NEW HOTEL IN PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6573, 11 December 1882, Page 6

NEW HOTEL IN PARNELL.

The handsome new hotel erected for Mr. F. Tomlinson at the corner of Manukau-road and Henley-street, Parnell, on the site of the old Exchange Hotel, was opened on Saturday. The edifice is a very handsome structure, and is now a striking feature in Parnell. It was designed by Mr. Watt, architect, and carried out under his supervision by Mr. Robert Kay, the contracting builder. The architectural design is unique, aud the finish excellent. It has a frontace of 43 feet to Manukau-road, and 51 feet 4 inches to Henley-street ; and with the billiard-room, which projects to the back, has a total depth of 60 feet S inches. The Manukau road frontage has a main entrance, on each side of which, on the ground floor, are four largo windows in pairs, fitted with pilasters, trusses, and cornices, similar to the door. The two storeys are divided by a sill course with moulded frieze, dentals, and cornice. There are five large windows on the upper front, round each of which are label mouldings and turned drops. The facade is formed of cantilever mouldings and cornices, and the parapet is moulded with raised panels and capping, and the whole is surmounted in the centre with a handsome heavy triangular pediment of very excellent construction. The Heuley-street frontage is similar. The bar entrance is from the angle, and thiß also is surmounted hy a handsome pediment, which is even more imposing in appearance than the others. The internal portion of the building is finished in splendid style. The bar is IS feet x 14 fact; the bar counter is semi circular in shape. Attached to the bar are two serving windows, connected by arches which spring off carved trusses. A small bar parlour, 14 foet x 8 feet 2 inches, at the back of the bar, and lighted from the Manukau-road, forms a very snug, convenient sitting-room. Off the Manukau-road is the commercial-room, IS feet x 14 feet, and on the same side of the hall are two smaller rooms. The main hall leads through the building to the billiardroom, a well fitted room, *25 feat x '2"2 feet, fitted with a newly imported Alcock table, and furnished with all the latest appliances. There is a raised dais round the room for onlookers. Off the Henley-street entrance is the dining-room, 15 feet x 14 feet, with two entrances, one off the main passage, and the other ofT a branch passage. The kitchen is at the back of this room, and is fitted with a cooking range and other appliances. Wo may add that the main hall is six feet wide, and is fitted with swing doors, sidelight*, and fanlights. That from Henley-street is live feet wide, and is similarly fitted. The entrance to the bil-liard-room is also divided by swing-doors, and sidelights. The staircase springs from the Heuley-street hall. The sitting-room over the bar is IS feet x 14 feet, and next to this, facing the Manukau road is the principal bed-room, 14 feet by 1-1 feet G inches, and two other bed-rooms, each 9 x 14 feet. At the back are two bed-rooms, 12 x 14 feet, and three smaller bedrooms. The main lauding is 7 feet wide, and at right angles to it are passages 4 feet wide dividing the bedrooms. The height of these rooms between floor and ceiling is 11 feet G inches, hut in the lower storey the height is 1:5 feet 6 inches. All the rooms above and below are ventilated with beam and fretwork ventilators, except the sitting-room, which has a handsome papiermache centre piece. The cellar, which is the whole size of the bar, is 6 feet 6 inches deep, and is stone-work, cemented inside, and a concrete floor. The building is erected on a brick foundation, and the roof is galvanised iron. The whole building is an ornament to Parnell, and is creditable to the enterprising proprietor, as well as to the architect and contractor.