A NEW BUILDING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 18

A NEW BUILDING.

The “Mercantile Buildings/"’ a new block opposite tlie Opera House, which were eight months in course of erection, have been completed, from designs prepared for Mr Jas. Jamieson by Mr B. J. Boothead. The building has a frontage to Manners street of 64ft, and has an elevation of three stories _ in _ front and two behind, an arcade dividing the four ground-floor shops. This arcade is tiled throughout, and leads into a pleasant court. The first and second floors are reached from either side of the arcade by convenient stairways. There are four sections on the first floor, a wide vestibule, two strong-rooms and conveniences. In this portion of the Building Messrs Jamieson Bros, have their offices, having removed from the Opera House building. The upper floor has been leased by the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association, which has a well-equipped clubroom. Mr Stephens, who has one of the shops on the ground floor, will use a floor above the clubroom as a portmanteau-making factory. A portion of the ground floor of the building at the rear has been leased by. the South Pacific Mortgage and Deposit Company, and the tipper floor is in the occupation ‘of the American Photo. Company, and business agents. Here, as in other parts of the premises, tlie ventilation and sanitary arrangements have received special consideration. Nearly the whole of the commodious building lias been let, Mr Jamieson baying secured tenants long before tlie offices and shops were ready for occupation. The completion of the building was celebrated by a luncheon given by the proprietor to all those (masters and men) who had been employed on the work, and the tenants were also represented. Mr Jamieson occupied the chair. A short toast-list was gone through. Replying to toasts, Messrs Johnson, Dear, and J. Ilutchen emphasised the novelty of the owner of a big building entertaining his builders in the way Mr Jamieson had done. It was remarkable, they agreed, to find such excellent feeling prevailing between proprietor and builders. Mr Jamieson’s health was toasted with musical honours and cheers.