MAKING A CITY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 18, 16 October 1907, Page 7

MAKING A CITY.

EXTENSIVE BUILDING OPERATIONS.

£■100,000 INVOLVED,

Liko a busy mother with a big family, Wellington is always making something new for her children. And those children—her lusty, over-growing population—aro con-, timially lifting up hungry voices for more. Especially is this so in regard to clothing — 'architectural clothing. They aro always outgrowing their things, and thore is an incossnnt demand for now suits in stone and brick. Just now tho demand is at its height, and an army of toilers is striving strenuously' to supply it satisfactorily.

What "this means was realised—for tho first timo fully—by a Dominion reporter yesterday, after a round of investigations. The works specified below involve a total amount of £356,900. To that, howovcr, must, bo added .G'lo,ooo, tho estimate for work which cannot be mado public at tho moment, but which will bo taken in hand almost immediately. That gives a total of £390,000—a surprising amount for a city no. bigger'than Wellington. Of course, tho particulars given hero do not cover the whole of the building operations in tho city. Only brick buildings costing over a thousand pounds:'aro included, and even of this class the list cannot pretend to be exact and comprehensive. Consequently, the total sum involved in present ' building operations is greatly in excess of the figures quoted. Busy Tims for Builders. In common with other leading architects, Mr. W. Tnrnbull is experiencing a busy season. One of his principal contracts is the rebuilding of Messrs Wliiteombo and Tombs's promises, on tho sito between the Commercial Hotel and tho ' Bank of New South Wales. This will bo a brick building of .four floors, with a frontago of 72ft. to tho Quay, and a depth of 82ft., whilst tho distance from tho pavement to tho top of tho parapet is 76ft. Messrs. Campbell and Burke aro tho contractors. Another, big work on tho Quay for which Mr. Tnrnbnll prepared plans is tho alteration and addition to Messrs. Kirkcaldio and Stains's premises. This work will bo carried out in threo sections, and when , completed a striking structural chaugo will bo wrought in that part of Lambton Quay. It is proposed to remove the present Occidental Hotolat an early dato, and'rebuild; in brick, so as to make a uniform schemo of architecture right up to tho Lambton Quay, frontago, and over the area occupied by, tho wooden buildings at. tho corner of Brandon, Street.', Tho wholo block will bo Rebuilt iti brick in tho most modern stylo. 'But at present only the first section of tho schemo is in hand. Tho building is boing constructed in reinforced concrete by the, Ferro Con-. creto Company of Australasia." ?It 'ocojipies the sito of tho lato Dr. Heriry.'s residence in Johnston Street, having a frontage to that thorouglifaro of 65ft., and a depth of 94ft. It will consist of four floors and' basement, mid the height from tho pavement to'parape' is fixed at 64ft. • . . . .

Otlior works that Mr.. Turnbull has 111 hand include a. new hotel at the .corner, of Bnllanco Street and Lambton Quay, for Messrs. and J. Fairburn: 'It will consist of four floors, with a frontago of 132 ft. to Lambton Quay, and EOft.,.to,;li|allanco Street. Messrs Meyer and Illiiigtvor'tli are the contractors. Then there- are- • throe; shops being erected at tho .corner of. .Cuba' Street and/Abel. Smith' Street (or.Mr. 'ii, Hannah, Mr. Enieny boing the builder.;. Mr. Turnbull also has in hand tho alteration , and extension of Messrs. A. and T.Burt's premises inCourtenay Placo. .. . . ' .

The architect was not prepared to go into details concerning tho cost of ei}ch particular work, but a moderate estimate for tho buildings specified—apart from the full-com-pletion'of tho Kirkcaldic and Stains scheme -is £70,000. - ,■-., ■ . . - .._ ';.'; Ot&er Large Works. ■~: ■ . Messrs. Crichton and Mackay have various large works in the city in hand. First, thereis tho new home of.the Y.M.C.A., being built --o£ brick in "Willis Street; [atl.a-'copt of £13)000; tho contraotor is Mr. W.L. Thompson. Thou there is tho Bank of New South Wales, γ-hich will very soon bo finished. r llio contract was £35,000, and the ■.contractors' are Messrs'. Mitchell and King: Othpr works that Messrs Crichton and Mackay have in hand arc warehouses and -offices' for Messrs.. Irviiio .and -Stevenson, Brandon , Street, .'cjjstv £8000; contractor, Mr. W. Q. Eni<Jry ; S ; Offices of Tub Dominion, off Lambton Quay, about £15,000, contractor', Mr. D. M'Lean; new cluh houso, etc., for Wellington Golf Club at Trontham, about £2500; and warehouses and offices in Ccurtenay Place, for Mr. Edwards, cost' about £3000, contractor, Mr. "Wiikelmi:.. ,, Mr. John S: Swan has a ixurabcr. of:.buildings- in course of erection, amongst which., may bo mentioned the following brick, and concrete private hotel, VictoriaStreet, for Mr. F. G. Bolton, Messrs. Camp-bell-'aud Burke contractors, contract price j £9400; now top-floor and general ndditions and alterations to Messrs. Sargood, Son and Ewon's, Messrs.- Campbell and Burko Contractors, cost £8000; new National Bank of Now Zealand, Head Offico building, Groy Street, Mr. H. Hanson contractor, cost £20,000; now class-rooms, etc., St. Patrick's College, Messrs. Davis and Browman contractors, contract prico £2500; tea

kiosk, skating rink, and grand stand at Wonderland, Miramar, Messrs. Young and Pctloy contractors, contract prico, £5000: . ..

Mr. W. T. Chatfiold has in hand extensions aud alterations for Messrs. David An-

defson and Sou, Molesworth Street, cost £11,000; extensive buildings on tho vacant section near tho Trocadero, Lambton Quay, £20,000; .cj.tensive additions and to'the premises of Mr. C. Smith, Cuba Street, at a total cost of £21,000; additions for Messrs. Bhmdcll and Co., ovor £1000. Mr. Chatfield is also architect for tho new premises of tho Union- Bank of Australia) Lambton Quay. This will be a largo ami commanding, blo-.'k of three stories, and tenders will bo in very shortly. What tho cost is likely to ho cannot, of course, be stated until, a tender has been accepted, but the observant reader will no doubt be ablo to form all approximate estimate The principal work with which Messrs. Polity and Blako are at present connected is tho "Wellington College contract, l'lio additions will cost £9000. This finh, -hoWcvcri have other city contracts in hand which,,in' all-probability, . Trill bo let to tender in the course of'.i few weeks, and tho amount involved J3, in round figures, £00,000. Tho now Post Office Hotel is being built in brink to the plans of Mr. J. CJinrlosworth,, the contractors being Messrs. Sanders tti'Os.y and the cost £7000. Mr. Cliarlesworth also prepared tbo plans for the Bechivo Chambers, Courtonay Place, cost' £7000, contractor Messrs. Wakelin and Soil, and thu new Commorcial Hotel* cost £20,000, contractor, Mr. A. J. Rand. Mr. Coleridge has at present in linud a building in Panama Street, For 'Messrs.' .TunibuU umd Co.* coatiau £4000;' '■■■ "•'' '.■■