HAWERA’S POST OFFICE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 January 1928, Page 4

HAWERA’S POST OFFICE.

ALTERATIONS PLANNED. EXTENSIVE ADDITIONS. For a long time the need of further accommodation at the Hawera Dost, and Telegraph Office has been realised -jy the authorities, both in the interests of the staff and of the public, to secure greater efficiency and dispatch in current. work- With these ends in view, elaborate and complete, plans have been ai - awn ov the Public Works Department ror extensions and alterations to the present building, according to. which the wnole of the existing irontage will oe used, while a large new section will ie added to the back of the building. By the Courtesy of the Postmaster ,Mr L. J. Bull) a “Hawera Star” repre.entative had the privilege of seeing the plans yesterday. They indicate a buildug which, when completed, should pro,,Ub ior the needs, postal and teleg.apinc, for years to come, and which will also add much to the appearance of that' business section of the town 1 . A new .and handsome entrance will be made at the south-west frontage corner of the present building, leading into the main public office, and a. new section will be built right across to the Courthouse boundary. This main door will be closed at night with handsome collapsible gates. In the public office the counter will be extended across the front, nearly to the south wall and then turning at right angles' as at present to a point about the same depth as now. The front portion will he lor postal and telegraph work. The part behind will be devoted solely to money order and savings -bank business, with space for ledger keepers and records branch. This will be very nearly self-contained, and will be a very great convenience for staff and for the public. The counter accommodation will be increased by about half the existing space, and the extension to. the new south walL will be about 22 feet. Straight behind, the public corridor will be a lobby, giving access to the postmaster’s room, which will be more in keeping with the position. On the north front additional space is to be devoted to the private boxes, and along the right-of-way there will be built a postal dispatch stage to the side, opening out of a very much enlarged mail room. That will be about 33ft by 35ft —material and muchneeded extension. On the first floor to the .south will be added space, for the instrument room and an extension switch room, with telegraph and despatch in front. Behind the instrument room will be an air conditioning chamber for use in connection with the automatic, exchange. From that a spiral staircase is to lead to the ground floor. The new portion of the mail worn will be of one storey only, and below will be the basement from which the central heating is operated, the system extending all over the building. A new extended lighting system will be installed to give the maximum of comfort and efficiency throughout the building. The estimate of costs runs into a fairly large amount, but it will make an office fully in keeping with the progress of the town and district, and will be much appreciated by the whole community.