BEAUTIFUL STATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 934, 29 March 1930, Page 9

BEAUTIFUL STATION

AUCKLAND RAIL TERMINUS TAKING SHAPE TILES USED EXTENSIVELY The ceiling of the huge entrance hall of the new railway station is a masterpioc of design and colour. This week the scaffolding has been removed, and it is now possible to get an uninterrupted view of this lovely example of the plasterer’s art. It i» perhaps tho most perfect ceiling of its kind in Auckland. The geometrical design is in green, yellow, and gold, and is not so garish as it sounds. Age, too, will help to temper the colours, and make them still more beautiful. Except for a border of Xew Zealand marble, tho whole of the entrance hull is finished, and within a few weeks tho remainder of the scaffolding will be removed. The finishing touches to somo plaster work will be done next week, but the marble will not be put into position until all danger of it being damaged has passed. Although the interior of the station is still a hive of industry, the men employed there are doing the finishing work. There is no great hurry, as the station will not bo used by the Railway Department until next September, when passenger trains will run over the Westfield deviation. Aucklanders will bo agreeably surprised when they see the interior of tho station, which is a monumental work in excellent taste. NEW ZEALAND TIMBER Tiles are a great feature of the interior decoration, and have been brought from all countries of the world. The polished Xew Zealand rimu in the women’s waiting-rooms, and the general tvaiting-room. is very fine, and proof of tho excellence of New Zealand timbers for panels and ceilings. The brown and orange tiles which cover the lower portion of the pillars and the walls in the concource are most attractive. Overhead the steel girders which support the glass roof have been painted in light blue and yellow. Decorative tiles in the restaurant and the dining-room give these rooms a. delightfully fresh and clean appearance. There will be no cause to complain of tho cold in the new station. There are electric radiators everywhere. They have been let into the walls, and when, completed will not be very noticeable. All tho public rooms will be heated, as well as the offices of railway officials on the second and third floors. The glass has arrived for the roof of the verandah at the main entrance, ihis will be put into position next week. The large brackets of st€»el which support the verandah are reminiscent of Maori carvings. Outside the building, progress lii§ been just as rapid. This week tho flagpole will be erected in the open space fronting the station. The entrance ramp from Beach Road lias been finished except for the final coating of piaster, and the exit ramp is neartng completion. Most of the granite facings are in position, and give an air of dignified solidity to tho whole structure.