CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5474, 31 December 1904, Page 2

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

■ PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE. A handsome addition to .the city’* architecture is the three-storied brick building erected in Willis street by "Mr Campbell Colquhonn- for Mr E. C. Peers. The workmen are now putting the finishing touches on the premises, which will be ready ‘ for occupation in a few days. The ground floor, covering a total area of 87ft by a frontage to Willis street of 18ft, is occupied by, a shop and luncheon room. Access, is gained to the latter by two" separate entrances —one through the shop, and the other by way of a distinct corridor. The 1 ceiling of the room is decorated with the Lingou. mur patent—a papier-mache—with fibrous plaster cornices. On the second floor a suite of rooms facing the street is occupied by Mr H. H. Green, surgeon dentist. At the rear there are four rooms arranged for offices, all commodious and well-lighted, and a room situated in the rear portion of the building will be occupied by Mr , Green’s mechanical staff. There are two roome on the top floor. That at the rear will be used as a public billiard saloon, and the front apartment as a private billiard saloon. Throughout, thp building is lighted by electricity, and gas. The contract pries for erection was about .£3500. An incident which serves to illustrate the stability of the city, and the faith of investors in its, future, may be mentioned by the may. . But a little while Mr Peers purchased the land and old building occupying it for .£3500; the new building-necessitated an expenditure of .£3500, as already, stated. ,A few-days ago Mr Peers disposed of the lot for. *610,000 —a clear profit of 8000! At present, Mr Peers through’ Mr Campbell Colquhouu, has in hand the erection of a number of fine ■ buildings in the city. .The private hotel - - which he intends erecting on the *£o of the old coal-yard near the premiss* e£ the Canada Cycle and Motor Comp—j, Lambton buay (which wer* destroyed by fire on Wednesday night) will contain seventy-five rooms. The work Will be put in hand as soon as tba holidays are over. In this connection another instance of the growing faitli in Wellington's future may be quoted. The hotel in question has already been let for ten years, as from date of completion, at .£ISOO per annum. - In Hunter street Mr Peers has another building in course of construction. It will be a four-storied wooden- structure with a . basement, and will bo fitted up for offices. Here again he has disposed of the property to Sir Kenneth Douglas at a considerable - advance on the original purchase money.