NEW BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7486, 26 May 1885, Page 2

NEW BUILDINGS.

THE NATIONAL MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION’S NEW PREMISES. Within the last feW ydara many magnificent additions have been made to Wellington's architectural beauties \ and tbe floe brick pile now being erected under the supervision of Mr.Tudniis Turnbull, ISU.LI3.A.* will certainly be; ilofc ofily One Of handsomest structures in the. city, but one of the best in the entire Colony, ThU builh ing is being erected by .Messrs Barry and McDowell) And it was planned by Mr Turnbull, to whom tbe destgd does infinite credit. To the outer view the new structure ! (which is a free treatment of the Italian Renaissance), a haudsotlie add imposing ,-appearance; Standing. upon thq citd where for many years H Noah’s Ark 1 * lay high and dry, and occupying a space of 89ft x 66 it, it has two frontages one to Customhouse-quay, aud the other to Huu-ter-street, The former is divided into seven bays, and the latter into five. Each cf these bis, lu ev6ry tbe aatfla detail. These bays on lli; groundr>or are divided with __ broad rustic ihdnlded pilasle.*?, having cunpoeiU capitals, with ed« ricbed wreaths epricgjug froni the eyes of the volumes, .The openings in tho first story have circular heads, with enriched key blocks;, ijetweci, this anft tHe'fecflnd is a very handsome entablature, having balusters in the die under the openings ; those in the centre projecting Lom the buildiug to emphasize the entrance, and producing a very good effect. Tbe windows in tbe second story have square heads, aud are dressed with moulded architraves, pilaster?, and pediments ; and; to givq variety; these afe alternately round and poihtfld. The centre windows iu eacfieleyj?tiob.have side lights, the mulliona being formed with three-quarter composite columns. Xu the pediment over each of these, centre window? is a grotesque face, , with flpral.en* ricUmtct, u These faces, exhibit in* variety a* most lugubrious, general effect) p? though their emulation of Atlas Caused A pressure upon their heads which they were very loth to bea\ The bayj in the eecdna story are divided with pilasters, the lower sections fluted, and ;tho band moulded, having guilloohe with leaves above. The capitals, which are composite, bare most elaborate detail, Tbe third story bays are divided by moulded. pilaster-*, thS ( centre .bays .Id qapb street having tbre8 t

Jlhej■. are.,, dressed j£ith „ ,lj moulded ihipoetsj arcuitrave*,’ .and enriouea k*J blocks* The main cornice entablature bears the name of the Association in the frieze in raised block letters. The cornice is enriched with dentils and modillion", and is surmounted by a handsome balustrade. Th*re are dies over the pilasters, and on them are what anSWef for chimney stacks, wh : oh add not d little to the getlsr&l effect and beauty cl the building. The idtenot of thb premises* though, it does dot, of course, present Such rt magnificent appearance, ia Id entire accord with-the exterior; for the offices are handsomely finished, spacious, well lighted and ventilated, aud comfortable. The main en* trance in Cdstombouaa-qiiay is to be ap* preached by blue stone steps; and the door ia large and finely ornamented. The restlbnlo inside is Bft x 14ft, and it extends out into a capacious hall 40ft deep by 14fb wide, the floor of which is to bo paved with Minton tiles. Thus the first glimpse inside the bdilding gives Ihs visitor an idea of tbo elegant finish of the Interior. To the right tif the main entrance ia the suite of offices to be Used by the Company. The first of these is the manager’s room, beyond which is the board room* both facing the quay. At the rear of thesO offices is the general office* which will be fitted with a hand-some cedar counter, supported by figure truces. This office is 33 x 30, aud will be one of the largest and most coiriple f ely fitted of itf class in thfl city. .Further back ace the strong-room, storeroom, and accountant** room. All these offices are to be fitted with French polished cedar; To the left of the ballisa suite df offices exactly similar to those just described, fitted throughout with kauri. Leaving the ground floor a broad kauri staircase, with cedar handrait and.cast-metal banisters, ascends to the second story, ending in a spacious platform. The offices on this* aa those of the third floor* have been built specially to bo let, and they vary in size from 24 x 20 to 18 x 13. On the third atdry the offices are arranged in exactly the same manner. These rooms have been most artistically designed in respect to light and ventilation, and there should be Utile difficulty la obtaining tenants for them. Every convenience has baen thought of, Thera are six gas meters ob each floor, and on the whole prem'ues four fire-proof strong-rooms; The staircases throughout are supported by cast niatal pillars, which, ri?iug from the ground fijor, help to sot off the appearance of the interior. Beneath the first floor are three commodious cellar*, the fi >ors , of which are to be concrete,’ Two of .these ! are each 54ft x 33ft, and that in the centre, running from end to end, is to be used as a coal cellar. There are, o! course, passages, Ac., here. The interior of the building being as yet in a very unfinished condition, it is im- [ possible to give any description of the fittings, Ac. j but these are all to be of the best kauri, | with the exception of the Company’s suite of | offices, which are to be fitted with cedar. All [ through tbh various offices mouldings* cor* , nices, and other elegant appurtenances have [ yet to be' added. All, of the rooms are . wainscotted about 4ffc bigb with kauri, and | the plastering ia being done by Messrs Burton and Platt, who are executing their work ia a 5 most creditable manner.

Altogether, WelliogtQn may be congratulated upon the addition lie architecture will receive ia this building. It has been for many years a standing reproach against this city that we have no good buildings, bat two or thtee of this class would very soon obviate any cause for such an insinuation, for many visitors who have inspected this building have expressed opinions that it is the moat handsomely designed one to be seen .in the Colony. Credit is duo in the first instance to the National Mutual Life Association of Australasia which has exhibited such enterprise, and no less is Mr Turnbull, the designer and architect of the piemises, to be congratulated.. It is expected that the bailding will be completed some time ia August.