NEW BANKING PREMISES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5393, 10 July 1878, Page 2

NEW BANKING PREMISES.

Towards the end of the present year there will be added to those already in existence and in progress of construction another architectural ornament to the' city, in the shape of new banking premises for the Colonial Bank. As is already well ‘■known, the Colonial Banking corporation are the owners of the freehold site which the Scotch. Church at present stands.. The site was purchased for the express purpose of erecting upon it a structure of a costly and permanent nature, in which the business of the bank might be carried on with convenience to the officers of the bank and the public, and no expense will be spared in making the building in all respects a credit to the institution to which it belongs, and to the city itself. Shortly after the purchase of the site instiuctions were given to Mr- T. Turnbull, the wellknown architect, to prepare plans and specifications, and this portion of the work was pushed on with such vigor that tenders for the erection of a building iu accordance with them will close on next Monday week. The new bank will be of the Italian style of architecture and two storeys’‘high, the lower being of the Doric and the upper of the lonic order, both of- which will be freely treated. The second storey will be surmounted by an elaborately ornamental balustrade, and this again will be topped by four large vases, which mil contribute in imparting to the front eleva-, tion a very finished and beautiful appearance. The building will present a frontage , of 42ft. 6iu. on Lambton-quay, and will be 50ft. high from the footpath level to the crowning vases above the balustrade. The depth of the building will be 75ft. The public entrance to the bank will be through a large doorway adjoining the Athenaeum,'and there will be three large front windows in the bottom storey, and four on the second, with massive mouldings surrounding each. The main doorway opens into a vestibule, and then there is an inner vestibule of larger dimensions. Out of this a door on the right leads into .the manager’s room, which measures 18ft. by 16ft. The banking-room has a measurement of 31ft. 6in. by 41ft, One portion of the bankingroom is 20ft. high in the clear, and the other part is 25ft. 6in, The strong-room, at the rear of the building, is divided into two compartments, in one of which the cash and in the other the books and papers of the bank will be deposited ; and adjoining these is a clerks* room measuring 9ft. 6in. by 12ft., a laboratory, sanatorium, &c. Besides those apartments already enumerated, there, will be six separate Offices for the accommodation of the officials on the ground-fl ior. The interior fittings will be of an elaborate and costly character. The banking-room and offices wil be fitted up with cedar, and the public counter when completed will form a splendid piece of workmanship. The decorations will consist of fresco painting and stucco work, and when the whole contract is completed the interior appearance of the bank will be exceedingly handsome. No materials but those of a durable nature will be employed in the erection of the bank. Cast-iron columns and girders .will bo used instead of.wood, and the walls of the banks will be of brick, strengthened by hoop-iron, and the roof is to. be trussed and • elated*. Altogether, - an . examination

of the plans will show that the new premises for the Colonial Bank will constitute an ornamental feature in the city, to which Weilingtonians will find a pleasure in directing the attention of visitors from other parts of New Zealand.