THE UNION BANK

Evening Post, Issue 73, 23 September 1936, Page 12

THE UNION BANK

LARGER PREMISES

AN INTERESTING PAST

LAST QUAY SECTION

Important extensions and alterations are planned to the premises of the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., fronting Lambton Quay, and with a frontage to Fcatherston Street. These include the building of four floors and basement on the last vacant frontage to Lambton Quay in the central part of the city. This piece of land, which lias been the property of the bank for a considerable time, lies north of the present building. It has a frontage of 45ft to Lambton Quay and a depth of 59ft towards Featherston Street. The present building has a frontage of 70l"t to Lambton Quay. The alterations will consist in removal of the northern wall of the present building, the exterior of the rest of which will be stripped of projections and made to harmonise with the reinforced concrete extension, i One of the chief features of the combined buildings will be the space afforded for the banking chamber, which will be extended across the whole of the new building, measuring nearly 115 ft by 60ft. The lofty ceiling, now over 25ft, will be carried on through the extension, and the whole, with a large central public space, and vestibules in Lambton Quay and Featherston Street, will form an imposing chamber, and give adequate space now badly needed for the transaction of business. This will occupy most of the ground floor. The storeys above it will be available to tenants. The basement in the extension will be used for strong-room and storage purposes. The head office of the bank for New Zealand will be on the top floor of the extension, and a general rearrangement of the bank's offices will be made, while the introduction of central heating and other comforts and fittings will modernise the interior of the building. The removal oi cornices, etc., and the uniform tinting of the whole premises will present an attractive modern exterior, with bronze panels between the floors. HISTORY OF WELLINGTON OFFICE. The improvements to the Wellington office draw attention to the interesting history of the Union Bank in this city, more especially as the centennial of the whole enterprise will be celebrated next year. The Wellington branch was the first to be established in New Zealand. By arrangement with the New Zealand Land Company on August 20, 1839, a branch was established at Petone, where a new town named "Britannia" was laid out. The site of the town was changed in 1840 to the opposite side of the harbour owing to floods, though the name remained the same until August, 1841, when the name of Wellington was gazetted. In March, 1840, the manager, clerks, and safe of the bank were carried to the new township by the Glenbervie. Framed in the manager's room in a position of honour in Lambton Quay today there is a venerable Union Bank note, No. 1986, dated at Britannia, March 24, .1840, signed by E. B. Hopper and Geo. Hunter, directors, and John Smith, manager. SAFE ON RAFT. The transfer of the safe from Petone beach to Thorndon is described as follows by E. J. Wakefield: "The company's barque Brougham had been employed in transporting the more bulky articles across the harbour. Among these was the iron safe of the bank, containing the specie and notes which were to form the currency* of the settlement. Mr. John Smith, the manager, showed great anxiety during the transit of the safe, and having been observed by the Natives sitting upon its summit as it lay upon the deck, acquired from them the title of 'Jacky Box,' by which he was ever afterwards known among all shades of colonists." The anxiety of the manager while upon the Brougham, however, must have been a mere nothing to his feelj ings while the safe was being brought off to the Brougham from the beach on a raft. This safe is still in service at the Lambton Quay premises, a tall, narrow, inconspicuously coloured, yet dignified piece of work bearing a plate stating that it is a fireproof safe, invented and patented by Charles Chubb, of 57 St. Paul's Churchyard. The locks, after all these years of constant use, are as perfect as the day they were made, a "Post" reporter was informed. It is 100 years old. The bank's first branch in Wellington was a tin shed on the beach, the first real premises being opened in Lombard Street, off Manners Street. In 1852 a move was made to Willis Street, on the site now occupied by the Hotel St. George. An old photograph shows the modest building flanked by a lawn, while opposite Perrett's Corner is a mere backyard. Until the demolition of the old Albert Hotel, the bank premises were incorporated in it. The present site was occupied in 1876. These premises were destroyed by fire in 1906, with many early records. It may be worthy of record that Mr. John Smith, the first manager of the bank, opened the first Wellington library. The architects are Messrs. Lawrence and Swan, Wellington. It is expected that the building will be completed and renovated in fifteen months. It will be occupied by the staff during the renovations.