THE UNION BANK BUILDINGS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1245, 12 January 1883, Page 2

THE UNION BANK BUILDINGS.

The Unioh Bank of Australia buildings are now drawing sufficiently near completion to enable us to form a fair opinion of its accommodation and finish. Of the accommodation there is evidence in every part of the building of careful forethought for the requirements and luxury of the various departments. The substantial nature of the work has been witnessed daily by most of us, but the internal arrangements and finish is what occurred to us to be particularly noteworty. The Bank office is 30 x 25. All the lower rooms are 14ft. high, with large and elaborate cornices and paliated centre pieces. The internal porch, counters, screens, and the various-requirements for the assistants are not yet fixed, but from the explanation given us, and the thorough approval of those who : are likely to use them, we are convinced it will leave nothing to be desired, aud will be quite different in many features from those erected for like purposes in many Banks. The Manager’s room has nothing of the awful about it, but is in fact a large, well-lit, and comfortable department. There is one door for the entry of customers, and another by which the Manager can go in to the Bank-room and see what is the matter unobserved by the public, by reason of the screen. The strong-room is large and well worthy of its name; it is entered by a Milner’s patent door. The chief novel feature of this is the introduction of small ventilating flues, which will avoid that dampness so pernicious to man and deed. We may here mention that patent ventilators are introduced into each room. The banker’s private rooms are large, lofty and elegantly finished with marble mantles, and bells for the principal rooms and doors. The drawing and bed rooms are elegant from their size and finish ; the former is 22ft. by 19ft. There are wardrobes and linen presses introduced in convenient places. There is a superb bath, with all the modern appliances, and a tank over head, holding about 2000 gallons. The requirements of the cuisine have also received due alterations. There is a long range, scullery, with sink, etc., water being on, and waste carried away in drains ; a large pantry, washhouse, with necessary appliances. The dining-room is in keeping with the building, and conveniently situated to be served. The other portion of the building is separated by an archway, which is devoted to a spacious shop and offices, they being large, lofty, and easy of access. They are nearly all taken up by the leading professional gentlemen of Gisborne, there are nine offices in all. Of the front facade we do not hesitate in

fully endorsing the epinions volunteered by many critical visitors, that for chasteness and simplicity of design, in which artistic finish is not wanting, it is fully abreast with any structure of a like nature in the Colony. We were not aware until the other day that the design and carrying out of the work was entrusted to our local architect, Mr W. P. Finneran, who has fully proved himself equal to the important work placed in his hands. The contractors Messrs. McConachie .and Flatt, are entitled to a full meed of praise for the first-class manner they fulfilled their nice and difficultcontract.