NEW RAILWAY OFFICES.

New Zealand Mail, 9 August 1900, Page 49

NEW RAILWAY OFFICES.

BESCR I p THE PLANS. ” 11 f-°R ly be calI «l for erect to accoJi 1 l \' lt^ S Proposed to staff of the Nea 3 , 0 the head office so fflo years ™ Zealand Railways. For available in tiA r- the accommodation has been quite Government Buildings Partment’ s q ?an;dlt ad - equat6 . fSr - the dt and proportionateKr i n ? reasi 1 11 S business . The new b'mi- y enl arged staff. Ve been p te lJi n ?’ des ,igns for which n . ee .r’s Denartment d "i the , Chief En gi" vi-hon, will lT Y and vnder his super-

•building will be 236 ft long and 48ft .widey three stories iii height, < and designed in the Renaissance style. The height to the top -- of*,:, the parapet which surmounts the walls will be 48ft . and the central ; tower will he' 90ft high. The piles: and foundations will he 01 concretej the base course of Port .(palmers stone, and 1 the outside walls of pressed facing bricks,'relieved with Oamaru stone. The free use of Oa.maru stone about' the numerous windows will rob the building of the rather Sombre aspect which red. bricks, generally .im- , A, ■ ,and will* add greatly to the beauty of the structure. .The. roof will be covered with the Marseilles roofing tiles which have lately been introduced, and which are coming into very general favour. They will enhance the picturesqueness, of the build-' mg. Besides the large ventilating tower in the centre there are four smaller ones along the roof. The 1 main entrance, which will be fitted with a collapsible iron gate, is in the centre of the building,- and leads into a large entrance hall, with waiting ana messengers’ rooms on each side. I here is only one other small entrance door (ror the use of the Minister) at the north end of the building. As in the Government Buildings, a wide corridor runs from north to south on each noor, witii offices on either side. Across the corridor from the vestibule 011 the giounchj floor is a. powerful -electric lift going to the. top floor. Near the lift is a staircase. On the west side of the corridor on- the ground floor, from north to south, will be located the Ministers secretaries, the Minister the general manager, assistant general manager chief clerk, mail room, staff and land officers stuff; on the eastern side will be a deputation room, and the offices of the general manager’s clerks At the southern end of this flat is a large conference room, 30ffc by 48ft. j-he uoith end; of the second floor will’ be occupied by the chief engineer • inspecting engineer, - chief draughtsman, duet clerk, draughtsmen and clerks and toe south end by the locomotive superintendent, chief draughtsman, chief clerk, draughtsmen and clerks. On the top flat, from north to south, will he toe stores manager and his chief clerk, clerks, luncheon room, sample room, signal engineer and; staff, accountant, and chief clerk, and the statistician. At the south end is the room for the accountant’s staff, me largest aoariment in the building, measuring ' G9rt by 48ft.

Convenience has been aimed at vou,gbout, and while the different staffs have been suitably allocated for tne present, ample provision has also been made for expansion, without necessitating any future adjustment of the arrangements.

At the back of the building, at each enci, js a strong-room, measuring 21ft by loft. These rooms go up thewhcle height of the building. There are tiius provided . six commodious fireproof safes, sufficient for requirements for years to come. A bicycle shed will be provided.

Special attention has been paid to the sanitary arrangements. There are numerous lavatories on each flat. The latrines are in a three-story detached building at the back, each story be inc coniieeted with the corresponding flat m the main building. In the detached building also are two furnaces for the low-pressure hot-water system which will heat the offices. Electric light will be used throughout for the purposes of illumination. As in the case of the Government Buildings, the numerous windows are a noticeable feature of the design, and should! provide ample liriff for all the offices. .

Th© budding will be practically fireproof, as very little wood will be used llie inside walls will be plastered, find riie ceilings lined with stamoed stool The staircase null be entirely'of iron, and in the corridors, which will have steel-lined walls and ceilings' and con-ciete-tiled floors, there will be no combustible material whatever. The. contract, which will comprise the whole building, with the exception of t-iie electric lift, will be let early in September. It will provide for the completion of the building within twenty months from the date on which it •is leff.