NEW BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 2, 17 April 1880, Page 3

NEW BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which this district has labored during the past year, it is satisfactory to observe that several new buildings have been erected, and additions made to others. In Normanby, especially, any person who had not seen the town for a year or so would be quite as much astonished as we were ourselves to find the progress that the place had made during so short a period. In Hawera, Mr. Burton has added considerably to his brewery, Mr. James Davidson has enlarged his place of business, Mr. Pulford (successor to Mr. McLean) has made some alterations on his premises ; whilst a large flour-mill for Messrs. Websters, and McKellar of New Plymouth, is rapidly approaching completion on the banks of the Tawhiti. Conspicuous amongst what has been done in the way of building, every visitor to Hawera will have observed the spacious premises erected for Messrs. Whittaker Brothers, opposite the Post Office, and when it is stated that not less than 30,000 feet of timber has been used in its construction, I those who have not seen the " palace " (as some wag facetiously termed it) will be able to judge for themselves as to its proportions. The main dimensions are | 58 feet in length, 30 feet in width, and 26 feet in height, the front of the building being 29 feet in height. The shop would be a credit to Wanganui or Wellington, not to speak of Hawera. The ceiling is supported with two iron pillars on either side, the shop being 36 feet long and 30 feet wide, the height from floor to ceiling being 14 feet. The counters, which are 26 feet long, are of polished rimu, which looks quite as well as walnut. Only one piece of timber has been used in the width of these counters, and there must be some good timber near Kakaramea, judging from this specimen. There has been some elaborate work in connection with these indispensable adjuncts to a drapery and grocery establishment, and the carved work is neat and pleasing to look at. There are two handsome show-cases, which are surmounted by eliptic heads, with cornices, twisted columns, and carved brackets ; whilst the grocery side is conveniently fitted up with binns and shelves. At the back of the Bhop there is a ladies show-room (which we must not attempt to describe) 16 feet by 10 feet, and an office 8 feet by 6 feet. There is also a large kitchen on the ground floor, 18 feet by 12 feet, which is fitted up with a Leamington range ; there is a bed-room^ 12 feet by 12 feet close by. Going upstairs, we went along a passage 4 feet wide to the work-room, which is a spacious and healthy-looking apartment, measuring 1 7 feet by 1 3 feet. There is a parlor, 14 feet by 13 feet; two bedrooms, 14 feet by 13 feet each ; another 12 feet by 11 feet ; and a bath-room, 12 feet by 6 feet ; the ceilings of the various rooms being 10 feet high. Looking at the building from the street, the handsome windows form a striking feature, and on making inquiries we found that 16 squares of glass had been used, each measuring 60 feet by 40 feet. The doors are also of glass-, being 8 feet high, by 4 feet 4 inches wide ; and there is a corrugated iron verandah, 10 feet in height. Local talent and local industry have been employed in the construction of this fine building. Messrs. Duffill Brothers, cabinet-makers, were the architects ; Mr. George Syme was the contractor; Mr. J. Tingey did the painting ; and Mr. Smythe did the lettering. That the work has been well done, few will deny ; and those who may have any doubts on^the subject will have them' removed by making a tour through the building, and looking carefully at everything, as we did ourselves. The timber was obtained from Messrs. Robson's saw-mill at Ketemarae, and from the Kakaramea saw-mill ; whilst Mr. David Murray, the well-known iron-founder at Wanganui, supplied the iron columns; and the totara posts, supporting the roof, were obtained from Messrs. Duncan and Torke, Wanganui. We trust that it will fall to our lot, from time to time, to give descriptions of buildings of a similar character to those erected by Messrs. Whittaker Brothers. Public buildings, churches, shops, and hotels are the"principal things that strangers will look to when attempting to form an estimate of a community, and the progress made by it. The residents of Hawera and Normanby can st&zxcL -fcna.'b -best, slxxS. xna.y \>& create oontent to be judged by the buildings they have erected, for the short space of time that both towns have been in existence. We hope that Messrs. Whittaker Bros, will be amply rewarded for their plucky enterprise, and that when others imitate their example, they will J remember that they can obtain good architects, faithful builders, and first-class without going outside* the district.