STRATFORD POST OFFICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD POST OFFICE.

PLANS OF NEW BUILDINGS. STRUCTURE OF HANDSOME DESIGN (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Last Night. After considerable delays the plans of the new post office to be erected i’n Stratford were received by Mr* R. Masters, M.P., on Saturday night, and were to-day available for inspection at the Borough Council office. The plans provide for a splendid building of handsome architectural design, which will be a considerable asset to the town for many years to come. The proposed building will be erected in concrete and will have a frontage of eighty feet to Broadway and a depth of 75 feet. A clock tower eighty feet in height will be erected above the footpath at the main entrance to the building, and on the top of the tower will be a llag-pole feet high. The clock tower will be in some respects similar to the tower at the New Plymouth Post Office, but in every other respect the building will be entirely different. Except for the tower, the front of the building will be similar in appearance to the General Past Office at Wellington, although, of course, on a much smaller scale. Four large pillars add to the architectural beauty of the main building and two smaller pillars enhance the appearance of the tower. As regards its appointments the new post office will be up-to-date in every particular and should provide for the requirements of Stratford for the next forty or fifty years. Entrance to the building will be gained through a porch under the tower leading into a spacious vestibule in which are posting boxes and a wide staircase to the next floor. On the right will be the postmaster’s room 16ft x 12ft, and on the left a door will lead into the public office. This will be constructed on the most modern lines. There will be 23 feet length of counter for stamps, telegrams, etc., and another 15 feet length for the transaction of money-order and savings bank business. Between the counter and the writing desks at the wall, of which 19 are provided, will be a space of 12 feet for the public. Two bureau telephones will also be installed in the public office. At the far end of the public office will be the senior clerk’s room (13ft x 12ft), and in the centre of the building will be a large mail-room (55ft 6in x 35ft)„ which will receive extra light from skylights in the upper ceiling. 'There will be 300 private boxes provided and entrance to the private box lobby will be gained by a door leading from the street at the south end of the building. There will also be on the ground floor a room for the postmen (24ft 6in x 12ft 6in), a strong room, rooms for electric batteries and power plant, a garage, cycle shed and storerooms. On the second floor will be a large operating room (24ft Gin x 29ft and also the automatic telephone i exchange room (41ft Gin x 20ft ), while other rooms on this floor will be the ; toll room, clerks’ room, officers retiring [ room, ladies rooms, mechanicians’ rooms, etc. The building will be complete with ail modern-conveniences, including an up-to-date heating system. Thrf Postal Department do not intend to provide the clbck for the tower, it being the usual custom in the smaller towns for the citizens to provide the clock by public subscription.