TOWN IMPROVEMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 90, 21 April 1902, Page 2

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS

KBtSIDKNTIAL. | The progress of a town is not ftlono to b» judged by the erection of fine business premises, although that is a very important and self-evident attest vtiou of growth. To ensure the prosperity of a town there must be a good chsa of residen's, therefore dwelling-house* of ii suitable type aie a sine qua mow. To those who merely pais and repass the i main thoroughfare cf a town like Now 1 Plymoili-h the princip-sl residential im-

provements ate unknown, and it would | well repay many of th< se folk to now' and again traverse some of the parallnl ] streets, and they will find much that will astonish them in the way of new buildings. A striking instance in point is offered ia Gill-stmt, where Mr R. Cohanu his erected two residence which ia point of style and design,

convenience and fiuitsh, are far ahead of auythiog of the kind in the town. They ara of the "Melbourne" type, which lends itself to very effective I treatment, and the enterprising builder in question has certainly done his utmost to taru out a dwelling that is at once handsome to look at from tht outside, while artistic and comfortable within. E»ch house is double fronted with a bay window on either side, the gabled entrance porch forming a connection with both bays and producing an imposing effect, enhanced by tb<* ornate tiw.tm-.nt of tLe whole structure. The upp'ir portions of the f n* windows arj filled wi;h t-quures o? uolourid glass. The entrance dcortvay is well proportioned and fi'-ted with an filrctric: bel', the fanlii'h*. ov-rlrad having an " invisible " fanlight opener, o'eof the latrs' improvement iwtrjduced hero by Mr D. Berry, The h <ll is spacious and lof r y, the studs throughout tho building being 12 feet high. There are four roouis 14 by 13 feat,

oua 16 by 14 fiat, a small bedroom 10 by 7 feat, a bath toom fitted with an 1 enamelled bath and a showar, the latter being enclosed within a aumicirtular screen. Thera is also a handy scullery fitted with er.amelltd iron sink, and a convenient pantry. On onteiing one cannot fail to notice th« tasteful rcheme of decoration which exists, get off aa it i« by the excellent he'ght of the room*. The elegant mouldings touud the ceilings are 8 by 7, or 15 inches round, and the architiaves of the doors are or corresponding proportion*, sat off with turned corner blocks and handsome bases. On the doors are ornamental linger plates, which set ofi to advantage the colour sch.meon the woodwork and of iha wall p.'per, all of which is very handsome. The ceilings are all lined with narrow channelled woodwork and punted a suitable colour. There ate four lire places, three of which have very effective curved rn n'el pieces, the fourth, (kitchen) bsi/ig suitable to its purpose, t'h.-j dining room has a pretty tiled dtone, cjntaius two useful neat tup-"-/OJi'ds aral has a service s ids into i.iiw kitchen. In tha kiichen is au Orion rauge with boiler, and over the stove irrangemonts are made for fifing up a gas sfcov.*. if required. Gas is laid on throughout ihe house, Venetian blinds are to b j lilted to all the windows, the fastenings to the l<st named being thb patent "yrappler" rlso introduced by Mr. D. Burry. This latter not only forms a secure fastening, but draws both sashes close together, an advantage which every housekeeper appreciates. As the ground slopes away from front to bick a good wall hits been erected for the front foundations aud a s'aircase provided hading to the base - merit, where a washhouse has been constructed and fitted up with copper, washing troughs and water taps, the waste water being carried away. In tbis basement, if required, several good rooms c*n b« provided at any time, v-ich excellent ligli' .iud v<fi.tiUtiou. Tie'lis wo k is being put up on either side of the front of the house, and th j ground is to be kid out nettly. The pat.h to the front dour is e.dgwith gtr.it-n tiles, and the fence in front bas received moiothi4uoi.iii.arj' attention, the solid totara poatw being very striking in appearance. Besides the central gateway, there is a sidecurtway furnished with double gate*, and everything possible has been dona to promote the comfort of the inmate.. Mr Coleman is to he congratulated ou the good work he has accomplished, and there is no doubt that the housis in question will decidedly give a higher tone to Gill-street. One house is already occupied though not quite finished, and the other is as yet some way off completion, but will doubtless be snapped up either by a purchaser or a tenant.

