TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Southland Times, Issue 1311, 23 September 1870, Page 2

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

v, , The building trade in Tnvercargill has not for a considerable time past been so brisk as during the last month or two. On every sile the cheery sound of tho carpenter's hammer is to be heard, and imbrovementg are being rapidly effected. In ' Dee-street alone the most noticeable among these have been the erection of a new and handsome verandah to the Prince of Wales Hotel, which but awaits the finishing touch of the painter's brush, giving an imposing appearance to the structure ; almost next door, the Commercial Sale Yards and Stables have been undergoing a thorough renovation, a boundary wall of brick, of considerable height, having been erected at each side, and the woodwork inside renewed. Under tho eneraetic management of Mr W. J. Moffett, tho contractor, the work has proceeded apace, and will shortly be completed. It ig worthy of notice that tho roof of this extensive building has been lowered some two feet. This was rendered necessary by the fact I hat the standards of the edifice, which were sunk into the ground, had become considerably decayed. The bottom part has been removed, and the usual foundation of piles and plated substituted. This was accomplished without pulling the erection to pieces, as it wa9 at first thought it would be necessary to do, and ita successful carrying out reflects credit on the pluck and skill of the contractor. Directly opposite, in the same street, tradesmen have for some time been busy transforming one of the unsightly buildings there into a handsome and spacious shop for MrGcllately, saddler. The interior of the tenement, formerly a mere skeleton, has been partitioned off into suitable divisions and substantially lined and finished, while the ugly "gable-end" which faced the street has given place to a respectable " front." Even Tay street, which has had an "out-in-tho-cold" look for a long time, i 3" making a vigorous, and, so far, successful effort to regain its character as a leading thoroughfare. Some months ago it " took heed to its ways " and had one of the sidepaths nicely gravelled from top to bottom — except a small patch in front of a foreign bank — and its row of dilapidated lamps reglazed and lit up o' nights. Latterly the opposite proprietors, evidently averse to such one-sided civic arrangements, havo bestirred themselves, FROM GLASGOW,

and are having their walk also gravelled. In the j same locality a commodious sohoolhouse, attached I 1o St. John's Church, is being erected, and will form an additional feature of interest when finished. Further up, opposite the Oddfello-vV Hall, the broken brick 3, curled iron, and charred piles — scorched reminiscences of the fire which laid Al'lvor's fine block in ashes — have been re--1 moved from the ground they have so long disfigured, and the section has been neatly enclosed and laid out as a garden attached to the owner's private residence. Returning to the central part of the town again, the next improvement to be noticed, in order of time, ia the drill shed for the Volunteer Rifle Corps. This is a capacious though rather unpretending structure in course of erection opposite the gaol, on the plot reserved for Supreme Court buildings. Our community being the reverse of litigious, there seemed little probability of the ground being required for its legitimate purpose for many years to come, and so our "local forces" got liberty to take possession in the meantime, and a most suitable and convenient site it is for their use. The building, plain as we have said, is 72 feet 1 long, by 35 wide, and, iv every respect, of the most substantial character. All the timber used in its construction, except the main door, is to ba native. The sole plates of the walls are of black pine, 6 by 2£in., the studs, 6 by 2in., with one of 6 inches square at intervals of 9 feet, under the main rafters. So wide a 3pan of course requires the roof to be very firmly built, and, judging from the " plan, a system of bracing and' binding has been adopted which would seem to secure its safety. The building will be strengthened against the prevailing winds by a row of stays on th 9 leeward side, 6x7 inches, baited to a plate on piles at the bottom, and to the main uprights close to the top of the wall. The floor is to be laid with white pine, which is said to stand far greater wear than Baltic, being much harder. The main door will be facing the gaol, and on either hand, after entering, will be a room 12 x 10 feet, for the use of the officers, storing arms, &c. The whole of the remainder of the floor, 62 x 35 feet, will be clear for drill. The contractor is . Mr Hector M'Kinnon, and he ia pushing on aa fast as the material can be supplied. The Provincial Hospital has also undergone lately some alterations, which add wonderfully to its appearance. The sombre aspect erewhile worn by its flat brick front has been relieved by a handsome verandah, running the full length of the buiUing. The grounds, under the direction of Mr Morton, have been laid out somewhat more tastefully than formerly, and the gaol-like close fence of six-feet palings has been replaced by one of some design, which, when painted properly, will give a light, pleasant tone to the whole enclosure. The largest building of all remains to'be mentioned, but as it exists as yet only on paper, much cannot be said about it. It is a woolshed, to be built conjointly by merchants of Invercargill and the Provincial Government, for the' storage and pressing of wool in transitu to ship. The shed is to be 100 feet long, by 50 wide, with 15 feet clear from floor to tie-beam. The timber to be used in framing must of course be somewhat massive, and the whole ia to be covered with corrugated iron. Two hydraulic presses, worked by a shaft running under the floor from an engine outside, will be placed in the centre for pressing the bales properly. The site of the building will be at the south end of, and nearly in aline with, the Railway Station main front. The receiving doors will open on the east front, and the wool when ready will pass out at the other side on to trucks run in on a siding. Besides these buildings of a public character, several private houses, with more or less pretensions to architectural effect, are also ii process of erection, and others are being repaired and beautified in various parts of the town. With the exception of the drill-shed, which, we understand, isfrora plans furnished by Mr F. H. Greisow, all the buildings mentioned are after designs t>y Mir Anajua Kurr, architect, and we trust he may long be kept as busy as he must have been lately. .