division lobbies have been constructed, and both ayes and noes will go forth from the chamber into their respective lobbies The chamber is heated as before, the warm air being admitted through cast-iron air gratings round the rise of the first platform. The whole of the work has been carried out under contract by Mr.. Duff, of Lambton-quay, the Colonial Architect supervising, and it is thoroughly well done, the canopy especially exhibiting a finish rarely met with iu colonial furniture.

MESSRS. JACOB JOSEPH AND COMPANY’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: ■ IMany of them are commodious aud 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 wrod, for few persons are disposed to pay £4 10s. per thousand for brides, or a yet higher price for stone. Messrs. Joseph and Go., however, have broken through the custom generally obtaining, and at a cost of something like £IO,OOO have raised in Willis-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 SOft. deep, the elevation being 52ft. There are three storeys, in addition to which there is also a cellar, ISft. by SOft. aud Bft. high, with a cemented-floor. To the ground floor there is a large main entrance, aud 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 and ■•fitted up with tables, desks, counters, and other necessary conveniences, all constructed of kauri pine, rimmed with cedar, and furniture polished. Immediately behjnd 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, aud by this means a flood of light pours down into all the apartments. Behind the staircase on the ground floor comes the first wareroom. This is fitted up very conveniently. A counter 3ft. high runs round the walls, above which is a large quantity of shelving, and iu addition, there are some half-dozen tables, 16ft. x 6ft. A patent lift has been introduced after the fashion of the warehouses in Melbourne and Sydney. It is worked by hydraulic power, aud is capable of sustaining a weight of at least two tons, and, connecting the cellar with

the upper storey and all intermediate room?, is of great utility. On the second floor, there are the same fittings as below. Alongside the walls run counters, and above . rise tier upon tier of shelving, while the middle of the room is filled up with large transverse benches, and the same may be reported in regard to the upper storey. The whole of these fittings are of kauri pine, 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 22ft. 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 fitted after the manner of ordinary stores. There is a powerful hydraulic crane lift, which, with the patent lift fixed in the warehouse, was manufactured at Mills’s Lion Foundry. This store will he kept under the supervision of a Custom-house officer, an arrangement very common iu Melbourne. Goods may thus he packed or manipulated iu any way to suit the convenience of the firm, the officer being pres jnt to see that the revenue does not suffer. As a whole, the premises are really a credit to the city, -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.

UNION BANK OP AUSTRALIA. Though scarcely advanced sufficiently to arrest the attention of an artistic eye it is evident the new Union Bank of Australia, opposite the Supreme Court, will rank as one of the finest buildings in the colony. Situated centrally upon a site which has in times past elicited covetous offers from the mercantile fraternity and the bankers by turns the bnilding could not fail to have an imposing, not to say a commanding, appearance, for it faces three of the principal thoroughfares of the city, a circumstance of which every advantage has been taken by the architect,' Mr. C. J. Toxward. Portion of the site, it will be remembered, is reserved for the erection of the fountain to be presented to the city by Mr. John Martin upon his return from Loudon, so that the ornamental features of the new bank will be considerably enhanced. Those who are at all familiar with Mr. Toxward’s abilities will, however, at once concede that.no adventitious aid is necessary to assist the critic to a favorable' report upon his works. Without reverting to the long list of buildings in this city with which his name is creditably associated, a single instance may be named—the National Bank—a structure which constantly arrests the attention of visitors from all the colonies, and elicits flattering encomiums The new Union Bank, then, will have a frontage of 62 feet to the junction o Lambton-quay, Hunter-street, and Peatherstonstreet, 41ft. to Lambton-quay, and 52ft. to Peatheraton-street. In style it is Doric, with a faint trace of the Tuscan, introduced, possibly, to give lightness and freedom to tbe design. Prom the purely artistic, or perhaps it would be more correct to say from the purely architectural point of view, the junction fa9ade is rendered admirable by a boldness of conception which gives character to the edifice as a whole. Here we have an effect produced by a judicious arrangement of prominent points, so to speak, for, dissected, there is periling on the plan but windows, columns, and entablature, yet the manner of their arrangement produces a harmonious blending and an agreeable feeling of warm approval. The facade has an extent of 56ft. and an elevation of 30ft. There are no doors in this portion of the build-

