A GREAT MODERN NEWSPAPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

A GREAT MODERN NEWSPAPER.

NEW ZEALAND JOURNALISTIC

ENTERPRISE.

THE HERALD NEW BUILDINGS.

A MAGNIFICENT STRUCTURE.

FINAL COMPLETION AND OCCUPATION.

It is just threo years since tho proprietors of the New Zealand Herald decided to go forward with an enterprise they had long been preparing for, namely, tho erection of one of the largest, finest, and bestequipped modern newspaper offices in tho world, and to devote the whole of the then existing brick premises to the large and rapidly-expanding general printing and

manufacturing business. They were not shaken in their determination to proceed with the work by the great banking crisis in Australia, which just then threatened to extend to Mew Zealand, but showed their firm belief in the future prosperity of this colony, and of Auckland in particular, by embarking upon a very large expenditure ot capital, at) a period whan a most serious financial panic existed in the neigh-

bouring colonies. To carry oub the scheme of expansion referred to, three adjoining sections of land,

with buildings upon them, had been gradually acquired; ono smill building having been occupied for a number of years as a publishing office, whilst one was an auction room, and the other was formerly known as

the Board of Education promises, all of

which were removed to make room for the new structure. These sections adjoin the original Herald buildings in Wyndhamstreet, so that the pile of buildings now standing, and covering a total area of 13,485 feet, has' three frontages-one to Queen-street, one to Wyndham-street, and one to Mills's Lane—which give ample light and free access to the immense structure. For the building just completed an architect of great reputation and skill, who had had tho special experience of erecting a modern newspaper office, was selected for the purpose of drawing the plans and designs, and another architect was appointed to carry oub the work, with power to modify, "hlter, or change the plans and details if required, so that oven as the work progressed there might be improvements effected if these were found possible, under the guidance and experience of the two architects. The comprehensive building scheme decided upon was placed in the hands of Mr. Mansflold, of Sydney, F. R. I. B. A., who drew the plans, and the carrying out of the work was entrusted to Mr. Arthur P. Wilson, of Auckland.

The firsb contract was let to Mr. Jarae Heron, on June 1, 1893, and although son* portions of the premises were complete! and occupied a year ago, the whole of the internal fittings and changes have onlj just been finished, whilst the furnishing i not yet quite coraploted. The cost of th< new premises and the alterations madi have involved an expenditure of frou £21,000 to £-22,000. THE ARCHITECTS OF THE NEW BUILDING. When it was determined to erect fron ho foundation a building adapted not orilj or a printing office, but specially for th< wrpose of printing the Nkw Zealani Jkrald and Auckland Weekly News t was a matter of importance to selecl or drawing the plans a professional mar vho had the requisite experience, and whc mow the special requirements and needs ol .he building. It was at length decided to entrust with ,lie drawing of the plana Mr. George Ulan Mansfield, of Sydney. Mr. ManS' ield is a native of Sydnoy, New Soutli iVales, and served his articles with the lat< Hr. J. P. Hilly, a well-known architect ol .hat city. He is a Fellow of the Royal Initiate of British Architects, and was the irst Australian-born architect elected tc ihat honour. He was elected the first resident of the Institute of Architects ol *}ew South Wales, 1871, and held that iffice for five years. Mr, Mansfield is at jresent an official representative of the government of New South Wales on the Board of Water Supply and Sewerage ol .he City of Sydney. He hits been entrusted vith the erection of a number of the most mportant .buildings in Sydney during his jrofessional career. He was the architect or the Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney— ihe memorial hospital in connection with ihe attempt on tho life of the Duke of Edinburghthe cost of which building was >ver £400,000. He was also the architect of ;he Australia Hotel, Sydney, which cost 2150,000. From the year 1867 to 1880 he ield the appointment of architect to the Council of Education, and was charged vith the erection and maintenance of the »hole of the public school buildings ihroughout New South Wales. He is also architect for numerous banks, and for a jreat many of the principal buildings in Sydney, one of the latest being the now Jity Bank (head offices) in Pitt-street, Sydney, which has cost about £40,000, Mr. Arthur P. Wilson, of Nos. 212 and 113, Victoria Arcade, Auckland, the mperintending architect, was bom in London, and educated at the Godolphin School, Hammersmith. He was a pupil ind afterwards an assistant of Mr. William Jakley, F.R.1.8.A., of No. 29, Charlesitreet, St. James' Square, London, for a jeriod of ten years, during which time slr, Oakley was carrying on various large ind important works in many parts of England. At the same time Mr. Wilson itudied architecture at the London Univerlity under the leading professors ol the lay. On leaving Mr. Oakley he prectised for two years on his own account at <o. 3,-Duke-street, Adelphi; but always laving had a wish to visit tho colonies he iamo to Now Zealand, and after spending owe timo in the principal cities of the <orth and South Islands decided to make lis home in Auckland, and practice his irofession. Mr. Wilson has boon in buailess in Auckland for about eleven years. THE HERALD BUILDINGS. The Herald buildings occupy a splendid ite, both from a business and a spectacular joint of view, having two fine frontages— ine to Queen-streetof 40 feet, and the other ,o Wyndham-street of 54 feet fot the new lortion and 50 feet for the original pronises, making a total of 104' feet frontage o Wyndham-street. The v total amount of ;round occupied by the new block alone epresents an area of no less than 6385 mperficial feet, which, added to the jround upon which the original portion of .he brick structure stands, gives a total irea of 1&485 feet occupied by buildings in ue by the firm. The plan of the new juiiding comprises a soheme for the continued extension of the premises as the sver-growing demands of business make additional accommodation necessary, until it length the whole of the area mentionod will be covered by one vast structure on the ines of that) which has just been opened. Phis latter, as it now stands, is boyond question the loftiest and most imposing wilding in the city; its height from the 'oundations to the roof of the highest of the ire storeys being over 114 feet, and the floor ipace provided reaching the striking igures of about 20,350 feet., To render such a massive pile absolutely iafe and secure beyond all question, founda;ions as solid as the eternal rock were of iourse the first necessity; and, as the result )f considerable time and the exercise of the greatest care, the initial undertaking was Boat successfully accomplished. . The task »as, however, by no means an insignificant me, for ib was found necessary to' sink my feet below the old and fiomwiiafc

