THE MUNICIPAL CAS OFFICES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12630, 18 October 1905, Page 7

THE MUNICIPAL CAS OFFICES.

OPENING CEREMONY

An important event in the history of tho Wanganui Municipality took plactf yesterday afternoon, Avhen the Corporation's fine gas offices in Ridgway street were officially opened. Therel was a good attendance, including tho Mayor, past and present Councillors, c'ficials, and leading citizens. After tho party had inspected the building, upstairs and doAvnstairs, all gathered in tho main office, Avhero the Mayor, in r, happy speech, declared the building open.

Mr. Bignell said it gave him—and felt sure all assembled also—great pleasure to bo present on such an au^ picioiuj occasion. Ho then went on to recount tho events which had led to tho erection of the offices. The Council had felt that the time had arrived v/hen there should be some more up-to-dat-9 building in Avhich the Council's wares could bo displayed. When Mr. Smithies first mooted the idea of erecting up-to-date offices tho Council had agreed Avith him, and though it Avas by somo suggested that the Council Chambers should be enlarged, it was decided to erect new offices. J.!e though the Council's decision would be upheld by the public. There was no doubt that in time to come the offices Avould fulfil all that Avas expected of them. The staff at the Borough Chambers had been hampered of late, and on some occasions the officials hau found it impossible to get through their Avork. There Avould be no difficulty noAV. In time to come it might bo necessary to erect neAV Council Chambers and a ToAvn Hall. The present building, though built 25 years ago, Avas perfectly sound, and Avould serve for many years. The neAV gas officer, had cos*t £2000, and although that might seem a»considerable -urn, there was no doubt that they Av:>uld recoup the expense from the inception. I.i fcho past the Council had nob beoa able to slioav to advantage their Avaros, but they would noAV be able to so Though the Council Avas coming in contact Avith those \yho sold similai goods, it Avould be for their good as Avell as the Council's good, as people would go in for a. better class of goods. It Avas not to be expected that a private firm would carry a stock such as that exhibited by the Council. It "was imperative that the Council shouli keep all the most up-to-date apparatus and make the people use them. He thought they could safely say that they had as good a showroom and as good a display as was to be found in any of tho centres. The site of th-j offices Avas OAvned by the Council, and the offices would ahvays be an asset as Avell as a monument to those avlio cootrolled the municipal affairs of Wang:'.nui. Since the gas Avorks AArere take a over by the Council the consumption of gas had increased. During the !a'.i s-x months the increase' had oeen -n excess" of any previous period, lli'.^ was largely due to the reductions in prico which had been made. The five of gas in Wanganui Avas noAV lower than in the majority of tOAvns in Ni>'-' Zealand. The cheaper it Avas the more it Avould be used.' To meet the expanse of tho new offices £125 would have to be found each year for interest and sinking fund. That Avas a vary small sum, as the increased consumption and extra fittings sold would recoup the outlay. The building held £GOO worth of fittings, and the Mayor thought that all Avould agree that Mr. Smithies, Avho made the selection, had used great discretion. It -would be understood that the Council must use a large number of Welsbach mantles, and he was glad to be able to say that tho company had noAV made a reduction of 22£ per cent, to the Coum.il. The Council had therefor© been' able to treat its customers better than in il.e past. The cost of manufacture, said the Mayor, Avas being decreased. It the Council thought it advisable, Jt could reduce tU© prios further or hand the profits over to the Borough. So iar as the- price was concerned, "ue thought they should, rest on their oars. Consumers should be content to pay the charge made, arid let the Borough as a whole " participate in the "extra profits that would accrue. Mr: Bignell had every confidence that the town would not regret this undertaking. The municipality should have a monopoly oii everything that would interfere with the streets. This might be Socialism, but it was a form that Avas in the right direction. Mr. Bignell concluded by paying a tribute to the architect (Mr. A. Atkins) and the contractor (Mr. N. Meuli), and said the building did both of them credit. Afternoon tea, provided by Mrs. and the Misses Meuli, assisted by the Misses Swan, was then partaken of, after Avhich the Mayor proposed the healths of the architect and contractor, and the function terminated. Tbo building, which stands on the corner of Ridgway street and Nixon street, is an ornament to the , <bcwn. Its style is modernised Renaissance. II) is essentially a tuck pointed brick building, Avith nothing more in the shapo' of other ornament than absolutely necessary stonework to secure proper tending. As a specimen of tuckpointed brick work, the building ha 3 not a superior in the colony. There are tAvo elevators, one fronting Ridgwav street and the other Nixon street. Tho front is carried on brick piers, Avith a central pediment, with a coat of arms in the centre. The ground floor has-three large AvindoAvs, one being a slioav windoAV, the second lighting the office, and the third lighting tho manager's room. The first floor has sis AvindoAVS. The Nixon street front is also carried on brick piers, with a psdi-rr-ont. There is a very large AvindoAV and another lighting the manager's room. The main office is entered by a handsome door from Ridgway street. In this portion, of course, all business will be done. Here also may be seen a large portion of the fittings imported by the Council. The office is 50 feet x 31 feet, and the manager's room is 15 feet xl 2 feet. A fine broad staircase leads to the first floor, Avhere in a splendidly lighted room 51 feet x 32 feet, will be found a magnificent lot of gas apparatus. There is also a bathroom fitted up with tho most up-to-date heating apparatus. On the ground floor, behind the main office, are the fo'iloAving departments :—Bulk store, 18 feet x 18 feet; meter room, 13 feet x 12 feet; workshop, 18 feet x 13 feet; pipe rack, conveniences. There is also a yard G5 feet x33 feet. Mr. Alfred Atkins F.R.1.8.A., was tho architect for the building. He has arranged the structure on the basis o? securing the essentials of business utility, and is to be congratulated on the result of his Avork. The Avhole work of. the gas department, outside of gay making, has been concentrated on the site. Mr. N. Meuli Avas the contractor, and the sub-contractors Avere as fclloAvs:—Brick Avork, John Jones; painting, Robert Hughes; plumbing, David May.