PORT CHALMERS IMPROVEMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5938, 19 February 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

PORT CHALMERS IMPROVEMENTS.

For several' months past building operations have been largely oarried on at Port Chalmers, which now boasts of several building* second to none in the diatriot of Otago. Its public offioes (with the exception of the Custom house and Police Oamp) are all that could be desired, while a number of the buildings used by the commercial part of the population are of a very superior claw. In hotel accommodation the town Is far beyond that of any other seaport in New Zaaland, and each of the proprietors of these places of business seems to vie with the other in rendering his house as ocmfortable a9it is possible to make it. To this end Mr- Morkane, the landlord of the wellknown Royal Hotel, detarmined to make extensive alterations in that hostelry, and having bo decided, entrusted the «oik to Mr Gordon M'Kinnon, who designed and ouried out the extensive alterations entrusted to his care with great taste and discrimination. At present the alterations only oomprise the front part of the building {whloh is of wcodj, bat Mr Morkane, being desirous of making it equal to the other hotels recently erected, has decided to build it of stone and brick The first part of the alterations has been ereotcd in George street, where a very handsome front has been run up. The architecture is of an ornamental character, and the facade is supported by Boric pillars of a substantial nature. The foundations are of the beit Fort Chalmers bluestone, and the rest of the front and side walls of brick, covered with cement and chastely deoorated. On the ground fl.or a spiciouß billiard-room has beun provided, together with a bar and bar parlour, which is approaohed by a lofty and wellconstructed entrance hall, from which springs a handsome staircase leading to the upper floor, on which, in addition to. the oommodious rooms already existing, there has been ereoted a spacious dining and two sittieg rooms—one intended for publics and the other for private use. Krench windows lead from these rooms to the verandah, which is some 10ft deep, and extends along the whole front of the building, affording the inmates an excellent view of the Upper and Lower Harbour. Oa the second floor a suite of six excellent bedrooms hare been added, and these apartments are fitted with the most recent appliances for comfort. On the whole, Mr Morkane is deserving of commendation for his efforts to render his guests comfortable, and the credit of hiving planned and erected the first part of the new building is entirely due to Mr G. MKinnon, who has already constructel soveral other edifices of a similar character at the Port.

A very substantial an 3 elegant block of buildings has just been erected in George street. Port Chalmers, olose to the Bank of New Zealand, for Messrs W. Anderson and

A. Falconer. The erection of these buildings (which are intended for shops) are of the modified Italian style, and although not so

florid in decoration as the adjacent blook, are very tasteful in appearance, and vie favourably with the Bank buildings. The archlteot is Mr E. M. Roach, of Princes afreet, Dunedin, and the contractors are Messrs N. Murrayand Kermode; while thedecorative part has been entrusted'to Messrs Thompson and Go. The foundations are of Fort Chalmers granite, and the whole of the wal'S of solid brickwork, built in the best possible

style, and covered with stucco in ornamental designs. The interior parts consist of— on the ground floor, a lofty and welldesigned shop, at the rew of which is a ro>m designed to bo used either »b an office or sitting-room; a wide passage leading t> a stairoaße, at the top of which is the residential part of the premises, comprising in the two lower buildings two bedrooms and a kiteber. Water is laid on in this apartment, and the waste and refuse is carried Away by means of a drain. The rooms are lofty and well lit, and those of the upper storey are paneled to a oirtain height and afterwa-ds finished in plaster. The roofs are slated, and,, for the comfort of. the occupants, there are good fireplaces in the pricclpal rooms. The shops are panelled with kauri pine, highly finished and varnished, while the exterior parts of the buildings ore tastefully grained in imitation of English oak. The usual outbuildings and offices ara aU that o m\A. be desired, and the new block is, to say the leist, a great ornament to this part of the town. The upper building of the three is the property of Mr A. Falooner, the lower part being Intended for a hairdresser's shop, while the whole of its upper floor will be devoted to the purposes of a Seaman's Rest—Mr Falconer having formany years past set apart portion of his establishment for ths purpose, and rinding (in his former plaoa of business) the accommodation of far too limited a nature, he decided to raise funds for the purpose cf building a place suitable for the accommodation of the seamen visiting the port. In this respect he has been singularly successful, one lady not only being a donor of £180 to the building fund, but contributing to ft great extent to f he necessary furni-

tare for the rooms. It is pleasing to remark that these gifts were perfectly spsntaneous, and that the Union Shipping Company, Messrs Catgills, Gibbs, and Co., the Albion Shipping Company, and Mr P. Denny, of

Glasgow, have also contributed to the object in view, and sime £400 has already been collected, for the building fund, which requires about £200 more to clear it. Mr .Falconer intends making the upper room, or " reft," a place of resort for seamen, who will find books, papers, writing material, &c, at their disposal at all times, while he is anxious to procure a harmonium, with a view to their entertainment, It is expect.d that a liberal supply of books of a healthy oharaoter will be contributed by those persons who are desirous of ameliorating the position of the seafaring class ; and we are sure, from a long acquaintance with Mr Falconer, that he will, as he has always done, devote himself to their interests. The " rest "is a very lofty and comfortable room, capable o* Beating with great ease fully 160 persops. It is worthy of notice thai the building, which is leasehold, has been vested (at the special desire of Mr Falconer) in three trustees, viz , Messrs Fulton, A. Thomson, and A. Falooner, the latter gentleman being, 6f course, the manager, although he assures us he shall at all times be happy to receive suggestions from any person taking an interest in the seaman's welfare. We wish him "God speed." :