LAND AND BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14753, 8 August 1911, Page 7

LAND AND BUILDINGS.

*» I|SfvNEW A.M.P. BUILDING. ; & -SEVEN-STOREY STRUCTURE. i . hi. ; I'u-\ ' ' ' TWO HANDSOME ELEVATIONS. ' I.' • 1 'w' -* < ■ * > Tiik sketches for the proposed new building for tho A.M.P. Society, to replace the ' existing three-storey structure at the corner Jof Queen and Victoria Streets, have been . approved by tho directors of the society, and Messrs. Wilson and Moodic, the architects. have been instructed to proceed with • i : '- the preparation of the plans and specifica- • ' .*tions. 'Ibis work is now in hand, and tenders will bo invited in the course of a week - for tho removal of the present structure. Tho new building will be a handsome addition to tho city's architecture. It will * bo seven storeys high, and will present im--posing elevations beautifully designed to *'■1 Queen and-Victoria Streets. The frontages ' - % will bo the same as occupied by the existing j structure. Both the front facades will be 1 built in Coromandel granite and Blount goniers stone, tho former material being used for the basement and ground storey, and tho latter, which is creamy in colour, *> -for the upper storeys. By tho«selection of Ythese materials a delicate blending effect, » " such as distinguishes tho frontal facade of ! J. tho new chief post office, will be given, and < the general aspect will be enhanced by the .•J" appearance of projecting bay-windows and " 'iron balconcttes, cornices and decorated " - 'Jt fpiUst-ers. The. remainder of the building •-will bo in ferro-coucrete, thus rendering it i'wroughly lire-proof. Besides an imposing ' I,'jf staircase running up to the full height, the building will he equipped with a fast-run* ning electric elevator, which will be con- . -4A yeiiiently situated near the main entrance In Victoria-street. Other features about • tfce building are that it will bo well lighted and ventilated, and it will have a slate reef. - " f'i Nearly tho -whole of the ground floor, '' ' which will bo elaborately fitted up, will be ■. occupied by the society, ' and tho fourth /floor will also be utilised for the society's , business. The top. 11 cor will be divided ' ' into caretaker's apartments, a studio, and "'' lavatories for the use of the occupants of tho whole of the buildings. The remaining -1 floors, each containing eight rooms, and •J;V,half the basement will be let. i SALE OF NORTHERN LANDS. v A TEN THOUSAND-ACRE . DEAL. 1 An important sale of Northern lands baa '\- been completed by the fiim of Messrs. T. v Mandeno Jackson. The property taunsi ferrvU. is the well-known Oman a Estate, ' owned by, Mr, Geo. Ttiddoll, in the North'■tV- em Wairoa. It comprises about 10,000 • - • acres, and with tho exception of 2000 acres in bush, which .is r.ow being felled, the \ I whole of it is in grass. It is nearly all f.dairying country. The purchasers ore ' ; Southern people, and the price, it is under- , • - stood, exceeded £60,000. The block has f been bought for subdivision, but before this can take place some 12 miles of reads , ' will have to be formed through the proJ perty. It is anticipated that the property , ' . will cut up into probably 40 or 50 farms. , It is interesting to note that the same , property was sold for £41,000 three years V > ago. ' Since then, however, considerable . improvements have been effected, thus increasing the value of the block. The settlers in tho district have twice urged :» a ' the Government to purchase the land for j . closer settlement. NEW ZEALAND ENTERPRISE. iV<i <■■■;':■ ■ •'*: ; ; . BIG OFFICES IN SYDNEY. ; Hp A contract was signed last week for the erection of a ten-storey block of buildings in Pitt-street, Sydney, for the New Zealand Insurance. Co., Ltd., the existing -« building on the site being entirely removed ;.. to make way for the new structure. The ■ building is to rise to' a total height of { ■ about 140 ft above the pavement level (says w an Australian writer), and will thus be ; .' cne of. tie loftiest buildings of its kind in the Commonwealth. The Pitt-street ' front is tastefully designed, the massing "of the various features affording a sense of balance and - proportion which will •/• stamp the building as one. of the most • ;r-pleasing of the commercial buildings of ) the city. The ground floor piers are to ... be in rock-faced trachyte, surmounted by a . polished base. The. remainder of the Vvl street front is to be carried out in free- .' " stone and open-kiln bricks. The building has been so designed that V'-' • it will be thoroughly fireproof, and to make • assurance doubly sure, every conceivable ' - appliance will be furnished in the way . , , ; of fire alarms, fireproof .staircases, isolated fire escape stairs from top to bottom, water storage hydrants, etc. The structural work will be of steel enclosed in concrete. The whole of the various floors through- • Out are to be in reinforced concrete, and !" the dividing partitions to the offices are : ;to; be formed with Mack" fireproof 'J' material. Virtually, the only woodwork ' in the building will be the doors and windows. ! : > s,The building will comprise ten floors, with a roof garden, caretaker's quarters,' etc. ' The whole of the , ground floor is set f apart for the company's use, and will be r- a spacious and handsome chamber, measur- - ing approximately 70ft by 40ft, and will ■•' be finished- in a high-class type with Queensland maple fittings. The entrance > . to the company's offices will be through ■ a spacious vestibule finished with marble- . -M' lined floors, walls, and ceilings. The walls -'•and ceilings are to be panelled in selected ',•/ Australian marbles, with antique copper t snriched panel mouldings, etc., and a frieze '. of . white alabaster, upon which a bronze < "--"relief ornament is .applied. The staircase leading to the top of the building is to be "■■-constructed in reinforced concrete, lined with white marble treads, risers, - and - strings, and the soffits are to be set out in panels similar to the vestibule ceiling. - t The staircase raiiings will be in wrought • iron", finished with aluminium. LIST OF TENDERS. ~ INVITED AND RECEIVED. V , t Messrs. Wilson and Moodie, architects, ( received tenders as follows, yesterday, for the erection of a brick residence at P.e- ---: mucra:—W. S. Clarke and Son, £4170; : . .J. D. Jones, £4120; Q. G. Pollard, £3999 ; ,G. M. Handcock, £3847; 11. R. Ross, £3725; G. Braithwaite, £3720; O. E. Far- ' row, £3710; W. Bull, £3645 ; Brook and . Sons, £3630. No tender, so far, has been accepted. 4 .Tenders for tho erection of buildings have been' invited as follows during tho • l'»«t week: — 3 y Messrs. Edv.\ Mahoney and Son } * (architects): For re-erecting br't . ; in Queen-street, and alterations t -^s * n in rear of same. ;jv .- ; ■ '. • ■ By Mr. T. W. May (architect): For >I?%';,additions in brick to Wellesley House, , Wellesley-street, of about 40 rooms. By Mr. H. S. Morrin (architect): For alterations and additions in brick to Hay- - ; 'Ward's drapery stores, Devonport. By Mr. Gerald E. .Jones (architect): For bungalow in wood at . Epsom. •- J By Mr. Jas. Slator (architect): For, a ' v '.''pottage at Mount Albert. MS?y; f Mr. H. C. Grierson (architect): For ~" s strong-room in concrete for Newmarket Borough Council.' . ■' '' 'By Mr. J. W. Warren (architect): For !. - X;* a residence at Hamilton for Mr. H. J. ' < " , slade. ■■■ ' t' bonders have also been invited by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board I for the construction' of the fourth section ', ( p the main sewer, stretching from Stan--40 Union-street, . and by the /■.Mount Albert Borough Council for the re- ■' construction of the New North i Road from" to Morningsido ia connection ( . with tha UinimlaQil tension* iitiii fe *" ■ ' iiQMWk'Vy a