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Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 6

When a bride building replaces a wooden one the fire insurance premium contractswhen the architect is given scope to utilise the more durable medium to gain artistic as well as utilitarian effect the observant public perforce become art students. Thev have before them a perpetual reminder of the part that aesthetics may play in this work-a-day world. The new shop that has been erected for the George Street Ironmongery Company by Mr George France, to designs by Mr Basil Hooper, A.R.1.8.A., looks little like a shop, least of alllikeanironmongery emporium. Itisin George street, between Hanover and Frederick streets, on the east. It replaces a wooden Jbuilding formerly used by the company. The front of the building is distinctive. There, are two steep° pitched gables in red brick and Oamaru 6tomedressings, and a projecting stone bay in each gable, with casements, each gable with leadlights completing the scheme. As the roof is brought into prominence, Marseilles tiles have been Uhod, and give a fine touch of color. An abundance of light is obtained by fanlights over the verandah and l>y high windows at the rear. There is a basement extending under the whole of the building, with entrance from the rear Tins department is used for storing and unpacking. The ground floor comprises tlie shop, and on the first floor are the showrooms, to which a handsome red pine staircase leads. The ceilings are a special feature, being of fibrous plaster, and designed in a style which is absolutely new to Dunedin. being based on the work of Bankart, the well-known London modeller. This part of the work was carried out by Mr R. S. Wardrop, who has reproduced the spirit of the style very satisfactorily. The shop fittings" are also new in their design, and ure constructed of figured oiled red pine, being made by Messrs Aburn and Sac*