THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4228, 8 October 1874, Page 2

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

The ; handsome and commodious building standing at the corner of Lambton Quay •and Custom House Stre*et, known as the newBank of New Zealand, adds so considerably to the appearance of the street, and attracts so much admiration from passers by, that a description of the premises may not be without interest. The side of the Bank facing Lambton Quay has a frontage of 68ft., with eight windows, circular topped. It has an elegant appearance, and the arrangements are such as to give plenty of light in the office. The height from the pavement to the parapet is 28ft., and the walls are supported by ten pilasters, with carved capitals, enriched in entablature. The frontage toj Custom House Street is -39 ft., the walls being of the same height, and supported and enriched in a similar manner to the other side, the shorter frontage having only nine pilasters and five windows. The whole building rests on a substantial concrete foundation, several feet thick. The roof is covered with slate and lead.-and surrounded with a parapet, and the chimneys are well finished. Going into the interior of the building by the public doorway, which is at the corner of the two streets mentioned, the entrance is through a large handsome cedar porch, 10ft. by 6ft., with side swing and front doors glazed with plate glass, leading into the banking room, wliich is 48ft. by 25ft. The counter, which is 15ft. by 4ft., and is richly carved and highly finished, with a division to accommodate paying and receiving tellers, fronts the entrance. Clerks' desks, enclosed by a handsome high screen, run along the right side of the approach to the counter. The manager's room is on the right of the entrance, and is 16ft. by 10ft., with a small ante-room Sft. by 6ft. There are two substantial strong rooms, respectively lift by 7ft. and lift, by sft., built with massive walls and closed with heavy iron doors. A spacious stationery room is also provided, with every necessary accommodation. The cedar work throughout the Bank is all French polished, and the windows are furnished with Venetian blinds. The ceiling has handsomely enriched corners and a centre

flower. The private entrance is from Lambtou Quay, and leads into a roomy hall. _ On the ground floor the appartments consist of a kitchen and closets and one bedroom. On the first floor are a commodious dining room, drawing room, bedrooms, bathroom, clothesrooms, °&c, with every arrangement for comfort and accommodation. There isa supply of water from the City waterworks, which is deposited in a large stone cistern under the roof, and distributed over the different'parts of the building. There are bells to all the rooms, and a convenience with a lift from the kitchen to the dining room ; and there is also a speaking pipe connected with those two apartments. The back entrance is in Custom-house Street, with a side -of 32ft. from the front, and enclosed by Hit. of fencing; the nortli-east eudis enclosed by a substantial brick wall. It will thus be seen that the bank is not only handsome in appearance, but that it affords ample accommodation, provided on the best scale in. all portions. The additions and alterations are from the design of Mr. Edward Mahoney, architect, Auckland ; carried out under the superintendence of Mr. William Knott The contractors for the alterations, &c, were Messrs. Scoular and Archibald ; the plasterers, Messrs. Worth and Foley ; the painter, Mr. Tustin; and the plumbing and gas fitting was executed by Mr. James. Of course, it is scarcely necessary to mention that gas is laid on all over the premises, and that the drainage is good, a largo amount of surplus water being carried off from different parts of the building into the street drains.