CITY ARCHITECTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1397, 3 August 1874, Page 2

CITY ARCHITECTURE.

MKSSBS- LEWIS BROTHEBS* STOTfE. J T ; a r r-freeing to see that our merchants - are no rormc*- content with crrrying on their j business in tumble-down buildings, which hav°- no other recommendation than the shelter their roofs afford. The.old rickety buildings of Queen-street are giving way to substantial *"d Rightly structures worthy or the rank to which Auckland is now entitled among the cities of the South. The latest additions to our main thoroughfare in the way of handsome buildings ia the block just completed by Mr Rhodes from the design of Mr 11. Keals for Messrs Lewis Brothers. The block immediately adjoins the Insurance buildings, ami directly fronts the bottom of Shortlandstreet—one of the most conspicuous positions in the whole city. It is therefore very gratifying to see that the enterprising firm occupying the site have taken means to render their premises a credit to the pjace. The present pile of buildings is built of brick, with a stone facing. The front is in the latest style of street architecture, combining ornamentation and substantiality in very happy proportions. There are three storeys, so that the elevation is brought up to that of the Insurance Buildings. The decorations consist of three cornices, one fringing the parapet, of amodified Corinthian pattern, the others of a less ornate description covering the string lines of the two upper floors. There are flvo wWlows on each level, between which are piliasters of plain, almost Doric outline ; the upper set have however their bases ornamented with clusters of flowers. The front of the ground floor is varied from the others by beiog rusticated. The new buildings, although not of so florid a design as the noble pile adjoining, are very happily conceived, and the architects, idea has been well developed by th c builder. The interior accommodation is of the most capacious description. To Mr James has been entrusted the internal fittings, and the woodwork of windows Ac. We understand that Messrs Lewis Bros, intend sparing no expense to render their warehouse of the most complete in Auckland. It is a thonsand pities that tho owners of the public-house adjoining to the south should allow such an eyesore to disfigure the symmetry of what would otherwise be the handsomest block in the city. TIIE ALBERT HOTEL. The Albert hotel, though not yet complete, was opened on Saturday morning by Mr Stewart, late of the "Provincial Hotel", Princes-street, on a scale of magnificence second to no other hotel in the city or of the colony. No expense has been spared on the part of the proprietor, in order to render it in every way a first-class family hotel. The furniture has been supplied by Messrs Hallday and Sons ; the ~ carpeting, floorcloths, etc., by Messrs Linabury and Co , and the splendid gas - fiittngs, lights, and the outer lamp, by Messrs Branston and Forster. The architect, Mr Herapath, may also be complimented on his eloquent and chaste designs, which have been faithfully and elegantly executed. The kitchen is most convenient, with a fine range constructed on the latest principle, with a lift communicating with the dining-room, an ample scullery, and force-pump capable of supplying the whole of the hotel with water; a commodious larder and scullery are attached, with every facility for cooking. On tho ground floor are a public and private bar for retail business, and a department for the wholesale trade. There are also oommodious and well furnished parlours of various sizes and descriptions, besides retiring rooms for reading or letterwriting. There is also a dining room, 25 x 18, and a billiard room of equal dimensions. In the upper stories are three suites, of bed and sitting-rooms, all furnished in the same comfortable and coavenient stylo. We need only say that the Albert hotel ia equal in every respect to the best hotel wo have seen in the colonies, and if courtesy and attention will win public favor the Albert hotel will prove a successful speculation.