MOTOR PROGRESS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1914, Page 2

MOTOR PROGRESS.

Lan up-to-date establish-

MENT

MR PARKER'S NEW PREMISES

The town owes a good deal architecturally to the enterprise of Mr E. S. Parker. Such was the case before he commenced the erection of his new garage in High Street-—as witness the j up-to-dateness of • His Majesty's Theatre, lor one thing; but now that he has "adde to his list of buildings an imposing motor establishment, the credit that is due to him as a progressive citizen is so much the greater. Erected at considerable cost, and on a plan that leads1 rather than follows the general development of the town, the garage decidedly improves the appearance of the eastern end of High Street. It occupies 50 feeb of the street frontage, and has a depth of 125 feet, then joining on to the old garage, which adds another fSO feet to its depth. The building is j constructed of brick, with the walls I concreted and painted internally, and' I resting on "floating" foundations, I capable of bearing a tremendous j strain. An interesting piece of inj formation is that the sit© is on a ; piece of Collie's Hollow that has, by filling-in. been reclaimed from \.a depth of 13 feet within the last ten years. A fine, commodious structure, the garage has standing-room I for as many as GO cars at one time.; i and it may be mentioned that the ! girders have been so arranged for a I length of 36 feet in the eastern wall i that, if necessary, the building may, j. with a minimum of displacement, be • materially enlarged over the adjoining j stable property. ! The facade is of a- handsome descrip- ! tion. The main door for the entrance lof vehicles, which .has been landed ! from America, is of the* roll-up j shutter pattern, and is fire-proof, and i on each side of it are smaller.:doors. ;■ For the rest v . effect is given to the I facade by large expanses of plate»glass .:! window on either hand, and by a Jstip^rstructure of ornamental design, 1 the central feature of which is a small 'balcony; Situated above the street entrance are the drivers' apartments, aiid theso are communicated with by , a night bell. Thus, anyone standing; ■on the footpath during the early 1 hours of the morning may secure the i immediate attention of a chauffeur, j, who steps out on to the balcony arid I ascertains the customer's wish. The building is excellently lighted by ' twelve, roof sky-lights, in addition to I the platen-glass .windows in front arid the '* Muranese fan-lights over,.the j plate-glass. The ventilation system , is an application of the best hygienic 1 principles; and the lighting service— J gas being the illuminant, and ! Humphrey . lights of the. latest ] pattern, being,, installed—makes night' .! as day in every part of the establish--1 ment. An efficient water-supply j ensures thorough cleanliness: and the highest degree of convenience. In tho centre.of the main floor is a turntable, 16 feet is diameter; and in one of the corners is an up-to-date oar-wash, which will accommodate three cars at. tho one time. A space 35 feet long by 14 feet in one'of the oorners at the back end of the garage is taken up by a. suite of five apartments, consisting of the main office, a private office, a gentlemen's waiting and reading-room, a ladies' waiting-room with all conveniences, and a. gentlemen's lavatory, the. appurtenances of which include a shower' bath. These apartments are comfortably furnished, ' well ventilated, and equipped with gas-heating apparatus for use in the winter. Occupants of the waiting-rooms have a, clear view of the garage through a liberal expanse of windows. Glass cupboards arranged around the walls of these rooms hold the large stock of sundries necessary for tho proper conduct <)f the motor and cycle trade, and although bicycles are, not' now displayed^as in the premises formerly used, the cycle business is still fully provided for, the cycles being exhibited upstairs, leaving the ground floor for the motors. Motor tyres of . various sizes are conveniently j stocked in a series of cupboards on a landing near the roof. Mr Parker's-old garage at the rear has been converted into a workshop, being; used for that, purpose solely,! and it is entered from the new build- ; ing through a wide doorway. The ! upstairs portion of the old premises is now a commodious cycle-repair shop, 'and. a portion. 36 feet by 16 feet, is ai commodious stock-room, whore are arranged surplus stocks of new. cycles, tyros, sewing machines, folding go-carts, and all the bulkier lines; of a cycle business. i /The sanitary system is in keeping with the, modern, character of the new establishment. "It is provided for by c septic tank, which has its outlet irrto the Collie's Hollow dram. The work of constructing the garage was carried out by. day labor, andi as far as possible the principle of supporting local trades in procuring the supplies of material and fittings was followed. Mr W. Hodson was responsible for the brick-laying; < Messrs Ward and Co. did the joinery work; Mr J. A. Leslie was the plumber; a.nd Mr C, Forrest has I rounded off the scheme with vsome tasteful sign-writing. : Mr Husband, who was foreman of works for the building of His Majesty's Theatre, returned specially from Auckland to supervise the erection of the garage. ; Omission must not be mad© of the fact that the building has not only j solidity, but also the outstanding j merit of being practically fire-proor, tho whole of the floors—the most dangerous portion in a garage—being ! of concrete. This, in fact, is one of the leading features of its plan of construction. Mr Parker has certainly not done anything by halves in designing and erecting his fine new garage; and the compliment that is due to him for his ! enterprise may appropriately be associated with a word of congratulation to his feJlow-citizeiis. for the town has gained substantially.