NEW TRAMWAY BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 8

NEW TRAMWAY BUILDING

TO BE ERECTED AJT THORNDON. MUCH-NEEDED. ACCOMMODATION. ' , The now tramways , pay-in office) which is to be built opposite the Government RaiP way Station .at Thorndon,' will be 'a ; substantial and. commodious building of three The architecture will be ,a plain •modern'style. .'On the-front elevation; th'e walls up to. the (first floor Witt"' be treated with stucco, and the two upper stories'.will, bo finished with, good brickwork. /The walls throughout will ■ be of -brick. - The site,' which is that of ' the late pay-in office, though more ground will be covered, is .. of an awkward shape," having. actually sides. Such is the mathematical part, but, roughly-' speaking, the ground; is like a triangle, with one side (that which; 1 forms the frontage)" ; curved 'outwards 'towards Sydney 'Street' and'Thorndon' Quay.Such: a site, necessarily presented great 'difficulties to the draughtsman, but Mr. H. ; Smith;-'who occupies that position under Mr. Stuart' Richardson '(City.Electrical;Engineer) has, nevertheless,;. designed -a' building, which, though nrit ornatij, will present ah appearance worthy of the' City ,and will amply'provide the'accommodation whiclr is so "badly needed.

Office Accommodation,

_ The pay-room, on the ground' flcor,-will be-40H. by 34ft., including a : .vestibule and the space in front of the pay oounter. Tho vestibule' will give access ;to the' public - inquiry and, ticket counter. . Tho entrance will be from Sydney Street,;, and tho ' .conductors,after doing their business' over the long curved counter,'which will-bo "parallel.-with tho frontage,, will pass out at another door, on, Thorndon Quay, . or go .' thence to other parts of the buildiag. There will bo aii up-to-date strong-room 'on' the grouncjoor, and tho. plans also show 'a shop and lritchon. are to beMet .tp ,tho tenant of the old shop on the site, but .can at some futuro time,bo .taken'in' to extend the pay-' ' ■ -1 ' ■

Oil - the first floor, .there..will, be a cashier's office directly over the pay-room, and a room for.,tho traffic .'.mpnagcr •to meet /conductors or motormen who' may wish to. interview him. As. all the. mop .sigij .on at Thorndon,this will bo much more convenient than the present'-.arrangeiiients, ..ufider which such interviews ,have to take place at the Town Hall.' The time office, for. signing-ori will bo adjacent to tho traffic-manager's room. The first-floor, plan alsp shows two bedrooms; and a. sitting-room and . conveniences for the tenant. of 1 the shop. ■' These apartments can be utilised later on for tramway ■ purposes i if required:. .... . ~ . : '-,-'-v The Men's .Quarters. . . The top floor .will 'be, devoted entirely to the use and convenience of the .motormen and conductors. The largest apartment will be. a meeting-room, *40ft:' by 34ft." In this connection the accommodation provided by tho "Glasgow Corporation has been taken as a precedent.. The" employees there have purchased- for themselves a Milliard table, aid' there- will be ample 1 space' for' one in tho meeting-room at -Thorndon.- A lockerroom, with pegs-' for hanging all; the < overcoats of tho motormen iand conductors, and a moss-room, and pantry will ' also be located .011 the scctJnd floor. 1 -The building will hare-a frontage of 29ft to Sydney . Street,, and 56ft. to Thorndon Quay, The pavement-in front of. tho'-latter portion will be sheltered by a verandah which will doubfclos3, be. appreciated by tho public, 1 when waiting for the cars' in rainy weather. - _. : \... • " ■ , - . , The !floors will be of .concrete-with steel girders, which; will .dcadeii sound and make the building practically Grc : p'r6of." The roof will be finished in concrete .. and asphalt The ceilings of the- various rooms will be. of stamped steel. .. . Mr. W.- H. Bennett .is the successful tenderer for-the erection,of the building. . - The site was taken by the Corporation some t.imo ago under the Public Works Act." The amount' of Compensation to be paid by tho .City .has not yet been determined, but it is possible that a settlement .will be' arrived at without recourse to litigation.