OPENING CEREMONIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 June 1924, Page 3

OPENING CEREMONIES.

STKATRWI) a F\\ BUDDINGS AND bridge. VISIT 0E HON. J. G. COATES. INTERESTING SPEECHES. Stratford was. on fete yesterday a Herndon, wnt* 11 m the piesouee oi a huge gathering of citizens and visitors from many warts very important (oiomonies were performed' at btratl'ord by the Hon. J. G, Coates, when lie formally opened the new bridge, the Public 'i rust building, and Host Office. Just before three o’clock he, accompanied by a number of leading people, went to the bridge and cut the rope of greenery specially prepared by toe Stratford school children, declaring the bine bridge open, and then proceeded to the Public- Trust buildings to open them. Afterwards he was the guest of honour on the platform erected in front of the Post Office.

The inscription on the foundation stone of the bridge read as follows: “This bridge was opened for traffic* by Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister of Public Works, 20th June. 1924. Coombridge and McKay, Contractors. F. \V. Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief, P.AY.D.”

When the company had assembled in front of the Post Office the Mayor briefly and heartily welcomed the Minister for coming to perform the ceremony at some inconvenience to himself. Apologies were received from Mr J. M. Walter, Air J. W. Macdonald (Public Trustee), Sir W. Carncross, Mr J. R. Corrigan. M.P.. Mr G. W. Tayler Mi- L. A. Bone, Air <). Hawken, M.P.

Air 11. A 1 asters, in welcoming AH Coates, returned thanks for his sympathetic treatment of him as representative of the district, and gave credit to the Minister, the Government, and the department for assistance to the town and district. He said all must look with pride on the ( great building which some outside the town were wont to say was ahead of the times, but it was certain that the department very /wisely built for a long time and looked to the future. He said that Stratford was the centre of a great district, one of the best in New Zealand, and there was a large amount of good country still to be opened and developed bv closer settlement. He said he hoped to see the Alain Trunk line pushed through, and then the Post Office would not lie ahead of the times. The Government helped because tliey saw that Taranaki had a people who helped themselves, and were therefore worth helping, lie congratulated the contractor, Air J. W. Aider ton, for liis faithful and good work and the fine building he had erected. He had to he given very great credit for working faithfully and well, and in this he included the foremen and organisers. Referring to the building for the Public Trustee. Mr A 1 osiers mentioned the inception of tlie Public Trust business • under Sir Julius Vogel. and said that it had Deoil copied in many countries. The new building was justified as an expression of faith in the future of Stratford and Taranaki. He referred to the carelul and efficient administration of the department which was guaranteed by the State. He spoke keenly in favour of decentralisation as was carried on by the Public Trust Office, and said it conduced to efficiency. In conclusion lie eulogised the architect, Air T. H. Bates, 'of New Plymouth, and the builder. Air C. Aloore. and thanked the Af blister again for coming to Stratford to perTorm the opening ceremony*. The Mayor referred briefly to the difficulties experienced since the first steps taken to get a new building, and congratulated the Public Works Department on the good work done for Stratford.

The Hon. J. G. Coates thanked the Mayor and tlie member i ? or the warm welcome to the district, and regretted that the Governor-General anti the Prime Afinistev were unable to he present on this very important dav. He leioiietl to the fine wide bridge just finished, and said the Government had given a subsidy of about £6600 lhe Government were pleased to see how the Taranaki people bail tackled the question of roads and carried out the work of construction, so that now they luul the host in tlm Dominion and were an example to other parts. He paid a tribute to the excellent work and organisation of the Public Tmsie« and predicted very great strides in prou tlie , Bcgardiiig the ! ost Office, he said thev had had a very good year, ami had' a balance of revenue of £668,000. ami after interest and other charges had been paid totalling £460,000 would have a substantia) sun jins for the year, ami this was done in spite of reduction of post mm charges and of telegrams and telepmmes. Be stated there was a m-eat increase in number of subscriber*.** and things were going ahead bv leans and bounds. lie paid an eloquent tribute to the officers for faithful work, and said the staff expenses had been reduced. He indicated the proposals for exl elision m wireless work, and said that their scheme for expansion was just on a par with that of Australia. In conclusion, ne expressed the hope that the district would continue to prosner ;m d would find the convenience * tiH? 110\\ l>UiUlnio;s and hrideo. and that the future would ho hull -of success tor the whole district. the h pJS a nk th<?ll - a key tf> °P*n tne J Oot Office, and business was at He il,in " ,,nwd that , gold keys were now being made by the three building contractors to make a jewel to present to the Minister A l , souvenir of the occasion. l ie foundation stone was inscribed f heh l": : lh,S was opened < , 9J Pl '| )1 u U 'u ioSS n “ tl,e " mh -Bine. LJ24. by the Hon. J. G. Coates. AIR I ostmaster-Genera!. Minister of Public Morks, A funster of Railways. ;im) Ministerot Native Affairs. J. (V. McMillan Alayor. Builder, J. AV. Alderton. Wanganui. Ihe band got together specially for the occasion played a number of selections during the alien.oon, and at the conclusion played tlie National Anthem and the huge gathering disnersed. some homewards, hut mostly to look over the new Post Office, and all were very pleased with the results of their sur'ov. Thus terminated a most eventful alternoon for Stratford. Jn the evening a banquet was held a., the own Ball, when a long Grist H>t was honoured. After the toast of ‘•Bis Males'V.” -The Arrnv. Xavv t' 1 rl'i'n ' OS re<; - ‘ “Parliament.'’ “Hoii ’-J. G. Coates.’' ‘-Post and ToWraph Dounrtment." “Public Trust Office.” 1 fie Builders’’ were honoured. •’*. one selection of musical items were giyon during the evening, and a most enjoyable time spent. DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING.