iug, the entrances being from Featherston-street and Lambton-quay. Thus the whole wall space is utilised for lighting the hanking hall, there being three large windows ten feet high, raised nine feet from the ground, and two smaller porch windows Bft. by 3ft. 6in., raised sft. from tbe ground, the windows on the two other frontages being of the same dimensions. Ranged alternately between the three large windows are columns 18ft. high, of which- there are ten in all ranged round the building, in addition to eight pilasters. Surmounting these is an entablature decorated with sunk panels and tryglyphs and cornice and blocks, culminating in a panelled and moulded parapet neatly capped. The general effect could not well be surpassed, and though the side frontages are of lesser merit, there is manifested a discriminatory , power which gives change and relief by the introduction of a mezzanine (or dwarf) floor, with, of coiu-se, windows to correspond. From the Featherston-street, or Lambton-quay entrance —it matters not which, for one is the counterpart of the other—the customer or visitor finds himself an a lobby 10ft. Gin. by Bft,, aud passing through swing doom'reaches die banking hall—an apartment 28ft. by 36ft., and 23ft. iu height—which, amongst banking institutions, is a chef d’muvre. The interior of this hall is decorated in a manner similar to the exterior, but on a smaller scale. It has Doric cornices, coved roof, aud ornamental panels, the ceiling being divided into panels by beams, the soffit of which is sunk panels, the cassoons (or sunk panels) between the beams being set off with ornamental mouldings, after the manner of the Greek and Roman ceilings. The doors, architraves, pediments, entablature, and dado are to be of cedar, French polished, the bolection moulding of the doors being a special feature in the ornamentation. Thus of the main portion of the building. To the left of the Lambton-quay entrance are a waitingroom and the.manager’s room, and to the right, on the Featherston-street side, are the clerk’s room, sitting-room, bedrooms, and room for the officer in charge, the mezzanine floor being reached by a staircase in this* portion of the building. In tlio rear are the strong room and stationery room, the whole building being cut off from the adjoining buildings by a solid brick wall, the roof, to still further reduce the risk of fire, being of slate. Lavatories and outhouses are provided, and gas and water are laid on wherever required. The building will cost £SOOO, and is, to be finished toward the. end of September, Mr. McKenzie being the contractor.

THE WELLINGTON NURSERY. This nursery is situated iu Abel Smithstreet, near the residence of the Ven. Archdeacon Stock. It contains about acres of land, which are planted with a varied and choice collection of shrubs, fruit trees, forest trees, and plants. The garden is planned iu the usual nursery style, the long grass walk, which extends the entire length of the grounds, haring a very pretty effect. The flower-beds iu front of the house 'are tastefully laid out, and filled alternately with Silene pendula, Lady Plymouth geranium, bicolor geranium, and Echiverias, the Silene greatly adding to the beauty of the garden, with its pretty pink winter-bloomiug flower. A chief feature in the arrangement of the different shades of flowers, is the ribbon border, so much in vogue in English nurseries. It consists of Lobelia pumila, Pyrethrum (Golden Feather), Tresine herbstii, Cineraria acantifolia, scarlet geraniums, and verbenas, all of which look charming notwithstanding the winter weather. On’ either side of the long grass walk are planted a large number of specimen plants, all of which are labelled with zinc labels, on which the name, order,- and habitat of the plant axe printed. Among these specimens is a variety of the Cyprosina, native Banerana, the beautiful glossy foliage of _ which makes it particularly striking. This plant, we are informed, was found by the Ven. Archdeacon Stock. The “ Monkey Puzzler and the Abies nordmaniana are also conspicuous plants. Mr. Budden, the proprietor, of the nursery, has found that the English broom is not suitable for hedging purposes, as a species of blight attacks and speedily kills it. The best plant for this purpose has been found to he the Euonymus japonica, which is a very Strong and fast growing shrub. It is exceedingly useful to protect young plants from the high wind prevalent in this part of the island. The numbers of poplars, oriental planes, laurestinae, enonymi, sycamores, oaks, elms, cypruses, cedars, and spruces are very large. The next feature to attract the attention is a small glass-house, which is known by the name of the “ stove.” In it the plants are of a choice description. To name the following plants will sufficiently support such an opinion :—Marcanta regalis, the shield plant, with its bronze colored leaves; the' Cyprepedium insigne (ladies’ slipper), a most beautiful winter-blooming plant; Bajouioa, with its immense frosted leaves; Dioffenhaohia picta, aud Pandanus vietchi, a specimen of the screw-pine ; Euphorbia jacquiniflora, which has a small scarlet flower on long racemes of bloom. The appearance of the variegated foliage is very striking,’ the effect of which it is impossible to convey without inspection. For the other branches of the establishment we must refer our readers to the nursery itself.

