THE VICTORIA ARCADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6948, 23 February 1884, Page 5

THE VICTORIA ARCADE.

The following are the tenders for the erection of the Victoria Arcade, for : the New Zealand Insurance Company :—Allan ! Maguire, £36,162 8a ; R. Jenkinson, £30,496 10s; Price and Malcolm, £40,293; Jas. J. Holland, £40,410 ; Baildon and StephensoD, £40,550. The tender of Mr. Maguire has been accepted, and the time allowed for the completion of the block eighteen months. There ie considerable dissatisfaction among the local competing architects at the decision arrived ■ at. A premium of £250 was offered by the company for the best design for a block of buildings, four etoreys high| and the cost of which was not to exceed £25,000, whereas the premium has been awarded to a design, which from the practical test of tendering will cost, with foundar tions, £40,000. They hold that having complied with the conditions, by keeping their designs within the limits assigned, £25,000, they are now unjustly treated by the present decision. It must be said for the' company, on the other hand, that several alterations have been made in the accepted design, involving an increase of cost to the extent of several thousand pounds. Among other change there is an extra bay in Queenstreet ; a projection to the Queen-etreet facade ; enlargement of the grand staircase ; large strong-rooms ; bath-rooms; caretaker's rooms on fourth floor, fittings, etc.