COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9510, 4 September 1891, Page 3

COLONIAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

NEW- BUILDINGS. . The Melbourne Argus oi‘ August 13, says :The line building known as the Colonial Mutual Chambers, in Market street, which,has recently been erected for the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, adjoining the head office of that Society, compares very favourably with any of the largo business premises which have recently been built in the city, and it is a noteworthy fact that this imposing structure occupies the site of the old printing office of Mr John Pascoe Fawkaer’s paper, the Port Philip Patriot. The land upon which it stands has a frontage of 51ft to Market street, with a depth of 133 ft, and was purchased by the Society from Messrs Lango and Thornemann before the _ period known as the land boom. During the boom the whole amount of the purchase money was offered to the Society for half the land, but the Directors took the view that the land was an investment, and declined to make it the subject of speculation. The erection of the building was placed in the hands of Messrs Smith and Johnson, architects, who have performed their work in a very creditable manner; and the solid, roomy structure which they planned out affords accommodation, hot oniy for the Assurance Society which owns the premises, but for a large number of offices as well. The building itself, which is 135 ft in height from the pavement to the finia!, is in the Renaissance style of architecture, and the facade, which is of red brick, is faced with ornamental dressings of cement. In the basement are spacious offices and plenty of storage room, where the atmosphere on the warmest summer day must be deliciously cool. The ground floor is occupied by the Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Company and by the Phcenix Life Assurance Society, while the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society alsojhas its board-room here. Wide passages lead into the building both from Collins street and from Market street, and form a short cut for pedestrians between the two streets. There are nine stories in all, and amongst the offices in the building are those of the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board and the County Fire Brigades Board. The Chamber of Commerce has also rented a suite of offices on the second floor. The top floor is given up to the actuarial and accountants' department of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society, and from the windows of the different rooms a magnificent view is obtained over the city and the bay. The entire building is lit by tne electric light, which has been fitted up by the New Australian Electric Lighting Company. A solid blnestono staircase extends from the basement to tha top story, but for the convenience of tenants and others, fast-running pssaenget-Jiffcs have been placed in position by the Austral Otis Elevator Company, and may be used without a qualm even by the moat timid. They have been constructed on a new principle, which ensures perfect safety, even should the ropes break, each car being fitted with an indiarubber band round the floor, while the well in which it works gradually narrows in width from the ground floor downwards. A trial was made recently, when the ropes were taken off, and one of the cars was allowed to drop from the top floor to the bottom. After passing the ground floor it came to a gradual stop in the “ air cushion," and a bucket of water which had been placed inside was not even spilled. The device is the invention of Mr C. H. Mair, of Queen street. Many of the offices have been fitted with fire-proof strong-rooms and iron .safes, and every precaution has been taken against the possibility of fire. The sanitary arrangements are perfect, and excellent lavatories and retiring-rooms have been provided for the tenants. The .work has been carried out by Mr Bight, contractor, of Fitzroy. assisted by Mr Dailey, jun., under the supervision of Messrs Smith and Johnson, the . architects, the Clerk of Works being Mr Frpd. Allison.” •