MR. CARROLL'S HOTEL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 206, 16 March 1877, Page 12

MR. CARROLL'S HOTEL.

Me. Johx Carroll has just brought to a successful conclusion the first portion of extensive improvements -which he has undertaken to carry out in the European Hotel, of which he is at present proprietor, and for whose actual title we believe it is his intention to substitute that borne by his late establishment in the Octagon. The wing now completed consists of three storeys. The foundation and basement being of bluestone, and the upper part of brick, neatly finished in cement, and occupying a frontage of 70 ft. to Bath-street, at an elevation of 34 ft. The basement contains a kitchen, 20ft. by 23ft., a dining-room, 30ft. by 23ft., store-rooms, and scullery ; the first-named apartment being all that the heart of the most exacting chef de cuisine could desire, spacious, airy, and fitted with every requisite for perfecting the productions of the culinary art. The range is a study in itself, and besides the boiler directly attached to it, it has been so constructed that it communicates by pipes with a similar utensil fitted in the wall, and from which a constant supply of hot water passes to the upper storeys, and is available at all times and in unlimited quantity for the uses of a. bath-room, of which we shall speak again further on On the first floor are situated a fine billiard room and a dining-room, which we can only describe as magnificent; its dimensions being 40f b. by 23ft. Both of these apartments are scientifically ventilated, and so thoroughly has this been accomplished, that it is impossible that, under any circumstances, a breath of foul air can linger there. The billiard-room will shortly be provided with fittings of the most approved fashion, and the dining-room is already being furnished in a manner suited to its general construction. A set of substantial tables of highly polished cedar has been provided, "which are capable of being used separately, or else of forming one board, as it may be desired; and over the mantel-pieces, of which there are two made of prettily -veined marble, are placed mirrors of large size, that at the end of the room in particular emulating the brilliancy of the famous Venetian glass, and framed in a new and singularly tasteful style, so that it constitutes a really splendid ornament; it is, we understand, valued at some J>24 Through the centre of the second floor a long and roomy corridor extends, having bed-rooms on either side, and at the end a sitting-room. Each bed-chamber contains a large window, and is besides, supplied with a ventilator, cast in plaster of Paris and of ornamental form, an original and most excellent feature in apartments of the kind. Of the single chambers, each one is furnished in an extremely convenient manner; besides the ordinary furniture to be found in such apartments, and which is here especially good, it contains a chest of drawers in polished kauri, and which, with a neat carpet and general nicety of arrangement, combines to give an air of comfort nob always to be found. The double-bedded chambers are positively luxurious, and no expense has been spared in fitting them up. The sitting-room at the end of the corridor, if one may judge by its finish and furnishing, may be regarded more as a lady's boudoir than anything else. It contains a set of furniture, upholstered in damask of rich dye and ornamental pattern, an inlaid walnut wood centre table, a handsome mirror, and a Brussels carpet of gay and beautiful colors and design. From this apartment a glass door opens upon a balcony, which runs along tne end and front of the wing, and which commands a fine view of the harbor, as do also many of the windows of the building. Besides the chambers already mentioned, the second floor also possesses a bath-room, which, in addition to the ordinary bathing apparatus, is supplied with a shower and a douche bath, and where an abundance of hot and cold water is always to be found. In fact, nothing calculated to minister to the comfort or the pleasure of the inmates has been omitted from the plan of the building, and the establishment may well claim to rank as an hotel of the highest class. The improvements have all been carried out under the direct supervision of Mr. Carroll himself, and they do infinite credit to that gentleman's judgment and enterprise.