WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, AND CO.'S WOOL STORES. [From Otago Daily Times, October 10, 1891.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7268, 16 October 1891, Page 4

WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, AND CO.'S WOOL STORES. [From Otago Daily Times, October 10, 1891.

Mohrvb Wright, Sbcphcnson and Co. hwo j list had Inrgo additions and allcra ions made to tlioir wool stores, High and Maclaggnn streets, which will ion d*r those premises incomparably tho best suited in the colony for tho exhibition of wool, and aupotior to nnything of tho kind in iho other colonies Tho alterations consist in the re rooting of ft considerable section of tho front portion of tho original building, tho leplacing of tho woot'on fl( or by concrete, and tho election ol a strong room. The storage accommoda tion has been increased by the exten sion of one of tho old stores, hy a floor space ot 7 oft square. The addition is two storeys in he ght. the upper He or being carried over tho High snoot onti.ince to tho horse Rule) ai ds. Tho dimensions of tho upper fl or, which coubtitutes the larger of their wool showrooms, are by means of tho addition increased to 145 ft by 75ft, giving an area on this floor alone of upwauls of 11,300 equare feet, which will afford accommodation for tho storage of over 3000 bales. An important feature of the new showroom is the lighting, to which special attention has been given. Tho skylight system, which is generally iv voguo throughout Now Zealand, is now condemned by tho best authorities for the renson that it gives to the wool n conraor appcaraneo than it actually possesses, and if is being superseded in the principal wool stores of tho world by a perpendicular light. Under tho latter sys teru, as it is introduced into Messrs Wright, Stephenaon and Co. 1 a, all tho light is obtained from the South, nnd a subdued light is secured which, added to the fact that the wnils are painted in blue tint, affords the best possible light for judging wool. The object is attained by the construction of tho roof as n, soiies of lean-tos off 1 (ho level of the beams 'I he upper wall, as it were, of the lean-to is constructed entiiely of glass, which facps due south, tho idea being to get as much light ns possible and at tho same time exclude tbo rays of tho sun, which have tho eft'ect of aiakinp the wool appear much coaiser (thus detmiorating its value) than it really is Another advantage accruing from tho system of perpendicular lights is that tho excessive heat of the summer months, which with the skylight system becomes almost unendurable, is avoided. It may bo mentioned that 1700 ft of rolled pinto glass hive been utilised in tho lighting of the stote. The ceilings are lined with nai row lining and all tho wood-work on the upper floor is dipssod and fiaiuicd. 1 lie beams are of kauri timber, supported in ironbnrk and black pine posts. The roof is covered with iron, and tho gutters are of stiong galvanised iron, rivetted nnd soldeied together Ihe upper and lower floors are connected by nn ek'Vitot, which is driven by a 6 lip. Otto gas engine, and is capable of hoistiug 500 bales an hour ; and provision has been made for tho election of another elevator should occasion require if. From tho upper floor there are thrCR discharge shoots for tho purposo of loading drays direct fiom the wool showroom. 'I he shoots aio so pl.iced that delivery of goods can be made either to I i»h street or Maclnggiin stieet from the showroom, which, while iv immediate communication with the office, is in tho heart of tho • •lock, giving the premisps a compactness that will certainly prove to bo mo-t advantageous. The isound floor is of concrete, and n portion of it is utilised for stackiug hides for sale, the latter part being thoroughly well drained and sloped towards a gutter connecting with a Bcwnr, so that every facility is afforded for getting rid of the liquor that drains from the hides and for sorting. 'J he foundations are of concrete, and, owing to the original formation, have been lnid down at a considerate depth. Somo idea of tl.e extensivo nature of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co.'s promises may bo gathered from the fact that the entiie floor space now covers an urea of tlnee quarters of an acre, providing storage accommodation to the amount of about 100,000 cubic feet. It is freely acknowledged by experienced pcisons who have seen the new showroom that it is tho one most perfectly lighted and b"st adapted in the colon'CS for tho purposes 'or which it has been built. The Milhurn Company's cement only has been used, and its quality has boon found to be equal to the best imported Portland cement 'fhe plumbing was entrusted to Messrs J. and T. Clnistie, and the painting and glazing to Mr Thomas Fogo, nnd in each case fche work baa been performed most satisfactorily. All the other woik was done by day labor, under the very careful supervision of J\lr Ifobeit Martin. Tho designs were prepared by Mr F. W. Petre, architect.