MOST ADVANCED OF ITS TIME

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 6

MOST ADVANCED OF ITS TIME

Old Government Insurance Building

‘‘Although the old Governiiient insurance building had to be destroyed on account of its being, out of date and m order to make room for the steel edifice now being erected,” writes Omnia Mutantur,” “in its day it was the most advanced building of its time. I believe I am right in stating that it was the first building of any size m which reinforced concrete was an essential part in its construction. Not only were all the window and door heads of this material, but all round the building just below each floor level there was a band of concrete reinforced with continuous heavy steel rods. _ “It was the first building in New Zealand in which there was a passenger lift. . ... “It was the first commercial building in New Zealand in which leaded stained glass was used in windows and fanlights. . “It was the first building in Wellington to be heated by hot water.. “It was the first brick building in Wellington that had cavity walls, and, for that reason, was always dry. “It was one of the first buildings in the world in which Doulton’s flienceware (glazed terra-cotta) was used. “It was the first public building in New Zealand in which electric lighting was installed. “It was the first building in Wellington in which heraldic devices formed an important part in its exterior decoration. (The Royal arms and the arms of New Zealand and of the fom chief cities occupied important places in the facades.) Four heraldic lions, which stood on the four salient angles of the parapets, are now in the garden of “Homewood,” Karori. “It was the first building Jn Wellington in which beautifully carved stonework was an important feature in its internal treatment.

“It had the largest thief resisting and fireproof strong-room in New Zealand, and had also many other features of minor importance which wers entirely new and original.”