light foundations which had been originally put in to carry the comparatively thin walls of the former building.' To support the massive structure which was to be raised it was found necessary to go in some places to great depths in order to arrive at a good bottom— bottom sufficiently solid and secure to carry the enormous weight to bo placed upon it. This was more particularly the case at the north-east corner, along tho front in Queen-street, and at the back of the Bank of New South Wales, the excavations in some of theso places reaching a depth of 16 or 17feetbeforeaolid ground was reached. The necessity of such deep sinking is explained by the fact tlu'.o a portion of the site is over the canal which, in days gone by, formed a part of the drainage scheme of the city. Before the hard blue volcanic rock was reached a great deal of shoring and pumping was necessary, and much care was required in order to protect the adjoining properties. Owing to the charactor of the ground, Mr. A. r. Wilson, the superintending architect, decided to place the whole of the walls upon a solid block of concrete, 3 feet deep and 5 feet wide. This gave the new structure an absolutely firm and immovable foundation framework of cement) concrete of the best kind.' The bases of the building having been laid, the superstructure was proceeded with without delay, and in this connection the erection of the ten piles of massive iron columns which support the roof and the internal floors proved by no means ail insignificant undertaking. Each of these column? reach from the ground floor to the ceiling of the top storey— height of 75 feet—which gives a total aggregate length of 750 feet of iron columns for the whole building. The building throughout has been constructed of hard-pressed bricks of the finest and most enduring quality, and by the time the highest pediment of the edifice was reached something like the surprising humber of 1,000,000 bricks had passed through the hands of the bricklayers engaged upon the work. Special care was also taken with tho mortar used, the ingredients for which were ground and incorporated in a mill erected for the purpose in the centre of the site. The timber used for the interior of the building was the very best selected heart of kauri, including the joinery, with the exception of the sashes, for which Californian redwood, a timber specially suited for such work, was utilised. Both as regards the plans themselves and the giving effect to them, the greatest care had to be exercised in securing a sufficiency of light and air, so essential in a building designed for a large printing business and the extensive ramifications connected therewith. The result achieved has been most gratifying to all concerned, and the light and ventilation throughout are all that can be desirod.

