A GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5679, 29 August 1905, Page 6

A GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

NEW PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. PROVISION FOR A STATE SAFE DEPOSIT BUSINESS. Tho plans for the new Public Trust Office to ho erected in Wellington are on the eve of completion, and the Government Architect (Mr John Campbell) hopes to be in the position to call for tenders within tho next two or three weeks. Tho building will occupy that fine oity section having a frontage of 53ft to Lambton quay and 156 ft to Stout street. It will have a rounded comer, surmounted by a high dome, the apex of which will be 79ft above the level of the ground. The building will consist of four stories and a basement, to be erected in stone and preseed brick. Tho upper story will be contained in the Mansard roof (which will form a very fine elevated promenade), and will be lighted by dormer windows. Though the building will be erected in stone and brick, the latter will bo altogether subservient to the stone or granite facings in the general design, which may be described as classical Renaissance. Tho base and lower story will m obably be erected in 'Tonga Bay (Nelson) granite, said to bo the best stone in, New Zealand, and as hard to work as Aberdeen granite. Special machinery for working tho stone has been imported, and the proprietors of the quarry are prepared to go as far as executing intricate carving in tho heavy flint-like granite, which has a pepper-and-salt colour, and should take a high polish. If it is finally decided to use this granite, it will be the first of it to bo used to any extent in Wellington. Tho main entrance, set in the rounded comer of tho building, will be flanked by pillars of polished Aberdeen granite, and the general design of the two elevations will be enhanced by handsomelydesigned segmental-headed gables, enriched by scroll-work carved in stone, supported on largo double columns, with handsome lonic capitals. The height from the ground to tho parapet will be 52ft 6in, and to the Mansard roof 62ft. The public office will be on the ground floor (98ft by 31ft), about double the length of the office at present used, and off this will be offices for tho Public Trustee, the Deputy-Public Trustee, the chief clerk, and solicitor. A private doorway leads to a corridor, in which will be provided two rooms for the tynists, and offices for the intestate, wills, native, and other branches of the department. At the end of the main office, opposite the public counter, will bo a large strong room (29ft by 19ft), in which will be erected another strong room for a specific purpose. A staircase leads from the outer strong room into the basement below (100 ft by 30ft), which is practically another great strong room. It has been suggested that the Public Trustee might conduct a State safe-deposit business in connection with his department, and if the idea mar terialises, this basement will be utilised as the Government safe-deposit. There is room, the Government Architect suggests, for 10,000 clients, if the place is fitted with metal boxes something cm the lines of a private letter-box lobby in a post office. There is ample room for such an enterprise in Wellington, and the Government may give tho matter attention, so that the place can be fitted up as the building is being erected. The ground floor only will be occupied by the Public Trustee, leaving the three upper floors available for other Government departments or private letting. The building is to have no fireplaces, but will be heated throughout with hot-water radiators. The total cost of the new Public Trust Office will be about £20,000.