NEW BANK OF N.S.W.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 6

NEW BANK OF N.S.W.

Now Nearly Completed MANY HANDSOME FEATURES Apart front some smaller details of work yet to be done, the new premises of the Bank of New South Wales in Hustings are completed, and the staff will go into occupation some time before the end of the present month. The builders, Messrs. W. M. Angus and Co., of Napier, have made an excellent job of their contract, and the building is one of the most beautiful, both outside and inside, in Hastings. On© of its handsomest architectural features is the use of ornamental woods, principally Queensland maple and zebra wood and New Zealand walnut, in tho panellings, fittings, and furniture. It is exquisitely beautiful work, and these lovely woods have been used with lavishness throughout th© building. The effect is very striking, and gives the work a distinctive appearance.

Tho building has accommodation for a staff of seventeen in the actual bank-ing-chamber, and is splendidly lighted with natural light admitted through spacious windows. Tho interior walls have a slight greenish tinge to minimise tho glare of the sunlight in tho summer.

An air-conditioning plant, to warm tho air in winter and to cool it in summer, has been installed, and tho whole building is serviced by a central steamheating plant. In addition, there is an electric water-heating plant serving the various offices and the living-quar-ters for the residential staff of tho bank.

Upstairs there is a large and welllighted office to bo let, as well as a smaller office downstairs. A complete flat with a large living loom and two bedrooms, built in model style, is situated upstairs, and will be occupied by bank officers. The interior decoration scheme is on the most modern lines, and tho arrangement of the various offices, counters, and tellers’ desks, provides tho maximum of coiivenicnco for customers as well as for the staff. The exterior of the building has a pleasing shade of yellow ami accords well with tho modern fashion of giving commercial buildings a gayer appearance than was the fashion until recent years. The bank cost some £14,000 to build, and is a fine addition to the building that has been done in Hastings since the earthquake.