Tho Post Oilice is nt brick. consisting ot t\yn hoots. and lias a frontage ol !22ft IDin.. and a depth of " 82ft. ~ The nmin vestibule measures 14ft by K)ft. and at the entrance on the left’ is the public ,spare (iNl't bin by -1411). with desk cicconmiodation lor public use of 4‘drt. 1 wo teieplione boxes are provided. The length of the counter (angular in shapei is approximately 50ft.., provided with Kupronized steel

screen ami brass foot rail. The counter top and hand-rail are made of Tasmanian blackwoocl. Fiench polished, and the outer edge has brass edging A-1 (fill thick. At the end of the public room is the .chief clerk's room, 12iT x 12ft, . On the right of the vestibule is the postmaster's room, ,12ft by 10ft, and at the right, access is provided to the yivate boxes, of which there are 266. from the front of tlie building. 'flic main floor is occupied by the mail. room 4oft x 34ft. the chief entrance to winch is liom the nock, with loading deck promoting to allow for mad cals to he unloaded, and over this is a sloping roof. In the centre

of tlit* mail-mom are imoe massive concrete piers reinforced with steel gilders to carry the walls of the hunt area above. At the Lacn of the maiu-icj-jm is the postmen's mom, 24 tt 6m by 12ft. Pio\ ision is inane tor'primacy batteries and power room tor automatic extlianga. ana these cover a space; oi 40ft by “lift. Outside 15 the com tv-itd, vvitii ir 11 ‘JA ii-cGi' :1 101 ir 3, IG t vM/i 3’ll S Cfi'lCtij cycle slied. and motor garage. Heating is well provided tV.*:, and the chamber for this is under i-e mail room, and holds rhe boiler for hot water. The heating service is carried round the bmkiing, radiators being provided for the purpose. Only one fireplace is provided in the whole building.

The main walls outside are 16in. thick, comprising one 9in. 2fin cavity, and 4'in of brick -ork. All the outside of the main building has cavity walls, this ensuring a dry braiding throughout. On the ton floor there is a landing of concrete (Sit by 14ft), and to the left a corridor. 60ft in length by lift in width. From the coieidov access is gained to the telephone operating room (24ft by 30ft). and adjoining are the despatch room and night telephone room. The store room (12ft by 2<)ft) is close by, and at the back is the officers’ retiring 100111 (24ft by 13ft). On the right side of the corridor is the toil room (26ft by, 134 ft), and adjoining is the lady officers’ retiring room. The clerk’s room (33ft by 21ft) is situated on the left-hand side of the landing, and adjoining is the niechaniciah’s room, and these rooms are amply lighted by windows both on the outside of tlre building and from the lighting area. THE OUTSIDE. Tn front of the building is the tower. The outside measurement of the tower is 16ft, tire inside 12ft 6in square. The hell chamber is 16ft high, and the clock chamber above is lolt Bin high, with a dial opening of oft diameter on four sides. The building is finished outside with Green island sand and white Atlas cement. A concrete cornice extends along the front and two sides. The total cost of the building is £20.836. and Air. J. Campbell, F.11J.8.A., Government architect, was responsible for the design of the structure, while Air A. Davies, of-Strat-ford. acted as clerk of works. Afr -T. \Y. Alderton, of Yvangamii, was the builder. One feature worthy of note in connect ion with the election of the building is that- the contract date for completion is -July 17, but the work proceeded so satisfactorily that the contractor has been able to complete the budding a month before time, which is a unique occurrence in the history of the erection of such large buildings.

Special attention has been paid to lighting and ventilating, and the yard at the'back, the driveway at the side, and the street at the front allow plenty of light and air to get to the large windows which line the three sides of the building. Light- and air for the other side of the building are obtained by efficient light areas, one in the centre and one on the south side of the building. Another matter which has received particular attention is the heating of the building in winter. The building will be heated by hot water which will circulate in pipes through the entire building, and thus keep it at an even temperature. The plant for this is installed in a small basement helow the lavatories at the hack of the building. The building is finished in white plaster and oiled riniu. THE PUBLIC TRUST. STRATFORD’S NEW BUILDINGS. The building, which is two storeys high, with a Hat concrete roof, is built of Inick, with reinforced concrete Homs, thus being fireproof throughout. The front facade is finished in white cement jointed to give an appearance of stone-work, the design being on the lines of the French renaissance, with heavy pilasters and rusticated quoins. Passing from the. street through swing doors oi pi ate-glass, one enters a wide corridor, at the end oi which is a second pair of plate-gUcss doors embossed with the name of the Public Trust Office. which open, into the main office. Glass partitions, and an oiled limn counter, divide the staff from the. public, and on the left of the public* space is the manager’s office, enclosed in obscured glass partitions. In connection with the main office there is a large strong room, and also- a small room for the storage of estate effects. The floors of the Public Trust offices and corridor are covered with Ruhlino tiles, which are both noiseless and sanitary. A door from the lobby opens into a concreted yard at the back of the building. In one corner of the yard is a concrete garage for the office car, with a concreted driveway runping down the nort hside of the' building to the street. To- reach the first floor one enters, a tiled stair hall which opens from the street. The stairs leading to the first floor are of concrete, mosaic tiled, with iron balustradnig. All t lie corridors on the fir-t floor are covered with Ruhlino tiles. ihero are seven fine offices for letling purposes, and also premises for a dentist. with two well-fitted .surgeries, Ihese arc strong rooms in commotion with tn roe ol the offices. Ample lavatory a( eommodation for tenants is provided on the first floor. Besides the offices for letting already mentioned, then' is a suite ol two offices oil tne gimind floor opening from the main central corridor.