STATE PREMISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1937, Page 8

STATE PREMISES.

BUILDING SCHEMES. BIG AUCKLAND PROGRAMME. P. AND jr. AND COURT OFFICES. ( Extensive alterations and additions to Government buildings in Auckland and its various suburbs, involving the expenditure of nuiny thousand* of pounds, are under way or are being planned by the Public Works Department, which is responsible for tbo supervision of the progra mine. Tho exteriors of the Supreme Court building and the Chief Post Office at the moment are looking brighter after the much-needed cleaning operations, and now workmen are tackling with vigour the improving of the interior decorations of tho Supreme Court, enlarging the accommodation nt various suburban post ' offices, and providing better facilities at several suburban police stations. The extensions to poet offices, which are partly the result of the growth of business and partly due to the decentralisation of the postal delivery service, alone invo'.ve an expenditure of approximately £12,500. The Public Works Department's staff, which is in need of extra accommodation, is working at pressure to keep pace with the work which has accumulated and, although sorely needed, could not be undertaken during the depression period. Now that brighter times havo dawned, no time is being lost in making up the leeway and providing better facilities both for the general public ami the public servants who have to occupy the various Government buildings. Supreme Court Renovations. A work that is being pushed ahead with the Utmost speed, and incidentally has been proceeding thoughout the holidays, concerns the renovation of the interior of the Supreme Court building. The outside appearance of the building ha* recently been brightened up, while the new Law Library was opened just prior to Christmas. Now decorators— about 23 in number —are hustling to improve the interior decorations before the Supreme Court sessions are resumed early in February. So extensive ..are the alterations that those who are accustomed to frequenting the precincts of the Court building are likely to receive a pleasant surprise, when the final touches of the decorators have been added. The facings of the walls throughout are being converted into a glossy white, the accommodation for the office staff is being shifted from the right hand side Of the entrance to the opposite side of the building, and will in future be situated in the old law library, "a new judge's library is beihg built on the first floor, the caretaker's quarters are being remodelled, and a new stairway is being Constructed from the prisoners' cells/to the dock in the main court room. A feature of the work in the downstairs court room is the scheme for improving the acoustics of the room with the use of acoustic Wall boards andtho installation of modern lighting facilities. Attention is beinggiveato both the upstairs court rooms, and a new means of access for the staff is being provided to one of the rooms. At the moment' the entire court is dust bfegrimed and a skeleton of scaffolding. The grimness of the main court room, is accentuated by the dustcovered tabled and white tarpaulins spread over the judge's difts, Press bench, jury box and dock.. Although tha work is a fair Way from completion, it is hoped that everything will be completed by the timo the judges return from their vacation to preside over the first sittings 4f the Court for the New Year on February 2. . • Further work for the Justice; Department is contemplated, and already •ketch .plans have been prepared for additional accommodation at the Newmarket Police Station and at the EUerslie Police Station: At Newmarket the; premises , will be considerably enlarged, while at EUerslie a stable is to be built. t Suburban Post Offices. The Post and Telegraph Department's extension* scheme embraces the Remuera, Mount Eden, Kingsland, Epsom, Parnell and Ellerslie offices. Well before Christinas the task of modernising the Remuera post' office, and giving additional accommodation for the mailroora staff waa commenced, and it is HOW estimated that the work there is half completed. -The New Year saw the commencement of similar work at Mount Eden. Plans are .ready for the enlarging of the facilities at Kingsland, and tenders for the work will be called in the near future, while plans and specifications for similar work at Epsom are in hand, The work.at Parnell will be devoted to the making of renovations only, an<i at Ellerslie small addition* and renovation* are contemplated. The largest work on the programme is that of making extensive alterationa to the Newmarket nost office, it being stated that the, of practically the whole building will be involved. * \ - Summed up it appear* that, while private enterprise is launching out on larger expenditure on buildings, the Government too is keeping pace with it, and taking advantage of the brighter times to enlarge its offices generally speaking and to cater more adequately for both its staffs and the public.