MR A. DUNCAN'S BUILDINGS AT CHRISCHURCH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10234, 25 June 1883, Page 2

MR A. DUNCAN'S BUILDINGS AT CHRISCHURCH.

The foundation stone has recently i been laid of a new block' of buildings" to be erected by Mr A. Duncan, of Wanganui, at tho corner of Castle and Manchester-streets, Ohristchurch. The ground floor is to be devoted to shops ; the first floor io suites of ten offices and a large 'meeting room suitable for a public company ; and the second floor is capable of being occupied by a wholesale business for the storage of goods', or divided into separate offices as requred. There ire also four strong rooms on the second floor. The block will be erected of limestone, and Aberdeen granite wil be extensively used in tho doorway and window columns From the detailed description given of the proposed building in tho Chrischuroh papers, thorecan be little doubt that it will be ono of the most solid and ornamental stone erections in the city. The following record, on parchment was placed in ajar under the stove, togothei- with the newspapers of tho, day coins, &o. The vellum recorded as follows: — " This foundation stove was laid by Mrs \ ndrew Duncan on this the ninth day of June, 1883, assisted by Mr Andrew Duncan, of Wanganui, who was one of the early Christchurch pioneerf, having landed in Lyttelton in 1849- and commenced a baker's business there, and who in 1851 erected on this site the buildings that preceded these, a photograph of which is deposited herewith, as also his portrait, being now in the eightythird year of his age." The laying of the stone was performed by Mrs Duncan, who was pre-^*-. aented with an elegantly chased and suitably inscribe 1 sterling silver trowel, set in a handle of ivoiy.