BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7164, 1 November 1884, Page 5

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

NEW PREMISES IN MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY. ' Wβ understand the purchase by the Bank of New Zealand of the premises in Melbourne and Sydney, recently occupied by the Orients Bank Corporation, hae now been concluded, and possession will be almost at once acquired. For the information of our readers we may shortly describe the position of the premises. ' In Melbourne the site is that occupied for many years by the Union Bank of Australia, at the corner of Collins and Queen-streets, and is acknowledged on all bands to be the choicest in the city. A few years since the Union Bank, having determined to erect new premises, considered the aHotment on which their old building stood was too small, and decided to vacate it for one lower down Collins-street, a movement which has not generally been regarded as beneficial to the Bank. The old premises and site were sold, and the new proprietor dismantled the old building, and, under arrangement with the Oriental Bank Corporation, erected, the present handsome structure on a long lease, which has now been transferred to tbe Bank of New Zealand. Externally tho building may be described as being more aesthetic than as belonging to any special order. It is one storey high, but lofty, the entrance being at the corner, and no windows are visible, the light being supplied from the roof. The only break in the exterior walls is a rich panel of varied coloured marble which is meant to relieve the sombre effect of the blank walls. This ie further assisted by a rich entablature at top, the whole effect being pleasing. While little attention has been paid to external adornment the interior has been handsomely fitted up, and the most has been made of the comparatively limited space occupied by the building. The street floor is occupied by the banking chamber, manager's and accountant's rooms, strong room, &c, while on the sunk storey there are all the appliances for gold melting, stationery rooms, and other conveniences. The Sydney premises are a commanding erection in Pitt-street, between Hunter and Spring-streets, the whole front being an open portico supported by fluted columns, the style of architecture being of the Dorio order. The banking chamber is lofty an<? commodious, and is very handsomly fitted up. Very properly the bulk of the available space has been devoted to the public, the manager's and accountant's room beinj; of modest dimensions, bnt quite ample for the requirements of business. The allotment on which the premises stand runs through to O'Connell-street, ou which frontage there is a commodious residence for the manager, conneoted by a covered gallery with the Pittstreet premises. As a whole the property is a most valuable one, and we heartily congratulate the Bank on its acquisition, and all the more as we are aware that more commodious premises were an absolute necessity for the increasing business of tto Sydney branch, and that no satisfactory enlargement of the present premises could have been effected. The coat at which the above purchases have been made has not transpired, but we are led to believe that, allowing for the value of the premises to be vacated, the amount involved will not be large. I