MR. RATTRAY'S NEW WAREHOUSE, SHORTLAND-STREET.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2582, 27 October 1865, Page 4

MR. RATTRAY'S NEW WAREHOUSE, SHORTLAND-STREET.

The latest and most striking improvements in streetarchitecture in tbia oity have taken place on the north side of Shortlaud-street, where the old and unsightly itructureß which were burned down have been replaced by handsome and substantial buildings as places of business. The largest and finest of these erections is the new and commodious warehouse erected for Mr. Rattray. We have, during the progress of its construction, given an architectural description of it, so that ie is now unnecessary to enter into any details, inasmuch as th» designs have been strictly adhered to in its erection. The ware-room is on the ground floor, and the storey above is occupied by a suite of offices. The former is spacious and well appointed. One of the principal features noticeable is the style of the front windows. They are the first of the kind we have seen in Auokland, although they aie pretty generally adopted in Melbourne. They aie 12 feet in height, and filled with single sheets of plate glass between the columns. The shutters inside are so constructed as to fold out and in as required, and are made of wood. Iron is mostly used, but to procure metal shutters would involve the delay of sending to England for them. The windows will be brilliantly lighted by an ingenious arrangement at the top, with gas-jets and reflectors. The counters are a beautiful specimen of wood- work. They are constructed of kauri wood, elaborately carved and French-polished. The shelves which run along the walls are .French-polished, *ud have sliding panels in the lower portion, with a fine cornice on the top. The back part of the ware-room is set apart as a show-room, which is well lighted by means of a handsome domalight or louvre above. At the end of the show-room there is a large-sized aud oostly mirrorsuch as are usually to be seen in large establishments of this kind. Adjoining the show-room is a neat and comfortable office, fitted up with all the requisite! of the counting-house. The dimension's of the ware-room are 70 feet by 25 feet, and the height to the ceiling 16 feet, affording ample room for transacting an extensive business It will be lit up by means of chandeliers and gas brackets along the sides. The windows are secured outside by revolving wooden shutters. The mouldings of the windowframes are very fine, and the carred tops to thecolumns chaste and ornate. Next to the warehouse, and on the same block of buildings, is a neat and well-fitted-up shop, with a room adjoining. 'Ihe windows are constructed on the same principle and in a similar style to those already mentioned. This block of buildings was erected at a cost of £2,500, exclusive of the fittings. An asphalte paremeut forms the footpath along the frontage. A new stock of goods was being conveyed iuto the building yesterday, and when tlieie are arranged the ware-rooms will present an air of tasteful richness on the " opening-day."