NEW BUILDING PLANNED

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 297, 12 September 1934, Page 2

NEW BUILDING PLANNED

National Bank at Blenheim Subsidence of the foundations of the National Bank of New Zealand at Blenheim has rendered that structure unsafe, and tenders will be called shortly for a new one to take its place in Market Street The \vork of designing the new building has been entrusted to Mr. C. H. Mitchell (Atkins and Mitchell), of Wellington. The banks stands on part of what was in the early days a swampy depression or old watercourse known tp the older generation as Collie’s Hollow. This dep-.jssion extended from the Omaka Biver, near Her Majesty’s Theatre, in a westerly direction, through the business area of the town, and its reclamation was one of the big works carried out many years ago. Special attention was given to the foundations of most of the buildings in that locality, but the bank did not receive that attention, and the subsidence began almost at once. It was considered, on inspection, that any attempt to bolster up the 20-year-old building would be money thrown away, so the bank authorities decided to rebuild on sound lines. The work of demolition is being carried out by the Fletcher Construction Company. The bank was vacated at the week-end. The new bank ■will be a one-story structure in reinforced concrete, with a frontage of 33 feet to Market. Street and a depth of 67 feet. Though the building will be but one story high, it will have dignity, for the banking chamber, a commodious apartment, will be 20 feet in height. In addition to the bank accommodation there are to be quarters for the resident clerk at the rear of the building, with all necessary conveniences.

In the very near future there will be a paved main highway from the north boundary of Canterbury to the southern boundary, from the Hurunui Kiver to the AVaitaki,,says the “Christchurch Times.” It. is estimated that when the work is completed, travelling time will be cut down considerably. For instance, a few years ago the run from Christchurch to Timaru was considered to be a four-hour journey. To-day tlie trip can be done in about: two and a half hours. As the years have passed. better roads have been responsible for bringing Timaru closer to Christchurch.