CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 78, 4 April 1899, Page 5

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

THE D.S.C. BLOCK.

OPENING OF THE NEW

PREMISES

The Direct Supply Company commenced business to-day in. their new premises. Handsome as was the block destroyed by fire a twelvemonth ago, the present edifice is on an even larger and more elaborate scale, and easily takes rank as one of the finest buildings in the city. The premises have been erected by Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co., owners of the original block, the work being pushed on as rapidly as possible all last year. Mr J. Currie, architect, prepared the plans and supervised the erection, while the work has been carried through by Mr Hutchinson, builder, the price of whose contract, was £ 18.500.

The new building, which stands .at the corner of Queen-street and Vic-toria-street East, is three storeys high, exclusive of- the basement. It is built of brick, and the exterior is similar in design to the original block, though on a somewhat larger scale. The block is to be occupied by only three tenants, instead of eight, as formerly. The D.S.C. premises have a frontage 'of 90 feet on the Queen-street side, and 90 feet in Victoria-street East, They extend considerably beyond their original area, covering as they do the space formerly occupied by Glanville anl Elyett on the Queen-street frontage, Mr Prince and Mr M. McDermott on the Victoria-street frontage, and part of Partridge and Co.'s original space. The other two tenants of the new block will be Messrs H. E. Partridge and Co., tobacconists, and Mr B. Roberts, licensee of the Central Hotel, the extension of which will be completed in about a fortnight. • ..

The visitor entering the new premises of the D.S.C. is at once struck with the lighting of the building and the spaciousness of the departments into which it is sub-divided. Five great windows of plate glass occupy the Queen-street frontage, and seven the Victoria-street frontage, each window measuring 15 feet by 12 feet, while glass is let into the space above the windows, just beneath the verandah and extending along both frontages. Thus the light is brought into the interior from each side, while huge skylights help to light and ventilate the building. Windows are also very numerous on the upper floors. The ground floor is occupied on the left by the gentlemen's clothing and outfitting departments, and on the right by the dress and silk departments. The ground space measures fully 700 feet, and is most artistically finished. The ceiling, which is fully twenty - one feet above the floor, is divided into bays, each with its ventilator. The colouring is white, edged with pale pink and gold. Substantial columns support the ceiling, and these, too, are finished in delicate colours, and their capitals finely carved. The lighting a.t night will be by electricity, each department having its own electric switchboard; and the ground floor alone has 183 electric lamps in* stalled.

The clothing department, on the left, contains a complete stock of gent's mercery and clothing; the tailoring and fitting-rooms at the rear are also, fully equal to the .demands of the business, each being roomy and well lit. The entrance to the passes ger-elevator is situated in this depart* me-at. Farther to the rear are the ear* pet and furnishing departments, stacked with goods of the latest design— carpets, linoleums, curtains, and so forth, and furnishings of choice designs and colourings. On the right is the dress department, for which a fine large space has been reserved. The four counters cover a space of 126 feet, giving, the assistants room to cope with the requirements of the busiest sale-day. At the end near the door is the handsome show-case which eon* taihed the Company's gold-medal exhibit at the Auckland Exhibition, and which is now filled with a selection of the choicest silks and laces. Farther to the left is the fancy department, and beyond this again the Manchester department, which covers the full length of the Victoria-street frontage and makes a s'ple_»<_lcL show. __fc the inner end is the gents' boot department. At the rear is situated the packing-room, with a goods lift and a platform for receiving goods from the back entrance. Down in the basement —to which access -is obtained from the ground floor—are stored bedsteads, fenders and furnishing ironmongery, The machinery for the lifts and the dynamo for the electric light are also installed here. There are two gas engines of 32 horse-power each, as the motive power. There will be no less than GOO electric lights of 25 candlepower each distributed throughout the establishment in bunches, in triplicate. The strong-room, fitted with double iron doors, is also underground,

From the ground floor the visitor mounts a staircase seven feet in width and richly carpeted, leading to the first floor. Access to this floor may also be obtained from the rear, where a staircase has been built for the use of employees. The visitor may also ascend by the elevator, coming out close to the tea-room, a fine large apartment, which will be handsomely furnished and equipped. The mantle department is situated on this floor, overlooking both Queen and Victoria streets. This is a fine spacious apartment, and here, as everywhere in the building, the arrangements for lightning and ventilation are admirable.' On the same floor is to be seen a valuable stock of upholstered furniture and a ladies' boot department, which latter is a new feature of the Company's increasing business. Good-sized waiting rooms for ladies are also provided, and the secretary's and business offices are situated on the same floor.

The floor-space on the top storey is almost entirely occupied by furniture manufactured locally by the Company. Along the sides are the ladies' fitting and millinery workrooms, a spacious apartment for the dressmakers, a tailoresses' room, and also a fine large luncheon room for the girls employed by the Company. Each room has a number of windows, and the lighting and ventilation leave nothing to be desired.

Communication between the different departments will be by means of the pneumatic tube system. The whole work has been admirably carried out by the contractor, and much credit is due to all concerned for this latest ornament to the city. Although the work of arranging the stock has not yet been completed, the new premises were thrown open to customers this njorning, and very good business was done throughout the day. A thousand cases of new goods have been

opened, and public inspection is invited by ;he Company. ,