THE STATE HOUSES

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4640, 16 May 1938, Page 5

THE STATE HOUSES

SEVERAL NEARING COMPLETION. PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION. FURTHER HOUSES TO BE BUILT? Several of the State houses being built in Te Kuiti are now very near completion, and it is probable that the ten houses now under construction will be finished within two months. The houses facing Taupiri Street are at present in a very advanced stage of construction, only requiring the attention of painters, of carpenters on minor construction, and of paperhangers. The same remarks apply to the wooden house at the western end of Alexandra. Street.

The houses are to be papered throughout over plaster-board except for the bathrooms, lavatories and kitchens, which will be finished in enamel. The number of cupboards in the houses is %nazing— each house has its fuel-room, each bedroom a built-in wardrobe,, and there are linen cupboards, broom cupboards, overcoat cupboards, spread all over the houses. In the kitchens much time has been devoted to constructing a varied array of bins, cupboards and safes.

Some criticism has been levelled against the State houses for their lack of window space and the smallness of the rooms. Both criticisms are unwarranted, at least so far as the principal rooms are concerned. From the outside it does appear in some instances, owing to the design, that the architects have not been overgenerous in the matter of glass. An inside inspection, however, shows, that the rooms are definitely very well lighted. The living rooms, which are placed in every case at the northern end of the houses, have been designed with the idea of catching the sun—ire fact, in one of those inspected, that in the wooden house at the end of Hinerangi Street, the large living room has claims to be called a sunroom, with windows on three walls. Fireplaces are included in every living room. The largest living room is, taking in a dining alcove 9 feet wide, no less than 21 feet long, and is for the greater part of its length 12 feet wide. The smallest is 15 feet by 12 feet. The main bedroom in each house is of fairly generous proportions—the smallest is 14 feet by 11 feet and the largest 15 feet 6 inches by 12 feet. It has to be remembered that as the provision of built-in wardrobes in every bedroom adds to the usable floor space, a lesser area for furniture will be necessai-y. Lavatories are separate from the bathrooms except in the double-unit house. In the majority of cases the kitchen is placed so as to catch the morning sun, but in one case where this was not possible a fireplace has been included in the kitchen.

The exterior appearance of the ten house is well known to the people of Te Kuiti. Three of the houses fronting Alexandra Street are of wood, and all the remaining houses are of brick veneer—an outer wall of brick lined with heavy studs on to which the plaster-board is nailed. Two of the houses are under the same roof, and the exterior of this double-unit dwelling is, to add variety to the general appearance* being given a “Sydney sandstone” finish. Others will have brick exterior. All have tiled roofs, are as nearly as possible vermin-proof, have such refinements as electric hot water cylinders, electric stoves, copper piping properly lagged for hot water connections, concrete tubs in the washhouse, and special tops on the sinks. The best of materials are used throughout. The construction work is being carried out by Messrs. Jarvis and Son, of Mapiu, who have 20 men employed on the houses at the present time.

An interesting fact is that the ditches already have been dug, not or.ly for the sewer connections to the houses now under construction, but also to the sections belonging to the Crown at the back. To give access to these sections Hinerangi Street would have to be extended, but so far the Borough Council has shown a disinclination to construct the length of road necessary, and has taken up the question with the Government. When the inspection of the houses was made last week, the hope was expressed that the new Council might be more disposed to promote the erection of the further houses contemplated. The housing shortage is still as acute as ever it was in Te Kuiti, and the ten houses erected, though they will relieve the situation somewhat, are not likely to overcome the difficulty entirely.