NEW PUBLIC TRUST BUILDING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 4

NEW PUBLIC TRUST BUILDING.

NEARS COMPLETION.

In two or three months from T -ho

I present date, the new Public Trust f budding in Oxford terrace shmild be | ready for occupation. Already- from j the outside the structure presents a ccmpleted aspect, and its simple grace of outline makes it a decided acquisition to the architectural features of

the locality. Perhaps the best, point, of vantage from which the building can be viewed is a spot on the opposite side of tho river, rnd frnm. here- the now building, forming a splendid background for the ber.uty ol the Avon banks, the best idea of its grace tan he obtained. . . The style of architecture adopted iu its construction is distinctly modern, but nevertheless there i has been a classic treatment wli'-ch . tho structure an added charm. Ihe iront i-, finished with white plaster and Dunedin sand, the base of Timarii bluestone, giving a missive appearand tc the structure. The height- is ."-bout 7.i Ift and large windows extend almost from the base to tho root. Above tlw doer, the regularity of the front aspect is broken by a large New Zealand ccat-of-arms hewn from a huge block of Sydney sand<-tor>" and beneath tins - ; ain the word "Security" appears carved in stone directlv above the main, entrance. The coat-of-arms, the car\iiirr of which is a particularly fine'piece of" 1 work, has been out by 31 r \ (r. Guernsey. of Christchnrch. Of the buikiin.ee !t;-elf. the ground fior.r section -will be used -as the main.

office. Tn front of this floor there is a mezzanine bakonv. benea-th -which vilL be situated the offices cf the principals of the department in Chiisiolmrcli. From the around floor jv hnndsorne marble staircase. the handrails and

dado being of Canbeira marble, leads to the solicitors' ar-artments on the first floor. -ml from this on to the top of the building; the staircase will be ot iron with wooden banisters. The second floor is only about half the dimensions of the ground and first floors. A small conference room is situated near the front of the building, but the remainder of the space in this storey is not required at the present time "&nd will not bo completed until necessity arises. The third flor.r provides for luncheon room for the use <f the staff, a kitchen with washing fittings, and a gas water heater. The front portion of the basement has been fitted as a depository, in which money and documents will be kept- for a certain fee. In the basement, too, there will ho apnropriato conveniences for the iilijig of documents, etc. The boiler liouso will be> situated. a.t the rear of the basement, for the housing of the lew pressure, h tea in heating boiler, etc. A commcdious motor and cycle house has been built at the rear of the building, this being reached by the side entrance front 'Oxford terrace, which also gives acess to a hack entrance in the main building itself.

The contract fV,r the structure portion of the building is now virtually finished, hut it ivill he some months l»eforo the furniture p.nd fittings arc completed. The arcliite't is Mr C. "Wood and the contractors Messrs P. G|'ahf-m and Sons. The cost <vf the structure will bo about £l-3,000.