Between the new building and the premises owned by the Bank of New South Wales a large area has been provided which serves for the purpose of lighting the major portion of tho working departments o:i one side. The building is ventilated throughout with Tobin's ventilat-ing-tubes, and at the back of the lift is provided a large air-shaft. This gives perfect ventilation throughout the promises. Lavatories, eic., are provided on each floor, approached from the main staircase. They are practically detached from tho building, being built in the lighting area, and are constructed on the most modern principle, and are ventilated throughout. There are five hydrants (2J inches) on each floor, with canvas hose in enclosed racks, ready in case of emergency through an outbreak of fire. 1 The design of the main front is a modification ol tne Renaissance style, which has been so widely adopted during the reign of the present Queen that it has become popularly known as Victorian. The public offices in Queen-street are approached through a strikingly handsome hall and massive doorway, surmounted by heavy cornices and ornamented pediments; while the fronts of the first and second floors take the form of four engaged Corinthian columns, in the centre of which aro bwolarge windows, and on either side are two projecting bays t oxtending from the first floor to the second. Each column has a heavy cornice and entablature with ornamental medallions. On the fourth floor two fine Venetian windows are placed over the bays, with a bull's-eye between them, and these are again topped with embellished pediments and cornices. The top or fifth floor has a front somewhat similar to the others, but altered in detail for the sake of securing a more varied and artistic effect. Over ail the uppermost windows are placed some more pediments, the centre o.D being taken up to a height of 100 feeb above the pavement level in Queen-street, The front Mansard roof is now reached. It is covered with slates and topped with an ornamental load curbing and cornice, which are in turn surmounted by a handsomely worked iron cresting. Fixed to the pediment is a spruce flag-pole, 32 feet long, and the distance from the gold ball which lops tho flag pole to the lowest foundation is no less than 128 feet. The frontage as a whole presents a massive, striking, and pleasingly varied appearance, which cannot fail to arrest tho attention of tho passer-by.

The Wyndham-street front is similar in design, though not so profusely ornamented as that facing Queen-street. Facing y nd* ham-street is a very large area of glass, and this is very necessary inasmuch as from this and the north side nearly the whole of the printing and business departments are lighted. Coming to the interior arrangements, it may be stated ab bhe outset that the whole of the front block was excavated so as to provide roomy cellar space to the height of 7 fbet. Tne erround-floor is entered by a lofty and spacious corridor 18 feet high and 9 feefcG inches wide. Going through an ornamented archway and turning to the right a large staircase hall is reached. The floor of this hall as well as that of the main entrance is formed oil concrete and iron joists, and the whole is laid with coloured Minton tiles, arranged in an exceedingly artistic pattern. Passing through the staircase hall wo come to the public offices, accountant's departmenb, and office of the manager of the printing works. The public offices are spacious and lofty, and resemble those of a banking institution in their arrangement. The fittings are of Australian cedar, and elegant in design, with iron columns and panelled ceiling. Part of this department being below the road level of Wyndhamstreet areas are formed the entire length, and covered with Haywood's prismatic lights. On this floor loading from the accountant's department is a large strong room 17 by 12 feet. Access from the public ' offices is also obtained to the machine and publishing departments. The staircase, 5 feet wide, and having carved newels and a heavily-moulded hand-rail, is carried up to tho fourth floor, and gives access to the different offices above. Ascending the staircase, on the first floor the Queen-street front is devoted to offices, the baok portion/being used for the storage of paper of all kinds. On the second floor the Queen-streeb front is treated in a similar manner to the one below,while the back portion is devoted to the jobbing department of the printing works. The third floor fronting Queen-street is subdivided into private rooms for the use of bhe proprietors. These form a most comfortable suite of rooms, and include two large libraries—one for works of reference, and the other fitted with racks for bound newspaper files of the Auckland dally and weekly journals from their establishment. On the same floor, in tho back portion of the building, are the rooms devoted to the use of the editorial, sub • editorial, and reporting staffs (fitted up with all the necessary equipment for daily files, etc., for references), curronb tiles' room, and photographic artists' studio. All the back portion of the building is approached by a separate staircase on Wyndham-street as well as from the principal staircase in Quoeit* streot.

