SHIPPING OFFICES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1908, Page 6

SHIPPING OFFICES.

1 UNION COMPANY'S NEW PREMISES.

Tenders will shortly be called for the erection of the new offices for tho Union Steamship ' Company, at the corner of Customhouse-quay and Johnston-street. The plans have been prepared by Messrs. Crichton and M'Kay, and show a handsome building in tho style of the Italian renaissance. The building will consist of practically a steel frame work into which will be fitted red pressed brick, (cement border) relieved with white Sydney stone. The porticos, pillars, and other details of the building will be all white stone, and the whole will rest on a granite base. All possible privision has been made throdghout the building to render it fire aud earthquake proof. Counting the basement there» will be five floors. The ground floor will be occupied, for the moat part, by the J Union Company, and the officeK and fittings generally will be elaborate. Marbles and tiles will bo utilised in thedecorative scheme of the ground floor ; ' where a suite of offices will also be provided for the New Znaland Shipping Company. The Union Company will also occupy offices on the lirst floor, and other ■offices here- and on the second floor will be available for letting. The top floor will >■ bs utilised as -a warehouse, and wili haveno partitions. Tho roof will be flat, and constructed of steel and concrete, so. as to prevent the possibility of fire entering the building by the roof. When completed, the offices should be a handsome addition to the already fine collection of business* premises in the city.

A case arising out. of a sub-contract in connection with the Parliament Buildings in Sydney-street was decided by Mr. Justice Chapman to-day, the parties being Fleming Ross, accountant, and Michael Frain. His Honour, in the course of his judgment, said the defendant, having a contract with the Government for additions to Parliamentary Buildings, sublet tho joinery contract to one Martinson. Martinson found himself unable to carry out his contract. Plaintiff based his claim for damages against defendant on two grounds. He says that he became surety for Martinson, and that this gave him the right on. Martinson's failure to take his position, finish the work, and thereby earn a profit and so recoup himself. This was put forward as a legal right. The other ground of plaintiff's claim was that it was expressly agreed between plaintiff and defendant that plaintiff should be substituted for Martinson. There was a third question respecting a sum of £100, which plaintiff says was his, he having deposited it to guarantee performance by Martinson of his contract with defendant. The plaintiff, therefore, in addition to the sum of £160 which he had at stake in connection with the guaranty, claimed the profit which he might have made had he been allowed to carry out the contract, and damages for defendant's alleged breach, representing expenditure on which the plaintiff says he 1 embarked by way of preparing to execute the work, this being stated at £35. His Honour reviewed the evidence and law at length, and held that the conflict was between plaintiff and defendant, and he thought that the weight of evidence was in favour of the defendant. Whatever there might have been in plaintiff's mind, it ; was not proved to his Honour's satisfaction that defendant made the alleged agreement. The 'plaintiff had, therefore, made out his ' right to recover the sum of £100, but had failed to establish his claim for damages. Mi. H. D. Bell, K.C., with him Mr. Levvey, appeared for plaintiff, and Mr. Skerrett, K.C., with him Mr. Yon Haast for defendant. At a meeting of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association Committee held • last night, the annual report for the year was submitted and approved. A small credit balance was reported from the New Year tournament. Congratulatory 'reference was made in the report to the winning by Wellington representatives of the championship banner held for the preceding four years by Taranaki players. Regarding the endeavours made to obtain playing grounds from the City Council, the report mentions that in a communication received from the Town Clerk it is stated that statutory powers were being sought to enable the council to deal with the grounds at the Botanical Gardens and Leraudstreet to which the association referred. A new constitution had been prepared by a subcommittee of the association, and it would be submitted to clubs for consideration. The association's finances show an excess of assets over liabilities amounting to £131 14s 6d, including a balance of £28 7s 6d on the year's working account. Seven clubs have not paid their subscriptions. Shoe-buyers will be interested in the announcement made in our advertising columns by Messrs. R. Hannah and Co., whose rebuilding sale is now being held. New goods e%. Mamari, at r ,nlc price:, are advertised by Mr. Joh. E. Lindbcig'. iLdrjutjer, Cuba-street,