SMART BROTHERS' ESTABLISHMENT. A PROGRIISSIVK FIRM. la our advertising columns there appears a notice stating that Messrt Smart; Brothers have removed to tbeii new premise* at the corner of Powderham and Breugham-streets. The firm are to be congratulated on securing such conveniently situated, aud such sui'. aola premises. Furthermore t.hs firm have bought the fr>«'iinld, Hn indication not only of the success which has attended their operation in the past, but of their intention toleivo notiiii.g undone to forward the interest i.f tbmr clients. The progress mside by this firm, and the enormous expansion of of their business is truly extraordinary. Nearly twelve years agi the senior pirtner of the firm, Mr George Smart, started business iu Stratford iu a very small way. Realising tin ecormoupossibilities of the dairy industry, then just beginning to move, he made the •equipment; of dairy factories and th? supply of dairy utsnsils a speciality. The business grew rapidly, aud he was jjinod by his bioLlw Allen. Af'era further intejv.'.l a third brother (H'rbort) joined the firm. Owing to thvapid increase of the firm's business in northern Taranaki, a lu-awch of the business was opaned in Now Plymouth this was followed '\v another at Inglowood, and two of the erap!oye.>s acting on the advice of tie firm al-o started at Elthaiu, a close connection betwc*" the two firms beinj; maintained. Undetho Oiroi'ul cf Mr H : ;i r Smart the N«w Plymouth bu-inessou - firow tliM pr<:uii.-es opposite Berry and ! Company's, aud ilu: firm i.'-oex-t.n-iivv premises tiiey now occupy. T'h onsiness has grown vapid'y and novr >-mbr:tcuis I'll t>iv;i)che* o? tho trade tf piu ichors, tinsmiths, oJoc*rieal, fii.uita>y and hydraulic .iii:;iri>ors Tho pmnisiss scoured aro admirably adapted for the business and contain a capital show-room fronting BroughamitreeT, with office and laryo storeroom. Therj is also an upper room, mad by t.hy Town Band for pr.ic'ieo, ±0 by 40 feo : ", which is not u-ed by the firm at presemt, On the P.iwderhatn- < troot side is a lim;-: work-hup 40 "v GO feet, a stnelun.'-room some 12 b/ 20 foot, and in tho yard a Wga slestiron nfcors and racks for iron piping

etc. In tU wo k«h<v tuere it s km* quantity of machinery fo* rolling, moulding, cutting, puuchsiog »nd piptuaking. All tb© material used by »• firm is imported in the rough, the pipiog, spouting, curved iron for verandahs, etc., being all manufacture® on the premises. In t>h« New Plymouth shop gomft 14 or 15 hand# «• ompl betiweu 30 and 40 b»»di ij«iDg employed by tbe firm IB their several nhops; while >ho Ub 'Ur-iaviejl 1 machines used must represent th# ■>quiralent of a large number of mm. , In the showroom the firm have OB vi*w and for sale a splendid assortment c 1 articles connected with ga», eleotrio light, bath-room and water-fittinga. In connection with the gaifittinga, Mr Smart showed our representative an ingenious device for lighting gas without a match, which put* it almost on the level of the eleotrio lieht. It is ■ called the matchltsi gas-lighter. It Giu be fitted on the ordinary burner, and consists of a small bush of platinum wirts In action when the gas is turned on the pressure of the gu rsnd«rs the platinum wires inoasdeeeent, causing it to igoite the gas. One of the lighteis is seen in operation, sad appears a great success. Me wra Smart B> others have quite a number of uovelties which are well worth a visit r especially by those v/ho are building and desire to have their kcuaea fitted up with tbe latest cmvenienoes. We heartily congratulate Messrs Smart Brothers on at curing such a good staad, »u<? «i«b thsui still furfcher success ia busii'e'e.