TE ARO SAWMILL. We observe that Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart, the proprietors of the above-men-tioned sawmill, one of the most thriving concerns in the city, or indeed the province, have recently been improving their property and power of supply. Another storey has been added to the mill, which will about double the accommodation previously enjoyed, and besides this a quantity of new machinery has been imported, making yet more complete the already extensive plant. At every point whizzing, whirling wheels testify the adaptation of labor-saving machinery to every conceivable purpose, and indicate that tbe proprietors understand tbe motto of the times—a maximum of production at a minimum expenditure of manual labor. Of the many machines in use in this establishment, perhaps one of the most striking is that employed for planing, tonguing, and grooving timber. By means of this, the work which a few years back would have necessitated three distinct processess, is now performed in one simple operation ; and as an instance of the powers of the contrivance, we may mention that a couple worked by four or five men in this establishment, turn out 16,000 or 17,000 feet per day. There are several other machines equally economic in their character employed here, such as a band saw—an endless band of steel, serrated at one edge, and revolving as a strap on two wheels a distance apart—by moans of which the most intricate ornamental designs in wood may be sawn out with remarkable precision and expedition. There are also tennouing saws, boring, morticing, and moulding cutting machines, circular saws, face plate for turning ornamental circles, &c. Most of these are situate on the ground floor, and are all driven by a sixteen-horse power high-pressure engine. There are two boilers for generating steam, a peculiar feature in connection with' which is the fact that no coal is used, the chips, shavings, &c., which are found capable of giving sufficient heat, being utilised for the purpose. The second and newly-built story is at present principally devoted to the carpentering part of the business. Some nineteen hands are here kept constantly at work in making up doors and door and window sashes, " and a couple of men at turning ; but more machinery will also be erected upstairs as soon as possible. Besides this main building, there is a glazier’s shop and glass store, where men are kept in full work glazing sashes ; there is also a general store and the indispensable counting house. Altogether, between forty and fifty men are employed in the establishment, and others are engaged in the work of transporta tion of large quantities of timber from country districts to the mill. MESSRS. WADDELL AND M'LEOD’s SAWMILL. An important establishment in connection with the timber trade of this province is Messrs. Waddell and McLeod’s sawmill, occupying a largo site on the reclaimed land. It is a little less than two and a half years ago since Messrs. Waddell and McLeod started this venture, and ' the very large proportions it has now assumed speaks volumes for the energy and enterprise of the proprietors and

the progress and prosperity of the colony. The dimensions of the sawmill proper are shout 70£t. by 50ft., and in this building is placed an extensive plant of machinery for the purposes of sawing, planing, tongueing, grooving, moulding, boring, morticing, tenuoning, &c. Among the many machines,, foremost in utility stands that for performing, in one process, the quadruple operation of planing, tongueing, grooving, and moulding. By the agency of this, timber may be dressed on three sides and turned out as moulding of any given pattern, and this at the rate of from five to ten thousand feet per eight hours, according to the width of the timber treated. The is an American patent, and for a time held sway as being the premier of its kind ; hut it has since been eclipsed by English ingenuity, and a machine now afloat foi Messrs. Waddell and McLeod, which was constructed in one of the manufacturing districts of the old country, will dress four sides at one operation and with greater speed than the American machine. The tennouing, boring, and morticing machines are also very ingenious in their construction, and of great value as manual labor savers and for performing their work with marvellous exactitude. In a second storey o. the building, are situate the carpenters and joiners’ shop, turners’ shop, and drying .room. The carpenters are principally employed in fitting together window-sashes and doors of all posible descriptions, the constituent parts of which have been turned out by the various machines. There are also a few machines here, notable amongst which is one yclept the “ drunken saw.” This is a small circular saw, fitted on-either side with obliquely out washers, the result .being that when in circulation a kind of horizontal motion is produced, and though the saw-plate is but one eighth of an inch iu thickness, an inch cut may he put in timber to any depth necessary. It is used ■principally for graving small jobs. On this storey also is the drying-room, &c., an apartment with a grated ’ floor, wherein large quantities of sashes and doors are laid fora few months in order to be thoroughly dried before being placed in the market. Independent of this building is the glazier’s shop and glass store. ■ The whole of the machinery is driven by steam, a 12 h.p. high pressure engine being employed for the work. There are many conveniences to make the labor of working the mill as light as possible, chief amongst them being a tramway, upon which timber is conveyed from one portion of the establishment to another on smfill trucks.

