THE GOVERNMENT LIFE LNSURANCE BUILDING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10755, 20 March 1897, Page 6

THE GOVERNMENT LIFE LNSURANCE BUILDING.

For years ""Wise's corner" was a landmark in Dunedin, and it remained bo until only two years or so ago. Not only is that landmark completely obliterated, but the tine building, Yibereiu the Government Life Insurance Company's offices are hereafter to be located, which has bee» steadily rearing its walls from its foundations for months past, now stands re- j vealea to the public view on the old site, a \ splendid addition^to the street architecture of the city, aud a substantial proof of faith in the future of the place. The building which towcfs up to a distance of, at its greatest height, 69ffc from tun street level, has a frontage to Princes street of 64ft, and to Hart-ray street of 74ft. Solidity or massivenesa is the characteristic texture of it. Ornamentation for ornamentation';; s*ke has been eschewed, but for all that the structure is a strikingly handsome one. It was specified that colonial rcfeterials only should be employed in the coustructiou of the building, and the fact that the only respect hi which this condition has been departed from is that a couple of s,mall columns are composed of .iberdeeu granite implies a wealth of resource iv New Zealand for building purposes. The foundations are of concrete, *nd the bssemaili is of Port Chalmers stone. From the ground level the frontages are composed of fine-axed or dre3sed Ruapuke grauite with polished pilasters of the same substatiee, while between these piers they are filled iv with 'Waikawa B tone up to the ground floor cornices. For the two higher storeys Oamara stone ia used, broken up by Corinthian columns that are carried on corbels overhanging the pilasters, and the whole of the frontage is brightened ap by lead light tops to the windows. The parapet is a balustrade broken up with ornamental pediments. The above will indicate the general character of tbe frontage. The Life Insurance department's suite of offices will occupy the corner of the ground floor, the entrance being at the angle formed by the intersection of Princes and Rattray streets. The entrance may be described as a granite one. The steps are of granite, and en each side of the door is a Corinthian column .of Aberdeen granite, the^e being, as already mentioned, the oiily portions of the building in which other than coionial material has been used, while massive pilasters of polished granite are also conspicuous features of the entrance. A solid and finely-finished slidedoor will be drawn across, the entrance when the offices are not open, and within it are swing doors of handsome pattern. Above the eutrance have been placed the Royal Arms in the best Carrara nsarble, the design having been cut out of a solid block and the whole weighing 2 tons 15cwt. The department's suite consists ot a public office, the manager's room, and the doctor's room, with the acee3«ories of a strong room and lavatories. The floor of the public offices is tiled, and the walle are beautifully dadoed with fisrured 'red i pine, which is the timber that has beeu used throughout. The ceiling, which is 17t high, is ornamented with an effective '""ver-piece'in the centre and with rich cornioa3. The doors are finished with panelled architraves and cauopiea, and an excellent effect is obtained. A large and well-lighted shop, the dimensions being 36ft by 18ft;, wir>\ a height of 17ft, has been provided on the (FUttray stre&t frontage, being divided from the department's oflicss by a massive iron gate, lich leads to the 'cellar and additional lavatory accommodation, and also to the lift. The basement rooms have concrete floors a- - 1 are lighted by means of Hayward's prism lights. The lift, which is being constructed by Messrs A. and T. Burfc. will bs one of AVaygood's elevators. On tbe Princes street front there are two shop measuring 13ft 6in by 40ffc, and another of equivalent if not even greater dimensions, with he"dclition of a workshop at the b«<-it. Thes<; shops are all well lighted, and are provided with large windows, the glass in which is, as it ia throughout the building, fin plate glass. The staircase leading from Princes street and carried to the top storey is of concrete, and is broad and easy of ascent. The balusters are of iron, vfith. a I neat Handrail and handsome — t -'—i newels jof red pine. Thb staircase' j lighted I from a large lantern light, the coloured ; glass of which has a pleasant softening } effect. Ths offices on the fi—t; ■ -<i ■ second ! floors' are of various sizes, bl^ thoss on 1 the one floor correspond with the offices.on the other. They are in eace each single offices, but already, at the instauce of intending • tenants, alterations are being made in the direction of making suites of rooms, connecting one with [ the other. The offices are all lofty and welllighted, the ceiling on the first floor being 16ft, and on the second floor 15ft high. For the [ convenience of. tenants, a balcony is led along [■the back of the building oa each floor, conductI ing from all directions to the elevator. The floors ■ throughout are fireproof, and special attention has been devoted to the important matter of [/ventilation. In each room the ventilation inlet lis placed about 7ft from the floor, being ingeniI ously concealed in a neat vraftbracket of plaster iof Paris, and the foul air is ejected near the ceiliog level. There is abundance of lavatory j accommodation, with tbe latest improvements, on the second floor, and there is an abundance of strong rooms—seven in all—in the building. Uniformity has been observed throughout ! in respect of the. mariner in which the structure is finished, »i.»d*the building dnca not, consequently, require «uch a lnngiihy description as might be anticipated in one of such magnitude. The linings, for instance, are all of figured red pine, and the contractors are fortunate in having been 80 well supplied as they were in regard to that particular portion of theiV work. The successful tenderers for tbe erection of this fine pile are Messrs IK'Leod and Slwv, whose contract is now practically ended, fhough they hail from Inverc&rgill, tbe names of this firm are well known in Dunedin, tor it was by them that the exhibition building and the police barracks were erected. They are to be congratulated upon this latest monument to their budding skill. The inspector of wortas was Mr Robert Meikle, a man who thoroughly understood bis work; and various sub-contracts ! were satisfactorily executed. Messrs Gore Eros, j supplied the bricks that were utilised iv the construction of the building, Messrg Smith" arid I Smith were entrusted with the paintiug and j glazing, Mr Newman with the plastering, I Messrs J. and T. Christie with the plumbing j work, and Mr Williden with the slating. Me James Maun constructed the strong room doors and the Rattray street iirer. gates ;"the red pine linings were supplied, raili-dressed, by Messrs M'Callum and Co., of Southland; and the joinery work was proa-iced at the mills of Messrs J. Murdoah and Co. Then, Mr Alias Johnston performed the Wvy work' of cn.rti.ng the stone that was used from the wharf to Mr Gr. Munro's yards, where it was prepared, and thence to the site of the building. It in noteworthy that, notwithstanding the great weights thai were handled ia the course of the erection of the building, not a single accident of consequence occurred.