FAMILY OF BUILDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 16

FAMILY OF BUILDERS.

EARLY AUCKLAND RECALLED.

MR. G. RHODES' CAREER

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. A veteran of tho Auckland building trado, Mr. Georgo Rhodes, who has just celebrated his eightieth birthday, forms a living link with the days when brick had not long superseded wood in tho heart of the city. Mr Rhodes is the son of a yet earlier Auckland builder, also named George, who was responsible for a number of tho brick structures which adorned Queen Street in the latter half of last century This old colonist was a journeyman bricklayer in the cathedral city of York, when he resolved in 1854 to try his fortune beneath the Southern Cross. Embarking with his family in tho ship Juno, bound for Tasmania, ho settled in Launceston and bo camo a building contractor. After eight years he decided that Auckland offered more scope for his enterprise, and arrived in the Waitemata with his wife and children in tho brig Reliance in September, 1862.

His son Georgo ivell remembers landing as a boy of 13, upon the old Queen Street Wharf, then a long wooden jotty stretching from Customs Streot far out into tho nndredged waters of the harbour Another memory is the sight of tho Albertland settlors' ships lying in the stream after their arrival a few weeks later.

Cottage in Wyndham Street. Housing was at a premium in those days, and it was only after much searching that the family secured a littlo cottage in Wyndham Street, on part of the site now occupied by the Herald Buildings. The cottage was ono of throe standing right on the street-line, and backing on to the yaid of Soppet's flourmill. Mr. Rhodes particularly remembers that tho yard was often full of carts driven in from the Waikato with loads of grain byMaoris, many of whom woro only a shawl round tho waist.

The boy was sent to a well-altendod school conducted by a Mr. French in a small hall still standing at the junction of Pitt and Hobson Streets, opposite Wellington Streot. Ono of his fellow-pupils was the late Mr. T. Cotter, K.C.

On leaving school, about 1866, Mr. Rhodes worked as an apprentice under his father, who was then erecting the Bank of Now Zealand building in Queen Street. This handsome, if rather severe,structure, with its Doric pilasters and iron railing, was designed by a Melbourne firm of architects, Messrs. Terry and Oakden, and was built under the supervision of Mr. Richard Keals, who had previously designed the New Zealand Insurance Company's Building, with its once well-known clocktower.

Bank Building Extended. Tho bank was originally a building 66ft. in width, and in 1882, to keep pace with the progress of the town, the directors decided to extend it by 33ft. on the northern side. Plans were prepared by E. Mahoney and Son. Mr. Rhodes, senior, although he had then retired from business in favour of his son, rejoined the lattei and secured tho contract. Unfortunately, not many months later, he met his death ono morning while bathing alone at Heine Bay. The son carried on the work, and completed it within the required time. Viewing the building to-day. no one would imagine that it had been erected in two sections.

Speaking of it this week, Mr. Rhodes said that it was remarkable in many ways, as ho had reason to know. The front wall was of very massive construction, much more so, indeed, than the casual passer-by might believe. Tho stones over the ground floor windows were more than a ton in weight, and were lowered into place from a tall gantry erected astride the whole length of the wall. The footing-stones, resting on the papa rock about 20ft. below the street level, were 7ft. long, laid side by side. The parapet. 66ft. above the ground, was 3ft. 6in. wide, and two men. could walk on it arm-in-arm

Matching the Stone. The front of the building was faced with Hobart irecsLune of a rare quality, pure whuo when fleshly cut. When the extension canin to bo made, Mr. Khodes said, his lather went over to Tasmania, only to find that tho quarry from which the original stone had como was closed. However, he persuaded tho owners to roopen it, chartered a vessel and obtained the supply he wanted. In tne course of the contract it was necessaiy to convert tho original doorway into a window, and open out another window into the presont doorway, also to movo the stone stairway to its present place at the north end 01 the completed building Since 1882 the bank has been much altered internally to accommodate its enormously increased stalf, which has multiplied several times in nearly hall-a-century. Mr. Rl'odc.3, sen., erected a number of other Street buildings, including tho three-storey block formerly occupied by Milne and Choyce, Limited, and demolisned to make way for that company's present huge structure Its original owner and principal occupant was the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. He also built tho two storey block at the corner of Vulcan Lane, pulled down last year and replaced by Vulcf.n Buildings.

Term on Thames Goldfleld. For a time after tho opening of the Thames goldfleld, Mr. Rhodes represented an interest of his father's in the Parnell 1 and 2 Mine at tho foot of the Moanatair: Creek, and during its conversion to tho afterwards famous Waiotahi Mine. TIo also built and operated a four-stamp battery at the Union Mine on the same creek. '

After returning to the building tragic. Mr. Rhodes remained in business, os- his own account until 1903, after which his three elder sons joined him and ilie present firm of George Rhodes and Sons, Limited, was established. Mr Rhodes suffered the loss of his wife last month, only a few clays before his 80th birthday He has long been a member of the Old Colonists' Association, And is well known as a supporter of the New Church, and of temperance and Sunday school work. He was an original member of the Pacific Club