HOTEL IMPROVEMENTS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 16 November 1880, Page 2

HOTEL IMPROVEMENTS.

In no other direction has the work of improvement been so great during the past twelve months as in regard to the hotels of the town. We have already noticed the opening of two new hostelries, replete with every convenience and fitted up in a manner calculated to prqmote the comfort of dwellers, within their hospitable walls. Torday we have to record the completion of at any rate a portion of a new hotel building. We refer to the Northern Hotel. Some months ago the greater part of the old Northern, one of the land marks of old Oamaru, was pulled downj in order to make way for a new building, more in keeping with the requirements of the town and possessing increased and improved accommodation. Since then the work of raising an edifice creditable alike to the town and the spirited proprietor, Mr. G. Amos, has progressed apace, and to-day saw the accomplishment of half the task, the part of the building facing Tyne-street,* with a portion of the Wansbeck-sfcreet front, having been duly opened to the public. The building is of Oamaru stone, and erected to an elegant design drawn by Messrs. Forrester and contrast to the buildings in the immediate neighborhood, and presents, a pleasing picture for travellers by railway to gaze upon frpm the platform. Nor is the outward semblance of comfort belied by the interior of the building. The beauty of the structure is fully equalled by the elegance of the interior decorations and furnishings. The bar measures 18 x 16 feet, and we may safely say without disparaging the bars of other hotels, that it is the most elegantly finished bar in Oamaru. The lower walls are covered with dado work in bird's-eye maple panels with walnut framing, while the counter is decorated in a similar manner, with the addition of black and gold marble pilasters. The upper walls have been prnamented with two by Mr. Glass, one giving a very'gqqd view of the scene inside Port' Chalmers Heads, and the other being a copy of one of Gully's paintings representing New Zealand open country. Adjoining the bar are three bar parlors, one 18ft. by 12ft., and another Jgft. square. In addition to these close *to the bar is a small office, while at the baqk is a room which will undoubtedly prove a boon to visitors, We refer to the reading and coffee room, measuring 26ft by 20ft. This was originally intended to be used as a billiard-room, but Mr. Amos, we think wisely, determined to turn it to a purpose more likely to promote the comfort of visitors. This room has a height of ceiling of 16ft., and will, when finished, prove a very attractive feature of the hotel. The remaining portion of the lower part of the building comprises a dining-room measuring g4ft. : by l§.ft, with a paptry at its rear. The hall is a spacious one, being 10ft. wide. The ceilings in all the lower part of the building are 14ft. 6in., except in the case of the reading room, where, as al ready stated, the ceiling is 16ft. Passing up the masgive staircase, the fiqest in the town, we find the upper part of the buildr ing devoted to two sitting-rooms, and ten bedrooms, all of whiqh. are well lighted and ventilated. There is also a bathroom supplied with water by a pipe direct from the mains, and special arrangements for a shower bath. The kitchen and scullery are also situated upstairs, with a lift communicating with the pantry. The passage in the upper storey is 4ft. 6in. wide, and is covered with marble paper, while at the

end is a window the glass of which is many-colored. The ceiling of the upper storey is 12ft. high. All the walls throughout are plastered and in most cases covered with handsome paper. Every room is thoroughly well finished and provided with all the appurtenances of a first-class family hotel. The contractor for the masonry work was Mr. John M'Combe, and, for the carpeuters' work, Mr. J. Somerville. The papering and marbling have been done ly Mr. T. Kennedy, and the furnishing under the care of Mr. W. Hendry. Each of these tradesmen have performed their work well, and the result is that the south end of Oamaru has been provided with what, when completed, will be one of the finest hotels in Oamaru. It is intended to proceed with the remainder of the building, that fronting Wansbeck-street, shortly.