CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10651, 11 May 1895, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

DUNSTABLE HOUSE. To-day Messrs Ballantyne and Co. open tha additions which have lately been made to their premises, which are now probably the finest and most commodious of the kind in the colony. Before giving a description of tha premises it may be as well to say a few words about the progress which Dunstable House has made since its establishment in an unpretentious way by Mrs D. Clarkson in 1854, as the then leading millinery emporium in the iniant city of Christchurch." Soon after its establishment it developed into a general drapery business, and ia 1884 was sold to Mr W. Pratt, who had previously been a storekeeper ia Lyttelton and Nelson. After managing the establishment with great success for about eight years, and having considerably added to the premises, Mr Pratt retired in favour of Mr John Esliantyno in 1872, and during the next seven years tha business assumed otiU greater proportions, keeping pace with the growth, of the Cathedral City. Dressmaking, tailoring aad mantiomaking wore . added to the other departments. In 1879 Mr Ballaatyne disposed of his interest to the present proprietors, who have year by year kept pace with the demands of the increasing population and abreast of the prevailing fashions, direct steam communication with tho European markets having enabled them to be vary little behind London and Paris fashions. It will thus be seen that the business lisa bad an uninterrupted run of prosperity for over forty years. The constant additions of fresh departments necessitating a till more accommodation, the firm decided upon further extending their premises, and, having acquired hslf-an-acra of ground to the westward of their old shop, Mr E. W. England, jun., Tfaa entrusted with tho preparation of plans for a new building, it tha same time it was found neceisary to make considerable alterations in the original premises. Tho work of erecting the additions was carried out by Messrs D. Scott and Son,’ who have finished their work in a month less than the contract timo, to tho satisfaction of both Messrs Ballaatyne and Co. and the architect. ■

The premises now present a handsome three-story front to Csshel Street of 137 feet, with a curved glass verandah along the whole length, snd have a depth oc 250 foat, whilo the additions v re carried out in tha same style as the old front, being of Oarnaru Tot&ra tree atone. Tha fifet doorway leads into the men’s clothing and outfitting department, which ia 100, feet long by 30 feet broad, end is lighted directly from the roof; at tha rear of this are two private offices, and behind these a well-lighted general office 40 feet by 30 fact. The next department is the general drapery and drees branch, which can be entered from the street, and also communicates by an arch with tho clothing shop. It has a depth of IG6 fast by a width of 40 feet, and is also lighted from the roof. Behind it is a novelty in tha shape of a dark room for the purpose of judging evening shades by gaslight. An archway leads into the new house-furnishing chowroom, which ia 120 feet by 34 feet, and contains a plate glass window, unbroken by a doorway, for the display of goods necessary to tho household. This room has n ceiling light running nearly the whole length, and should admirably suit the purpose for which ithaa bean designed, From here a door leads into a tastefully decorated tea-room, which is under tha managemonfc of Mr Gill, who has also taken the shop in front of it. Massive swing glass doors lead from the furnishing showroom into a ladies’ showroom iu the rear—l3o feet by 84 feet. This room has ceiling lights running tho entire length, and is also lighted by windows at the back. It is divided into three bays, the first of which ia devoted to tha display of ladies’ mantles and jackets, the second to millinery, and the third to underclothing. Let into the walls are massive plate-glass mirrors, and great taeta has been displayed in the fittings and arrangements. Connected with this department is a handsomely - furnished waiting-room for ladies, as well as fitting-rooms and lavatories, the latter containing tiled floors and dadoes, and being fitted up in a lavish manner with all the latest improvements. At the rear of the tea-room ia a floorcloth show-room 40 feat by 35 feet aad a packingroom, with an entrance from Lichfield Street and a covered way under which conveyances can bo loaded and unloaded. Further to the westward ia another shop 50 feet by 17 feet. Underneath tha drapery department is a cellar 40 feet by 40 feet for the storage of heavy goods, and, in addition to the rooms already mentioned, there are several smaller ones need in connection with the business. The whole of the ground floor is lighted by electricity, and in view of tho increased power required, Messrs Anderson Bros, are constructing a forty-horsa-power Cornish boiler and a vortical engine of the newest marine type, which will drive a SOQ-light Krnpp dynamo of the latest pattern. All departments on the ground floor are served by Lambuon’s cash railway system, connected with the cashier’s office in the centre of the building. Ascending the main staircase from the centre of the building tha reserve stockroom ia reached, which is surroqadod by fitting-rooms, in the rear of which are a mantiemsking-room 30 feet by 20 feet and a dressmaking-room 40 feet by 30 feet. Above the clothing department is a readymade catting and tailoring workroom, and in front of this are the gentlemen’s fittingrooms and bespoke tailoring branch. Next to this ia another dressmaking-room 40 feet by 30 feet, and further to the west a commodious bedstead showroom 67 feet by 30 feet' occupies the whole of the new frontage, and is lighted by eight windows. Leading out of this is a room 110 feet by 13 feet, which is to be used for mattress and carpet-making. These rooms are all connected by archways. A staircase leads from bore to tho top floor, and half-way up is a lavatory for the employes. In this part of the building, at the head of the staircase, is a dining-room 67 feet by 30 feet, lighted from both front and back. Adjoining this to the eastward ia the tailoressoa’ workroom, 60 feet by 30 feet; and connected with this again is the presseis’ room, fitted with beating stoves, &o. Upon this flat, but in another building, ore tho hat-making and mackintosh ooat manufacturing departments. Staircases are provided at each end of the premises for the convenience of the employes as well as for safoty in case of fire, while the whole premises are fitted with a high-pressure water-service forfirepraventiou purposes. To supply the water power two deep wells have been sunk, and the water is raised by three rams into tanka at the top of the building. To give soma idea of the magnitude of the premises, it may be stated that there is a floor apace of over 42,000 square feet, and every department ia connected by a system of speaking tubes. The firm has branches both at Timaru and in London, and altogether over four hundred hands are employed. The latest additions are a decided improvement to the city, and the block of which they are a continuation has made a considerable alteration ia the appearance of Cashel Street.