THE HON. JOHN JOHNSTON S NEW RESIDENCE. We observe that a residence is being erected on Eitzherbert-terrace, College Reserve, for the Hon. John Johnston, which for its size, outward appearance, internal convenience and beauty of finish, will not have a peer in the province, we were going to say in the colony, and certainly so far as the two latter features are concerned the remark would not he far from the truth. The one idea in its design seems to have been to procure comfort, and this has been fully realised. All the principal apartments are roomy, lofty, well lighted and ventilated, and fitted up superbly with all requisites, constructed of varnished red pine. A room in the front part of the huildhig, which we presume is intended to ho conwbrted into a drawing-room, is especially noticeable. The floor has been laid very carefully, the hoards, which are of red pine, being laid with secret nails, and so contrived with a border round the edge that the whole surface appears as a huge panel highly polished. The hearth is composed of tesselated tiles, the mantelpiece of marble ; and around the room runs wainscotting eighteen or twenty inches deep. There are bow windows, and corniced ceiling, with centre flowers. The other rooms are also of the same ornate character, and according to the use for which each is intended it is fitted with conveniences such as book cases, cheffonier or wardrobe, of the same kind of wood as that of whioh the other permanent fittings are constructed ; and the fireplaces, of which there is one in every room, contain register stoves, and are surrounded with marble mantelpieces. The hall and vestibule, which will be tesselated, are very sjiacious, aud in harmony with the rich appearance that a lavish expenditure has produced iu the other parts of the house. The lower part of the structure is of the Tuscan order, the upper being more of the Italian style. The principal entrance door is graced by a handsome portico, supported by four Tuscan columns, and at different points small elegantlooking balconies are constructed, which will afford a wide range of view iu any direction. We believe Mr. Tringham is the architect, and Messrs. Williams Bros, the builders, upon whom the building reflects the very highest credit. A better arrangement of rooms could scarcely be made, and both outside and inside the work shows that neither pains nor expense have been spared to make tins one of the most desirable of residences. , MESSRS. CATTELL AND DIAMOND’S NEW HOTEL.

The building of a very spacious and haud-some-looking hotel for Messrs. Oattell and Diamond has just been commenced on that eligible site at the corner of Lambtou-quay and Johns ton-street and immediately opposite the theatre. From an inspection of the plans we learn that the building will occupy an area of 62ft. by 55ft., the front elevation being 42ft. On the first floor will be situate a large bar, bar parlor, commercial and dining rooms, kitchen, larder, &c. These rooms will have a pitch of 12ft.; and the three sitting-rooms and three large bedrooms, which, with bath-room, &0., constitute the second storey, have an altitude of lift. The upper storey comprises fourteen bedrooms, about 9Jft. high, ' and a geometrical staircase connects the three storeys. Additional room for keeping stores, &c., will be afforded by a large cellar 20ft. by 16ft., feet deep. The outside appearance of the building will be very elegant, it being of the Italian order. In the fajade there will be no less than thirty-one windows, all with ornamented heads, those on the lower storey having segment heads, and those on the upper, circular. The lower cornices are supported by rusticated and panelled pilasters, and the upper by candilivera blocks, and above these an entablature, ornamented with sunken panelling. There are two private entrances, both in Johnston-street, the bar entrance being from Lambton-quay. The whole of the front work will be of totara wood or kauri pine, and the roof and side walls of corrugated iron. Inside, the work will be of a superior nature ; but this we shall be better able to describe when operations are further advanced. The architect, Mr. Tringham, must be complimented upon the artistic designs he lias produced ; and we have no doubt the contractor, Mr. W. Prideaux, will make the most of them. The cost will be a little over £2500, and the work, it is expected, will be finished about the commencement of December; MB. M'LEAN’s NE.W SHOP. We observe that the framework of extensive premises for Mr. McLean, draper, of Cuba-street, has been erected. There is a frontage of about 28ft., with a depth of 90ft., the shop and show-room running tho whole distance back. On'the second storey there are ten rooms, which are intended to be used as a residence for Mr. McLean and family. The front will be exceedingly handsome. In the shop, plate-glass windows extend from top to bottom, the panes being 10ft. Oin. deep, by sft. Sin. wide. The cornice, with gentils, is exceedingly handsome, and supported by pilasters and carved trusses. On the upper storey there are five ■windows, each being ornamented by pediments, also supported by carved trasses and pilasters, surmounted by a panelwork and balustraded parapet. Tho interior of the shop will be highly decorated, and all tho fittings of polished cedar, so that as a whole the new establishment null bo a welcome addition to the ornate architecture of Cubastreet. Mr. Tringham has designed the building', and Messrs. Adams and Co. are tho contractors for the work, at £2OOO.