THE NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4290, 9 December 1892, Page 3

THE NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT GREYTOWN.

Our Greytown representative and a friend yesterday visited the new Council Chambersand Institute which have recently been erected in Main street, tiroytowu, and which will bo opened next week. He describes it as a large and handsome building. The front hascircular headed windows and is tastefully ornamented - with friezes, pediments, bracketed cornices, and balluatrading, a fine carved vase surmounting the top. On going in tho iront door a vestibule, and large hall is entered. On the left is un office 10ft Bin by Oft 6in. Immediately opposite the entrance the Library rtom, 18ft by 14ft, is situated. Continuing along tho hall one passes under anarchway and into the Council room, 25ft by 16ft, which is neatly arranged with a platform for the mayoral chair, a rail stretched nearly across tho room, and partitioning a space off tho same width as the hail, thus giving it the appearanco of the interior of a Supreme Court." Leaving this, we retrace our steps along the hall, and como to the stairway. This is very stronply built, and reflects great credit on our local tradesman, Mr J. Barnard, by whom it was made to tho "order of Mr Benton of Featherston, the contractor for the building. At the foot of the staircase ia a massive newel, a handrail of polished kauri goes round six winders on to a platform, from thore, another live winders to tho upper floor. The w&inscotting is continued from the hall to the top of the stairs. The stairoase is knowD us a geometrical one, the strini> and handrail being wreathed, It is built principally of red pine and presents a very handsome appearance, adding greatly to the finish of tho building. Arriving at the top we land on to a passage, on tlis left are two chess-rooms, one 9>6 x 9-6, and the other 10-6 x 9-6. On the right is a ladies room 18 x 10, with a small platform at the upper end. ' At the end of the passage ia the reading room 25x16.

The furniture for the building has has been made by Mr M. R. Varnham in a very workmanlike and finished style.