CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3331, 13 January 1898, Page 3

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

MR CATHIE’S WAREHOUSE, VICTORIA STREET. The large, three-storied warehouse now being erected next to the Working Men s Club, in Victoria street, for Mr C. Cathie, clothing manufacturer, is designed to provide ample accommodation for his rapidlyincreasing business. -Externally, the front will present a very pleasing appearance, and will be a decided acquisition to that already handsome street. It is being built in selected red bricks, with black cut joints, finished with cornices, piers, pediments and enrichments in coloured cement. Internally, the ground floor is to be used as a warehouse, and the second and third floors as showrooms, factory, &e., with separate entrances from Victoria street, and a side right-of-way. The top floor will be provided with luncheon room, fl-e escape, staircase, Ac., and there will be lavatories, &c., on each floor. All the floors will be deafened with plaster, which will be the means of making : “the building almost fire-proof, Electric light will be used throughout, and the telephone will be laid from tho several parts of the premises, A hydraulic lift to carry one ton will go from the ground floor to the top of the building. Tho works will cost about £3500, and the contract is being carried out by Mr E. Gray, contractor, from tho designs and under tho superintendence of Mr J. Hector McKay, architect. The new building will be solidly and substantially constructed, and will be a welcome addition to the architecture of the city. Mr Cathie is to be congratulated upon his enterprise and business acumen, and Mr McKay upon the substantial and at the same time handsome character of the design of the new building. MESSRS EDMONDSON AND DICKERSON’S WAREHOUSE. Amongst the buildings recently erected in Victoria street, the fine two - storied warehouse of Messrs Edmondson and Dickerson, tailors’ warehousemen, is prominent. The erection of this building lias been rendered necessary by the rapid growth of the business of this enterprising firm, whose business spirit will no doubt be handsomely rewarded. The frontage to Victoria street is 44ft in extent, tho warehouse running back to a depth of 90ft. -The building is in brick, with the joints picked out in coloured cement, which has an exceedingly striking effect. Interiorly, the design has been so arranged as to obtain the greatest possible amount of light, the stock being thhs shown to the best advantage. The various tweeds, &0., comprised in the stock are neatly displayed in tiers in such a manner that any particular class of cloth may be picked out from its place in two seconds, A broad stairway opposite the main entrance in Victoria street communicates with the first floor, where the whole of the floor space is unbroken by a single pillar. This large room is also to be used for the business of the firm. A hydraulic lift is provided for the first and ground floors, and the building is lighted by electricity. The warehouse, which has an exceedingly well-lighted and cheerful appearance, has been faithfully built by Mr R. Spurway from the designs of Mr J. Hector’ McKay, architect.

SHOPS IN VIVIAN STREET.

The twelve shops whioh are under erection in Vivian street for Mr B. O'Connor are now approaching completion. They are in one block, and have dwelling accommodation combined. The shops are similar in construction, and are divided by brick party walls, with cement facing, going through the roof. Variety is given to the front elevation by the use of circularheaded upper windows, and the sky-line is broken by two-gables and a series of ornamental vases. The block is two stories in height. Each section consists of a shop, dining-room, pantry and kitchen on the ground floor, and a sitting-room, two bedrooms and a bathroom'on the upper floor. Jn the yard, whioh is of good size, are a coalhouse and a patent w,o. The dimem siona of the various rooms are as follow i Shop, 20ft by 16ft j dining - room, 16ft by 14ft;' kitchen, 14ft by 12ft; front room upstairs, 20ft by 16ft; bedrooms, 14ft by 12ft and 12ft by 12ft. The shop-has a half-circle counter, and sliding sashes for the show windows, which are of plate glass. The shop and kitchen are match-lined ; the other rooms lined and papered. A range is fitted in the kitchen, and an asbestos stove in the sitting-room. This description, of course, serves for each section. The architect for the block is Mr J. O’Dea, and Mr S. Williams is the contractor. One shop is already occupied, and the others are Jetting well. Mr O’Connor is also having six sevemroomed dwellinghouses, designed by Mr O’ De i, erected In Jessie street. For this work the contractor is Mr Arthur D. Bliok.