THE GRAND HOTEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 70, 23 March 1889, Page 2

THE GRAND HOTEL.

THE NEW BUILDING,

The massive structure in course of erection for some time past on the site of the old Masonic Hotel, Princes-street, the place of which it is to fill, has just been completed and handed over by the contractor to tho owner. It was for a long time contemplated by tho owners of tho Masonic to replace that historic building by one more in accordance Avith the advance of the city in matters architectural ; but owing to delays of various kinds, the Avork of pulling; down the old house and erecting a new one on its site was nob begun until a few months ago. Instead of being known, like its predecessor, as the Masonic Hotel, the proprietor has bestowed upon the new pile the high-sounding title of " The Grand Hotel." The architect avus Mr W. H. Skiuner, of this city, and the builder Mr J. T. O'Connoll, at the contract price of £_,400. The original architect's estimate for the building .was over £4,000, but owing to various ;reasons this was reduced to £3,400, thus ; necessitating the virtual omission of a considerable portion of the originally-planned house. Ample provision has, however, been made for any future extension ; in fact, the building as at present standing is but a portion of that delineated upon a larger and more extensive plan, which had to be reduced to bring it within-the specified contract price. The main object in the construction has been to provide for a firstclass Family Hotel, easily 'extended at any time, Avifch the rooms so arranged as to be used either as suites for families or as single rooms, as desired ; and also to provide good bar accommodation, while keeping this department separate and distinct from the former. The'site is Avithout doubt the finest in Auckland, for while it is removed from the noise and ceaseless traffic of the main thoroughfare of the city, it is yet only three minutes' walk from Queen-stroet; and from the spacious balconies the finest view of the harbour in the city is to be obtained, and one which it is impossible to f' build out," from the nature of the vicinity. From the alcoves recessed in the building's front, the eye scans the Avbole of the sunuy Waitemata from the wharves down to Motuihi, and from thence the Hauraki Archipelago to the Cape Colville Ranpes, Avhile to the north, beyond the North Shore Peninsula, Tiritiri looms out against the Pacific, with further out the mountainous outline of the Little Barrier. So much for the view ; now for the building itself. The hotel is in style of the Italian or composite order, and is built of brick faced Avith cement. It is three storeys in height, surmounted by a lofty radial skylight, iron-roofed, and is 69 feet in front by 60 feet deep. As the grounds extend back some considerable distance, there is ample room for enlargement in the future. The appearance of the structure frOra the street is imposing and handsome. The front is of an enriched character, stuccoed, and the two balconies with carved parapet-rails, and flanked with sliding oriel AvindWs. Two large windows project from the front of the ground floor on either aide of the main private entrance, and light up the bar and the billiard-room. The entrance, over which appears the gold-lettered legend ,f The Grand Hotel," is Avide and lofty, and opens into a spacious and lofty hall 20 feet in length by 15 feet Avide. The hall, contracting to 8 feet in Avidth, where it is flanked on either side by the manager's and porter's offices, leads into the inner hall, 20 feet square, Avhich forms the well of the central sniral staircase. To the right of this hall is the large dining-room, 35 x 21, which is connected Avith the billiard-room, 21 x 22, in front by two carved and fluted hollow piers, which serve as the supports for fold-ing-doors, which are so arranged as to fold back into the recesses in the columns Avhen it is desired to convert both apartments into one large room for dining purposes. Thi3 billiard-room was. originally intended for a club-room, the billiard table being located elsewhere in the building, as shown by the original plan,, but had, in consequence of curtailment of dimensions, to be placed here. On the S.E. corner of the ground floor is the bar-room, 21 x 22, with a wide corner entrance and with wide semi-circul-ar counter and two small sash side-bars. Separated from this by a passage is the bar parlour, 12 x 16, with the convenient commercial room, 16 x 17, immediately behind it. On the rear of the floor is the kitchen, 21 x 10, one side conforming to the circular shape of the staircase wall, behind which it is situated. This kitchen was originally intended to be the serving-room, but the Curtailment of tho plan necessitated the present arrangements. At the back of the kitchen a balcony and flight of steps lead to the outhouses and usual offices at the rear, and to the basement, where it was proposed on the original plans to locate the kitchen, scullery, lavatories, pantry, and servants' bedrooms. Underneath the building is a beer cellar, 21 x 18, and 8 feet high. An ascent to the first floor is made from the inner hall on the ground floor by means of a handsome spiral staircase, which continues to the top of the building. It is 4 feet 3 inches in Avicth, Avith turned, stained, and polished kauri balusters, and continuous, springing from a handsome octagonal and _ -irved newel, 12 inches by 12 inches. Tho first floor landing is a colonnade corridor, conforming to the semi-circle of the staircase well, and is supported by handsome fluted and carved pillars. On the N.E. corner of this floor is a fine, airy drawingroom, 27 x 22, and a central parlour, 21 x 15, lies between it and the .N. W. sitting-room, 20 x 22. Next come two parlours, 16 x 10 and 16 x 13 respectively, five bedrooms of various sizes, and two bath-rooms, Avith lavatories, av.c.'s, &c. From the front apartments sliding bay windows give access to the balcony, a fine concrete - floored promenade, 20 x 5. The second floor is as yet in an unfinished state, Only the framework of the various apartments being in position. ~ There are 14 rooms here—l 2 bedrooms and 2 sitting-rooms -- besides the usual lavatories, &c, and these Avill when completed be fitted up in similar style to those on the floors below. The staircase landing on this floor is someAvhat larger than the first floor one, but resembles it in the pillars and general construction. The circular Avails forming the staircase well are open to the roof, surmounted by a large circular stained-glass radial skylight, which lights up all the staircase, landings, and the entrance hall on ground floor.

Throughout the edifice the rooms and corridors are lofty, AA-ell-lighted, and wellA'entilated. Ventilation is provided for amply by patent cowls, and also by 4-inch pipes passingl up the Avails from floor-joists, discharging the foul air by bends inside the parapets. Most of the rooms, excepting bedrooms, are warmed by register grates. The interior Avails supporting the roofs, the circular Avail round the staircase, and all the basement Avails are brick, partly cemented and partly timber-lined. All other walls are timber walls, lined Avith g-ineh matched timber, canvassed and papered. A handsome dado of varnished timber runs round all the corridors, hails, vestibules, staircases, landings, and the principal other rooms. The ceilings and cornices are all of suitable timber. In all respects the hotel throughout is well constructed, ample provision being made for every contingency, and the work is a standing credit alike to the architect and the builder. The " Grand " is now in the hands of, and the bar is being temporarily run by, the licensee of the old Masonic Hotel. His license expires on the Ist proximo, on which date the new licensee, Mr F. Gaudin, of Hamilton, takes over the building.