The composing rooms for the Nkw Zealand Herald and Auckland Wkekly News newspapers cover the whole of the area of the top floor of the new buildings, both back and front, and are amongst the finost and most spacious in the Southern Hemisphere. They are lighted all round by largo windows; and, in addition, have vertical " factory lights" in the roof, which are made to open, giving ,a porfect-current of air during the most oppressive weather. In all the other departments the ssme principle is observed, each individual employed , on the various floors having mote breathing | space than in (toy oth« offiee»

One iof the most modern and unique features in connection with the new building is the passenger lift, which is constructed upon the most improved principles, It was manufactured by Messrs, Waygood and Co., of Sydney, and is worked on the low-pressure principle. The motive power is secured by means of two cisterns, situated one binder the lift and the other on top of the roof. As the lift rises the water descends, discharging itself - from the cylinder into the lower tank, from which it is pumped into the cistern on the roof by the agency of a compound set of duplex steam-pumps. These pumps are self-acting, the motion being supplied by a float connected with a jockey valve on the engine, which opens up or shuts off steam as the floats on the lower cistern rises or falls. The passenger cage, which was made in Auckland* is a very handsomo piece of artistic workmanship. It is made of kauri, with ornamental panels filled in with '■ stained glass and bevelled plate mirrors. The electric light is laid on ready for use when required. The underside of the cage is .supplied with Waygood's patent safety gear, and the whole is held in suspension by four independent steel ropes. All chance of an accident has thus been reduced to a minimum; in fact, any serious mishap has been practically removed from tho region ot possibility. The cage runs between two steel guidos, giving a perfectly easy motion either in ascending or descending. Inside the public offices are fixed two small letter or " copy" lifts, which run the whole height of the building, and connect with each floor. They are worked by cords and pulley, andgeared so as to run smoothly and quickly. In the roar of the new building a general goods lift, capable of raising a ton and a-half, has been constructed. This lift travels from the basement to the top floor. The motive power is provided by pulleys and belts connected with the large steam-engine which drivos the printing machinery of the establishment.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTING. Not the least interesting feature of the i buildings is the installation of electric light, which extends throughout the whole of the premises. The many proofs offered in recent years of tho suitability of the electric light for a printing office, where a large number of lights are required, and where a number of men are employed working close together, induced the proprietors when deciding upon the construction of the building to adopt, chat method. For this purpose a complete generating plant was purchased in London. This plant consists of a 400-light dynamo made by the Brush Company, coupled direct to a high-speed compound engine of 30-horie power, the governor of which is fitted with automatic expansion gear, so that the amount of steam admitted to the cylinders is proportional to the number of lamps being used. The dynamo is compound- or selfregulating, the electro-motive force or pressuro being kept constant whether ono or ail the lamps are turned on. After leaving the dynamo the electricity is taken to the main switch-board, from which it is distributed to the various circuits.

Four hundred incandescent lamps of sixteen-candlo power each are used in lighting the building. In addition to these thore are two arc lamps of 2000 candle power each, to illuminato the exterior, one of these being placed over the main entrance in Queen-street, the other in Wyndhamstreet.

Two arc lamps of 3000-candle power are also used for the photo-process work. The light from these is so intenso that a photo- j graph can be taken in less time than by daylight. Special fittings are arranged to suit the class of lighting required. In the composingroom, for instance, the lights are made to slide up and down, so that each compositor can adjust the height of tho light to suit his own convenience. The public office in Queen-street _is lighted by a large and handsome electrolier of ten lights, a large number of additional lights ' being fitted to the desks on brass standards, and all around the walls. The convenience and adaptability of tho electric light have been in several cases, notably in the. large printing machines, light being fitted inside tho machines where a gas jet or other form of illumination could nob be used. The affect of this light placed in such a position is to materially facilitate the working of the machines and the proper examination of them at all times.

