PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 33, 12 April 1866, Page 2

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. During the last few months an impetus has been given to the erection of buildings in Nelson. The Bank of New Zealand, now in course of erection, is iv a style so massive and costly, and is, we trust, likely to stimulate many of our fellow-townsmen to the erection of solid buildings, that we thought it desirable to give it a special notice. The bank iv question is being erected in Trafal-gar-street, adjoining the Criterion Hotel. It is independently of the yard walls, 132 feet long by 46 feet 6 inches wide. Its height from the ground to the top pediment is 29 feet- 6 inches. The foundation is of concrete, the base of Melbourne blue stone, aud the remainder of the walls of brick, which is to be plastered with Portland cement. The architectural style is lonic. The building will contain 14 rooms besides outhouses. There is tbe bank room, manager's room, two strong rooms, messenger's room, lavatory, hall, parlour, bed rooms aud others for domestic pur.poses. The bank room wiil be 18 feet high in the clear, the manager's room 13 feet 6 inches, aud the others 12 feet. There is to be a portico in front. Its four brick columns will rest on a base of blue stone, lhe brick of local manufacture. The blue stone used in the building is a fine and durable material. It is axed and diamoued hammered with a three inch fluted margin on the top. Between the columns iv front cast-iron railings will be fixed, which with the gates, will be obtained from Melbourne. The steps to the portico and to all the door-ways, will be pf Melbourne blue stone. The public offices will be floored with Yorkshire paving. The strong roonis are concreted underneath, and paved with three-inch stone flags. The brickwork of the building is old English bond. It is grouted eveiy second course. All the walls are tied with four tiers of strong hoop-iron, and three tiers in height, each tier is -well clasped, and all the joints are run through a i mixture of hot tar. The running of the iron t througli the tar is to prevent its rusting. The I lime used in the buildiug is said to be a firstj class material. It is furnished .by Mr. | Lukins of Nelson. The bricks :re also of local j manufacture, by Messrs. John and James , Patching, aud W. Osborne. Relieving arches are constructed over all the openings, to tako | the weight off those parts of the building. I The strong room is arched with semicircular bricks, four rims thick, and set solid in cement. The projection of the cornice is all carried out with flag core. At the back of the building a large circular tank has been dug. It is lined with brick, cemented, and is capable of holding 14,000 gallons of water, which is obtaiued from the roof. It has a cylindrical dome on the top, and receives the water from the roof in pipes of six-inch glazed stoneware, brought from Melbourno. Every room and passage of the building is ventilated by means of flues, with cast-iron gratings at the mouths. Two courses of slates are placed immediately below the ground floor wall plates, bedded and cemented in asphalte, to prevent the damp from rising

and to keep the timber sound. The drains from the various offices to the main sewer are constructed of nine-inch pipes. The root is covered with the best countess Tslates, each slate is fastened with zinc nails. The roof aud joists will be of best remu wood, and the ceilings, wbieh will be panelled, of totara. The floor is of red pine, one and a quarter-inch grooved and tongued. The mouldings and panels are all of totara. All the external walls are to be plastered with Portland cement. The walls of the foundations are three feet thick; the front walls and those of the strong room are two feet three; above the foundations the walls of tbe front and sides of the public offices are eighteen inches thick ; all the other walls are fifteen inches thick. The building is estimated to cost between £7,000 aud £S,OOO. Mr. Terry, of Melbourne, is the architect. Mr. John Scott, of ■Nelson, is the sole contractor for the whole of the works, and we are glad to find so important a public building erected by a Nelson man ; Mr. Thomas Younger is foreman of the brick and stone work, and there cannot 1 be a doubt that his great experience will enable him to do justice to the work. Mr. Wm. Smith is clerk of the works. There is a good supply of water on the premises, in the tank previously referred to. Iv a 30-feet well, a depth of 24 feet of water has been secured. This has greatly facilitated the building operations. The building has made satisfactory progress. It is expected that in a month from this time it will be roofed in, should the weather prove favorable to building operations. In about five months from the present time the building will be finished, should no accident now unforeseen impede tlie operations of the workmen. It is unnecessary to remark on the valuable addition to our public buildings that the Bank of New Zealand will present, or to express a hope, iv which all will indulge, that it is only tfie commencement of a series of similarly ornamental aud durable structures. Band of Hope. — The fortnightly meeting of the, Baud of Hope took place last evening, Mr. Crisp in the chair. The. proceedings commenced with singing and prayer. There were nearly 500 children aud parents present. Mr. Joshua Johns delivered an instructive lecture on •" The Pilgrim's Progress." The magic lantern was also effectively exhibited by Mr. James Hill, jun. The lecture and -exhibition gave great satisfaction. The next meeting will take place on the 25th iust. Greymouth. — The Albion brings very little news from this district, but Aye hear that the new rush to the Little Grey had not turned out of much value. A meeting ■of miners was held at Greymouth a few days since, and a vote of censure was unanimously passed upou the editor of the Argus, for publishing such exaggerated statements as he had. It was also proposed that he should -contribute £ 100 to the Greymouth Hospital, by wwar3 r of a fine.