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18. The following description of : Congreve's, Goodman's, and Pratt's buildings, their internal construction, entrances, and exits, and the openings made from one to the other is taken from the report of the District Architect of the Public Works Department, Mr. P. C. Cornish : - - Block 1 A three-story block with a basement, situated at the south end of the group in Colombo Street, known as Congreve's building. Construction Walls. —Brick with stone facade to Colombo Street; interior strapped and lined with matchlining covered on the first floor with Pinex. Columns. —Cast iron. Floors. —Wood on timber joists carried on rolled-steel beams. Roof. —Timber-framed, covered with corrugated iron, with skylights. Portion of roof over appro room, asphalt. Ceilings : . Basement: No ceiling. Ground Floor : -Matchlining. Appro room, Pinex. First Floor : Matchlining and Pinex. Second Floor : No ceiling. Partitions: — , i , . Basement: Wire mesh on wooden framing. Ground Floor : Brick and timber covered with Pinex with glass above. First Floor : Pinex and matchlining. Second Floor : Matchlining. | Stairs : Basement to Ground Floor : Timber not enclosed. Ground to First Floor : Timber not enclosed. First to Second Floor: Timber, enclosed with timber partition with doors at head and foot of stair. ... . Fire-escapes. —Nil. Lifts.—m. « ■ Block 2 A four-story block with basement, known as Goodman's building, situated in Colombo Street, immediately to the north of Block 1, from which it was separated by a brick party wall.. Openings , This Block was accessible from Block 1 by means of openings cut in the brick party wall as follows : Basement. —One opening 6 ft. 6 in. by 4 ft. 6 in. closed by light wire-mesh grill, gaite. Ground Floor: One opening 12 ft. by 10 ft. 6 in. ' One opening 8 ft. by 8 ft. 3 in. First Floor : One opening 10 ft. 6 in. by 17 ft. 6 in. reported to have been closed temporarily with a Pinex partition, but otherwise unprotected. One opening 7 ft. by 3 ft. with wooden door. One opening 7 ft. by 3 ft. with wooden door. Second Floor. —One opening 7 ft. by 3 ft. 3 in., no door. Construction Walls. —Brick with stone facade to Colombo Street. Interior strapped and lined with matchlining, covered with Beaver board on ground floor; matchhning covered with Pinex on first floor; and matchlining on the third floor. Columns. —Timber posts in basement under ground floor only. Floors. —Wood on timber joists carried on timber posts and beams under the ground floor. Upper floors timber joists carried on rolled-steel beams spanning full width of building.

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