AN EXTENSIVE BUSINESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 95, 24 April 1895, Page 2

AN EXTENSIVE BUSINESS.

Mr Robert Snodgrass, who with his sons has for so long carried on a general grocery and crockery business i:i their well known premises at tho corner of Hardy and Col-lingwood-streets, has prospered so satisfactorily that he has been compelled to build again. And now he has erected in Hardy-street his new premises, a fine, commodious, and substantially-built building, which is not. only a very decided improvement to the architecture of Hardy-street, and to tho city, but is admitted by competent judges to b3 one if the most conveniently designed and commodious orockery stores to bo found anywharo. Mr Snodgrass, sen, who designs! tho new premises himself, must ba congratulated upon tho perfectness of his conception, and hero it might be added that ho is exceedingly well pleased with tho faithful manner in which his ideas have been put into practice by the architect, Mr Roberts, Mr Snodgrass entrusted the erection of the building to Messrs Leaper Brothers, and has never regretted having done so; on tho contrary he is thoroughly satisfied with t e work done by the builders, and with tho plumbing and painting done by Messrs H. Kidson and Last Harris respectively. New premises were rendered absolutely necessary on account of the steadily increasing business dono by the firm, especially in the wholesale department, in whio'j Mr Snodgrass has now established a connection with Marlborough, the West Coast, and all the districts surrounding Nelson. With tho additional storage accommodation which the now building will afford, Mr SnoJgrass will be in a better position to m»et tho increased demand in wholesale lines, and under these circumstances he will greatly extend his business, Hitherto tho amount of damage done by breakage to crockery owing to laok of storage spice has been so great that the saving eilected in this direction by the erection of the new building will bs sufficient to pay for the extra outlay, Tho new promises have already bom well stocked, the largo ground floor being neatly packed with heavy crockery, such as dinner, tea, breakfast, and chambsr ware, whiUt upstairs is found a great variety of f mcy china, glass, and Japanese ware, most effectively and conviently displayed on side shelves, and upon sixteen vory large and strongly built portable stands made to match the premjses. Excepting a small shipment received yesterday the greater portion of the stock has been stowed away in reserve at the old store in live ton crates, but the business at the coiner store will in future bo devoted principally to general grocery. The new store lias been vory strongly built, and in addition to a large front entrance from Hardy Street has also a delivery entrance from Moirisjn Street, where vehicles may drive right up to a door (acting upou rollers) and receivo or discharge goods. From the architect's notes we are enabled to give the following particulars concerning tlie new building, which occupies an area of 40 feet frontage to Hardy Street by a depth of 7- feet ;— The building U of wood on dwarf concrete walls, and is roofed with galvanised iron. It is of two stories, the ground lloor one being 1-ft "in- high, and the upper floor 10ft high to the wall plate, The elevation to Hardy Street is of a neat design of wide panelled and moulded pilasters, with a double moulded string relieved by cut and moulded patera, and a deep moulded enrnico with dentil ornament, carrying a moulded parapet divided by dwarf columns finished with turned liuials, tho total height from the footpath bain? 33 feet. The ground lloor has two large mullioned windows, each 13 feet by 10 feet high, and tho upper floor t'noe double windows having bracketed sills and bracketed and moulded heads, all of these being .to Hardy street. The sides of the building aio also panelled out with pilasters, etc., whiuh besides giving additional strength to tlie wall-i, cover all butt joints of the covering hoards. Access to the uppor lloor is given by a substantial staircase in the centre of the building live feet wide, wkh double landing, The upper lloor is open to the roof, tho timbering ol which is all dressed, and besides the front windows are lit by a lantern which is 3.1 feet long, and the top of which is 43 feet from tho gronml. This lantern also •lives an auxiliary light to tho ground lloor, through a large balustraded well holo. Intermediate of tlie walls the upper lloor is supported on beams carried on two rows of story posts through the length of the building, and these are also extended to the tic beams of the roof. The building is lined throngout with narrow V jointed boards ; and whilst strength and capacity for storage purposes are its chief features, there is evidence throughout of good workmanship and neat finishing. Besides inelosures at the front windows and two ollice compartments on either side of the entraneo doors, die interior has so far been bnt partly iittod up for the display of goods; such, however, includes a considerable amount of shelving and .sixteen (eight on each lloor) large three tier bible stands. At the back of the ground lloor a space of 44 feet by 12 feet is .screened oil' for a packing room, access to which is obtained also by a large sliding door to Morrison-street. Gas has beeii laid throughout both' floors, two large chandeliers being noticeablu on the ground lloor and two upstairs. Although business at the new building will be principally on wholesale lines, a a retail trade will also be carried on therein response to a general invitation n large number oi' Mr Snodgrns.s's ensomers and friends assembled in the new building this afternoon, and having congratulated the energetic proprietor of Ca'odonia House on his new venture, had a look round the premises and were regaled with afternoon tea. Business on the occasion was strictly avoided.