NEW STATION GROUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 56, 8 March 1937, Page 10

NEW STATION GROUNDS

A WORTHY APPROACH

PROGRESS WITH BUILDING

With the exception of one or two notably fine approaches, most of Wellingtonjs modern buildings abut practically on the street, but this is not so in the case of the new railway station, where the imposing Bunny Street frontage is well set off by grounds some seventy yards in depth, extending from Featherston Street to Waterloo Quay. These are now in progress of roading and laying out, and, from what can be seen today, the building will distinctly gain by being thus set back, especially as the sweeping lines of the roading and lawns will offer a pleasing contrast to the square, business like station.

A number of lorries and a steam roller, bricklayers, road men, and pavement experts were busy. Many loads of soil and gravel were being loaded and taken away to bring the levels down to those of the adjoining streets. The kerbing and channelling is laid over a considerable portion of the right-hand side of the grounds. All motor traffic to the front of the station will enter from Bunny Street, and, after stopping at the pillared entrance, pass on in the same direction, emerging again on Bunny Street. The curves of the roadway are not unlike the outline of • a section of railway iron, if one imagines a very thick support, Bunny Street forming the spiking flanges. This is because of the parking spaces for cars, the owners of which have business in the station and head office. These spaces adjoin the building, on the. Featherston Street and Bunny Street sides of the fronting grounds, and cars there will not interfere with the semi-circular sweep taken by vehicles entering and leaving. On the left and right of the roadway are to be lawns and shrubs, and the island between the entrance and exit of the roadway is divided by a wide passenger footway, with bullnosed brick kerbing. The kerbing and channelling <of the roadway is of pre-cast concrete -blocks, beautifully laid.' ...

A hew form of paving that should wear well and retain its colour to ■ a greater degree than most tinted pavings is being vised for the footpaths and other pedestrian pavings in the grounds and along the facades'of the station. This ■ contains crushed brick, and the interstices between the flags are filled with brick dust cemented.

While the main entrance to the station is worthy of it, and will dignify the building, most of the passenger traffic-will enter and leave by the Featherston Street entrance, where suburbanites. will begin and end their city day... Here the trams, will, stop, and here there will be central safety islands in Featherston Street. The brick kerbing at present running down the centre of Bunny Street will shortly be removed, and a siding, with a loop to facilitate movement of cars, will take its place. At present there will be no through tram traffic in Bunny Street.

Daily there is some advance in the finishing of the great building, and quarters are gradually being made ready for the different departments. The first to move in were the Traffic Department, then followed the Signalling Department, and now the Railway Advertising Department has moved in. It is interesting to note how, on the different floors, colourings of walls and plaster are varied. The creche,, and children's play rooms _on the roof are- now nearing completion. The roof, glazed with Moorish tiles, is on, and the interior finishing of what will be a distinct novelty in New Zealand travel is well forward. In some parts of the Jiead office there is still a good deal to do, and some of the departments will not be using the new building for months. N