THE A.M.P. COMPANY'S AUCKLAND OFFICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 119, 28 May 1885, Page 4

THE A.M.P. COMPANY'S AUCKLAND OFFICE.

From the " Sydney Mail " of May 16th we take the following description of the Australian Mutual Provident Society's Auckland District Office :—" We puidißb. this week a woodcut of the Society's offices in Auckland, New Zealand. These premises occupy one of the best business sites in that impoitant city, at tho corner of Queen and Victoria-streets. This position is second to none, and is in immediate proximity to some of tho principal banks aiid public buildings in the city. On the ground floor is a largo shop 68 feet x 26. feet, and 18 feet in height. A Bpacious itaircase, which is approached from the Queen-street entrance, leads to the upper stories. 'On the first floor a.re situated the ofiices at present occupied by the Society, consisting of the public office, 17 feet x 15 feet, agents' room, 14 feet x 11 feet, and medical officer's roorn^ This lloor also contains, in addition to those just mentioned, no less than eight rooms available for letting as offices, and on the second ffoor there are eleven more, which can be used for a similar purpose. At the termination of the lease of their present tenant tho Society oon^ejaplate effocting considerable improvements, whioh will be carried out by My Alfred Smith tho architect of tbe new buildings recently erected fw the New Zealand Insurance Company. The present somewhat un-sightlj-looking verandah will bo removed and tho lower windows taken out in order that a handsome new stone front may be substituted. A prominent feature oi the building will be a tower, which it i*intended to erect at the angle, and w^ich will be visible trom all parts a? tUo city. After tho completion of tho alterations just described, it is intended that the Socioty's offices shall occupy that part of tho ground floor which forms the immediate corner of Queen and \ ictoria-streets, leaving tho remaining portion available for letting as shops or ofiicos. ■ * "An agency of tho Society w^siirst opened m Auckland so far bao'i as'Pecember, 1854 when tho present giant institution might be said to bo in its infancy. The first agent was Mr J. A. Gilfillan, who, after holding tho position for a number of yoßva was succeeded by Mr Henry Gilfilhn, and in March, 1870, by Mr Alexander Saunders. Jin \bbJ, tho Society resolved to extend to *>civ Zealand tho District Agency •system, which had for somo years previously been so successfully carried out in New South Wales. As a. oonsequenco of the establishment oi a District Agency in Auckland, Mr Saunders's connection with the Socloty as agent was terminated, and Mr D. J. McLood, one of the Society's most successful District Agents, was appointed District Agent in Auckland, and Dr. H>neyman is Cfeief Medical Kefoiee for the district in Auckland. The* new system has already vesu'ted in a large accesnian of business to the Society, and we feel confident that the advantage thus gained will be more than maintained in the future"