lb: was nob until September, 1894, when the outer shell of the building was nearly completed, thab the work of fitting the electric wires was commenced, the light being first turned on on Christmas Eve of the same year. Five miles of wires and cables were used. These are of copper, and are insulated with vulcanised indiarubber. They are all laid in wood casings, which act as a mechanical protection for the cables, and being noatly finished, in no way militate against the generally fino appearance of the interior of the building. The plant was supplied by the General Electric Co. of London, the installation being carried out by Mr. Ernest J. Fenn, Associate of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, Fort-sbroeb, Auckland, There has just been provided a spare plant in case of a mishap to the present one, and as ib is advisable bhab the light should be independent of the boilers, the new plant is driven by a new and powerful gasengine, which has just been fitted up by Messrs. John Chambers and Son. It consists of a 200-lighb Electric Construction Co.'s dynamo and a nominal horse-power Tangye gas-engine. A IS-horae engine of the same make has also been provided to drive the printing machinery, whilst a onehorse power gas-engine is provided for the stereo-room. All these engines are reserve power in case of a breakdown# and are noli used except in cases of emergency. _ This duplicate power really means that if the steam-engines and boilers all broke down, the whole of the machinery and electric light could be started again at a moment's notice by the aid of three gas-engines.

THE LIBRARY. One important adjunct to a newspaper office is the library, in which the literary staff shall always have at hand the necessary works of reference. The columns of the Auckland Weekly News especially bear evidence that from all parts of the country come {inquiries into all sorts of subjects. When two men differ in recollection of a date, or regarding any faot in history, a note Is font to the editor of the Auckland Weekly News. He is also referred to to decide on any question of astronomy, botany, geology, or any other science. Taking up a late issue of the Auckland Weekly News, we find 1 the following queries No. 1 asks a decision on a point in the game of oribbage. No. 2 has a series of queries, one of which is how a cask dropped into the sea at a certain part of the coast would drift. No. 3 also asks a num-

ber of questions, amongst them how a will drawn in a certain way will operate. No. 4, a foreigner, wants to know how he can change his name into something like an English form. Besides direct questions put by correspondents on every subject) under the sun, and on subjects existing only in their own imaginations, scarcely an hour passes in the compilation of a newspaper in which reference is not made to some map or plan or dictionary or handbook, or other work of reference. More especially is a collection of books of reference necessary in these days of Cable messages. 16 frequently happens that at two o'clock in the morning we receive from the telegraph office the curt announcement of the death of some man, more or less famous, and the leading facts in his life at all events must be stated. Or soma event has happened in some part of Europe, or Asia, or America, and' it must be shown where the place is and all about it. It is therefore absolutely necessary that the besb and latest works of reference should, be at hand, For this purpose it was determined that in the construction of the new Herald offices there should be a room for a library. Furthermore, it is necessary that, in regard to the library of a newspaper office, there should be s rule never to be broken, namely, that although any person is at liberty to refer to any of the books, none must be removed, There 1 is no safety without this rule. Volumes of Acts of Parliament, Parliamentary papers, and Gazettes are,borrowed, and the. bvwowersiwpty puts them on his book-

shelf. He forgets to return them to tho editor who has complacently lent them. The Herald library contains files of all the Auckland newspapers from the beginning, the Ordinances and Acts at the General Assembly from the foundation of the colony, the Government Gazottes, and the Provincial records. The early colonial records are rare, and some of them are exceedingly valuable. The library is furnished with the latest editions of tho usual books of reference, encyclopaedias, etc., as well as books about the colony.

THE TELEPHONETTES. The different departments of the business —that is to say, the counting-house, the editorial offices, and the jobbing-rooms—rire connected with the telephone system of the city and district. Besides this ten of the principal departments are connected by. a telegraphic system confined to the building. The system is the latest patent applied to this purpose. The building' is extensive, and much time would be lost were it necessary to go from floor to floor with every communication. The " Telephonette System, as it is called, connects the counting-house, proprietors' rooms, editorial offices, packing-room, printing order offico, news composing-rooms, and other departments.

SOUND-PROOF TBLEPHONE-ROOM.

Among the improvements which may be noted in the building is the enclosing of the telephone in the editorial department in a sound-proof room It was in the first instance found difficult to do business at this telephone, as trollies with formes of type were somoticnus rolled along the floor overhead. News communications were

sometimes misunderstood. The sound-proof apartment or cupboard has double walls and a double roof, and between these is firmly packed several inches of Firth's patent pumice. This substance has proved to be a good non-conductor of sound, and it is free from the objections attaching to sawdust or other materials which are sometimes used for this purpose.