BUILDING SUPPLIES

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, 28 July 1987, Page 9

BUILDING SUPPLIES

The Ohakune Benchmark branch in Ayr Street, one of more than fifty in the country, came into being in April this year. Until then it had been an MSD Spiers branch, set up in 1985 in leasehold premises previously occupicd by builders' merchants "Maata Supplies". Since that time major improvements and changes have taken place. Late last year the timber storage unit was moved from the western side of the main building to the eastern side. This was to make way for the new bulk store built in its place and to allow for 10 off street parking spaces for Benchmark customers, with access from both Ayr and Rata Streets. The hardware retail space has been increased with the addition of the bulk store by about 130 square metres. The store includes an upper level storage area and a new manager's office. This bulk store houses the stock of doors and large sheet material such as hardboard and particle board. This increase in inside area allows for more hardware stock, including a wider range of building equipment and machinery. Manager of Ohakune Benchmark Eric Pasquill said with the demise of FCOS and the transfer of Dalgety Crown to Raetihi it was apparent Ohakune needed to continue to sup-

ply the k>cal building trade and farming community. "We are extending both the quality and the range of stock for our customers who are mostly builders, home handymen and farmers" he said.

"We don't carry all the needs of the farming community such as fertilizers and sprays etcetera, but will carry mainly items of clothing, wet-weather gear and the like. We don't carry any kitchenware or household items". The extensions were designed by Ohakune draughtsman Ian Hutchinson and the building contract was put out for tender to local builders. "We asked only local builders to quote because they've supported us in the past and I believe we should support local industry in return," said Mr Pasquill. Melville Hunt and Rowan Eves were given the contract to construct the store cont'd on p. 12

Ohakune Benchmark

cont'd from p. 9 and the shed recently finished on the Rata Street side of the new store. The shed will be used to store materials such as gib sheets. Another change at Benchmark is the increased timber stock area. The yard has been extended by an area 20 metres by 46 metres to accommodate the timber stocks from the mill at Tangiwai. Within the next two months "Benchmark" will become separate from the Tangiwai Mill, when the mill becomes part of Pinex Timber, another subsidiary company of New Zealand Forest Products. This means that in future all retail transactions will be made from Ohakune.