STATE FIRE OFFICE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 10

STATE FIRE OFFICE

Substantial Additions In W oiling ton UNDERGROUND GARAGES ON LARGE SCALE X contract has been let by the Government to Christian! and _ Nielsen (X Z ) Limited, for substantial autitions to the State Fire Insurance buildin., in Wellington. One frontage will be” utilised for access to underground garage accommodation on a large scale. The Hon. F. Jones, Minister in Charge of the State Fire and Accident Insurance Office, said yesterday: “Some little time ago the department acquired from Mr. A. S. Ballinger a section of land with a frontage to Maginnity Street, between the present State Fire building, and the section on which is now being erected the new Government Buildings. Recently this section was added to. b.v purchase from the Court Sir George Grey Ancient Order of Foresters, of the land with a frontage to Lambton Quay lying between the State Fire building ami the Hotel Arcadia.

“Plans have been prepared for building additions which ultimately will cover the whole area between Lambton Quay and Maginnity Street, but the contract now let to Messrs. Christian! and Nielsen provides only for the back part of the proposed additions which will face Maginnity Street. "The new building is to be a fourstoried concrete structure of modem earthquake-resisting design, with access on all floors from (he present Stale Fire building. The Maginnity Street frontage will lie utilised for access to a large underground garage for State Fire Office ears and those of tenant departments. It is believed that this will be the first occasion in 'Wellington where underground garage accommodation on a large scale has been provided. On completion the ground floor will be used by the State Fire Office, and the upper floors tenanted by the State Advances Corporation.”