Messrs. Gardner and Sutton's New Buildings.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2335, 28 January 1893, Page 2

Messrs. Gardner and Sutton's New Buildings.

Messrs. Gardner and Button's new brick buildings on the south-west aide of Sigh* street are now practically eom^UUfMind the firm have removed their drapiriEstook Inttrtfaaiarger tMpV 1 Thy pwJHsof tb» town and district will join with '-us in the firm whole •nerfry and enterprise have added ■* new to &» buildings of the towp, and wMpinir ■tJUtt their venture will provVtignta successful. Then oan be no doubt ihak the erection of a bnefc rai!du§ w large dimensions greatly reduces the risk of a. spread of fire in the event of an unfortunate ontbreak which, might wiouiljaffect the prospeotß of, the town. Kessrft Gardner and Sutton*B ; bjulafogs are a. distinot and almost absolute bar to a firt Btarting on either side of their buildings* This is now the ease on both sides of Highest., and there is therefore much lett danger than there was a couple "of yean ago of a fire sweeping the town* for -with the check these brick buildings, would inter* pose the fire brigade would .hav.e.a much better chance of fighting afire. Apart from these considerations the buildings are a handsome addition to the the' appearance of the street. Mr. Olarson, the arobiteot, designed a handsome front elevation t the brickwork- being pointed, and the parapet being nicely though not pro* fusely , ornamented. The windows are constructed of plate glass 9 in lays* Jheets,, four of them 10ft high by 4J(t in widths and. of oourse ( through this the goods are shown off to the greatest advantage. At present we are speaking merely of the main shop, which the firm is occupying for the drapery. The interior of the shop is admirably lighted from the roof; it will be found to be one of the best shops on the coast in this reaped. There is plenty of room too for the shop is 80ft by 27ft, and; the public will be served at two;- counters, running parallel, each of which- tr 18ft long, and at each of which three or four assistants could serve. The fittings and fixtures are very completoi there being an> abundanoeof open shelving besides 1 which there is some served with sliding door* to allow of more delicate goods being perfectly protected from dust andi flies. A feature of the interior are the* handsome fittings. The counters are splendid slabs 6f kauri, and the fronts of the counters— which slope inwards to the floor, greatly to the convenience of customers— are panelled rimu and kauri alterating in pleasant confrtit. ' Show oases, . &0., are also well got up; At the back of the shop, aoflapproaohed through an archway, mudHbe earner as in tht shop.recßntly ogcnpjp by thejtftm, is an excellent showroom Sf feet by 12 feet, fittefl with all conveniences in the way of drawers, fireplace, &o. A* ihe back of this, bnt approachedj^ Mparftt^ passagef is a cosy private timo&F The work-room and fitting-room are upstairs* and will be found conveniently placedi In additioa to the drapery shop tbere.il the. shop next door, at present occupied by the firm's grooery business. This business will be removed to the oppositeeide of the Btreer, and the shop will be divided into two, there being due provision in the Way of separate show windows and fire place*! These will be .good and coramodioui ebope, and, no doubt will readily mcc t with tenants. The whole three shops ar* enclosed at sides ana back in outer brick walls $t 14in. thickness, and the dividing wall is 9in. in brick We may add that Messrs. Gardner and Sutton have furnished their drapery with an excellent stock in keeping with the oharaoter of tb» building, and that the establishments s whole will do credit to the town. • k As pxevioualy indicated, Mr. Ouzaea^M was architect, and the firm^iS"^ Pleaßea with the building he has deifmed Mr. mutington has •carried *JPSl bnck-work mfirit olass style, and Ble^ri Smart and Hood« who are retpobeibti fox the woods* part of the boildiatr, acd th * cabinetwork,: have given- eompleteiS! faotaon, 7i Mr. Styles is wUtlaCtQ^SSe for the artistic painting he has dwiiWna which be has done poHebihgandlisio«