OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7344, 31 October 1901, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

(from our own gobrispondhnt.)

THE NEW COURT HOUSE.

This showy building is just finished by Mr Ryan, the contractor. It is built between the new Post Office and the Police Station, and stands back from tho road 40ft. There is a neat picket fence in front and gravel walk to front door and around sides. The building is 85ft frontage by 80ft deep, with a little porch at baok door. The entrance' doors open into porch, in whioh there are five fire buckets, all ready for an emergency, and from the porch there Is a comfortable waiting room for witnesses, 10ft z 9ft. Next along the passage is the Clerk's room, 14ft x 10ft, with a polished counter and a fireplace, and then comes the Magistrate's room, 14ft x 10ft, with a fireplace. The only other room, the Court room, oddnpiea more than half the building, being '29ft x 19ft. There is a corner railed off for the public, and a strong bench for them to sit on. In the centre is a nice polished table for the counsel, next is the Clerk's desk, enclosed and raised above floor level, and behind the Clerk is the Bench, still higher, with steps each end. Then there are the dock and witness-box. There is also a fireplace in the Courtroom. The ceiling of the Court-room is ooned 2ft and panelled. All ceilings are panelled, the walls match-lined, and painted soft tint, the dadoes are varnished, as also are the doors, mouldings, eto. There are the usual outbuildings, tank, drains, eto. Altogether, it is a very Bolid and substantial building. The roofs are close-boarded, covered with felt, and then with iron, a I ventilator and iron railing surmounting the ridge, as in the case of the Post Office. Mr John Ryan has turned out a truly first-class job in his well known style, and has thoroughly satisfied Mr Thaoker, the übiquitous inspector. Messrs Wallace and Broughton had the painting and decorating, and made a good finish, and Mr Hodgson did the plumbing in a workmanlike manner.' The contract price was £518. The Post Office coßt £1000, and there is now £100 worth of alterations going on to the Police Station, and, adding the cost of the Police Station and some alterations to the old Post Office, makes considerably over £2000 spent here in buildings by the Government in a very short space of time.