STREET ARCHITECTURE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2463, 12 June 1865, Page 5

STREET ARCHITECTURE.

Tub very largo number of substantial and extensive buildings in course of erection at the present time in Auckland and its neighbourhood must be a very satisfactory proof to non-residents and casual visitors to the city of the permanence and stability of commercial operations in the province. In all directions in the city tho trade of tho builder seems to be thriving, aud vacaut allotments hitherto unproductive to their pi oprietors, are now being turned to considerable piofit. In Shoitland-streot several new buildings are being erected on tho site of the recent fire there ; and in accoi dance with our usual custom wo purposo giving n few particulars of the most prominent of them. The fust we shall notice is that being built for Mr. W. llattray, from designs by Mr. T. B. Cameron, architect. Tho building has so far progressed that a portion of the roof liai been slated, and the whole of the brickwork completed. Tho structure is in the Italian style, and, when finished, will present a very neat and ornamental appearance. On tho basement floor there aro two shops f ion ting Shortland-street, to be furnished with seinioircular-headed sashes, aud fitted with sheet-glass tho whole height. At the east side is au entrance, with staircase leading to the upper floois, which aro to be divided into offices, the letting of which, from the gieat demand experienced at tho present for these kind of premises, is expected to be highly remunerative. Tho pilasters from tho basemont aro of Hobart Town fieestono, with neatly moulded caps ai.d bases, surmounted by a bold cornico. On the cap 3 of the pilasters bases spring, which finish in ornamental columns, supporting a bold piojectiug ooinico aud perforated elegant parapet and urns. The window a on the first iloor arc to be circular, with side columns of a tasteful desoiiption, connected by an oruameutilstringcourse, panels, and other mouldings, which adorn the front elevation. Tho dimensions of the vaiious compartments are as follow: — Twoshopson ground iloor, one 70 feet by 24 feet, with shovv-ioom and office ; the other 60 feet by 14 feet, with sitting i pom, &c. Tho upper iloor, as wo have said, consists of offices. 'I ho fiont pait of the building is supported by a tubular malleable irou gilder of laige dimensions, resting upon strong piers of freestone and biick. Mr. Bollaud is the coutractorfor the whole work, aud it is expected tho premises will be completed in about six weeks. Two handsome shops aie also iv course of erection for Mr. Bolous, upon the site previously occupied by Mr. Possoniskio, tailor. The architect for the buildings is Mr. R Keals, Victoiia street, and tho conti actors aro Messrs. Coombes and Sons. The prsmises will be three storied, of brick and stone, with scoria foundation, and stucco front. Tho adjoining building is bring elected by Messrs. Philcox and Vaughau, for Mr. j. Haliday, cabinetmaker, after designs piepared by Mr. Herapatb, architect, and has progiessed as far as the first storey. It will be of two storeys, and tho shop will be 70 fee!; deep by 21 feot wide in the clear. The fagnde of the building will contain a shop front with a central entrance, and also a private entrance, giving access by a staircase to the upper-floor, which may be used as a residence. Thero will be two window s in front in the upper storey, with moulded architraves on pedestals, nnd emichmeuts. The building will have an enriched cornice, and the entire height of the piemises iv the fiont will be 33 feet In accordance witli the term* of the coutract the work is to be finished in about a month. It is stated that Mr. S. Brown, the purchaser of the ruins of Mr. James's new hotel, the Q.C.E., has it iv contemplation to have tho whole of the walls taken dow n to the height of two storeys and to convert the building into two shops. Upon tho vacant allotment adjoining, where Bedford House formerly stood, a Bhop is to be erected in the same style as those above mentioned. Messrs Coombes and Sons are the contractois for the election of four shops on the adjacent plot of giound, belonging to Mr. Canning ; and a fifth shop is to bo raised fiom one to two stoieys liiEjh, and to be of similar design. Mr. Wrigley is the architect; and the works have so far progressed that portions of the bnilding arc ready for slating. The piemises will be two storeys high, with collar underneath ; Uig material used Going buck, with plastcicd front. The dimensions of the shops will be as follow :—: — 23ft. by 24ffc ; 14ft. frontage, 14ft., 17ft , by 24E\ There will be a passage of 4ft. wide, giving access to the back piemises. The scoiia foundation foi a very large building has been laid on the south side of hhortland-street, on the plot of ground formerly occupied by the Royal Exchange. The new banking piemises for the Bank of Auckland, at the junction of O'Couuell street with Shoit-land-stieet,aieadvancing tapidly towaids completion. Tho election has been can ied out after designs piepal ed by Mr. Keah, architect, Victoria-street, and which have been previously not : ced in this paper. In older to meet the requirements of his business, Mr. Alfted Buckland has found it uecessaiy to erect a spacious auction mart aud wool warehouse at the Haymaiket. The building is being constructed of bucU, on a scoiia basement, and will be two storeys iv height. The ground floor is intended to be used as a mait for the sale of houses, the centie run beinsc 12G feet long and 20 foot wide, with a stind for the auctioneer at the end. On each side a space of IS feet iv width is left for the accommodation of purthaseis and standing room for lioisos. This part of the building will be well lighted with side windows ol 1 us;c tliiiicusioii's filled iv with lougli plate glass ; and ulsj fiom the loof tluoiigh an opening in the store above, 12 feet wide aud 100 feet long. Access to the mart is given through a I irgo gateway m Diuhain sticct. Above tho horse mat tis a spacious stoic for wool. The centie pait is suppoited by a double row of massive cast irou columns, the Lugest ever cast iv Auckland— each ono weighing 13 cwb As wo have said there is an opening iv the floor 12 feet by 100 feet, with a strong balustradiug on each side of it, which is intended to be moveable, so that the opouing miy be floored over when largo land sales are held. The area thus given will be (1,072 feet, half as large again as the Bamswick Hall. The centre roof, which is to bo supported by iron columns, will be glazed with rough plate-glas«, with louvie boaul ventilators, running the entire length, fu the centie there is to be an ornamental turret. Mr. Keals is the architect, and the contractors ate Messrs. Philcot and Vaughan, tho iron-work being executed by Frnzer and Tiniie, of Mechanics' Bay. The entire cost of the erection will be neaily £4,000. The lnrge hotel in Albert-street, now in course of erection for Mi. Macready, after designs furnished by Mr. T. B. Cameron, aichitect, will be a handsome addition to our stieet architecture. The building will bo of brick, and contains on the fagade 16 windows. It commands a frontige to Albert-stieet, is three storeys in height, with ample cellar accommodation. There are twenty-iive rooms in the hotel, with additional back premises, such as .kitchen, &c Two front entiances have been piovided, aud au inched carriage-way communicates with the back premises sUliling. &o. The upper storey is surmounted by a handsome balustrade. A largo aud commodious hotel is shortly to be elected on tho beach at Oiiohunga, at the termination of dim ch-street, for Mr. Ebenezer Gibbous. Plans aro now being piepared by Mr. Piitchard, architect, Wyndham street, aud show that the buildniq; will have a street frontage of IS2 feet, and contain about 30 rooms, lome of which will bo of large dimensions, suitable for conceit and club rooms. The buildiug will bo of wood. We understand that the residence of his Excellency the Governor, at tho Kawau, is to be considerably enlarged, and mado twice its present size. The additions will comprise drawiug, dining, boudoir, and bod rooms ; and tho present B'-.ructure is to bo entirely remodelled. Tho work is in the hands of an Auckland builder, and it now being proceeded with. We take this as an indication that the erection of a Government House for his Excellency at "Wellington will not altogether deprive Auckland of his presence.