NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 6

NATIONAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.

NEW ZEALAND PREMISES. A HANDSOME BLOCK. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 1. Anyone walking up Moorgate street, leading from the north aide of the Bank of England, cannot help being struck by the appearance of & handsome block of buildings whch hae just emerged from the scaffolding that has covered it for the past year. It is the new home of the head office _ot the National Bank of New Zealand, and lies not 80 yards from the Old Lady of Threadleneedle street. Only 18 months ago the demolition of the old building previously on the site was begun. A year ago the new structure was started, and it is now so near completion that the staff of the bank hope to move from their present congested offices on the other side of the street to the new premises before the end of Fbruary. The building has a frontage of about 120 ft, end takes up the whole block between the narrow streets. The plinth up to the level cf the ground floor windows is of Norwegian granite, and the' rest of the frontage is of Portland stone, giving a very handsome ana dignified appearance. The bank will occupy the ground floor, the basement (where the strong rooms are located), the first floor, and the fourth floor. The second and third floors are to be let as offices to firms. Decorations and woodwork are particularly striking, and the main office of the bank will probably compare favourably with the finest commercial office in Ixmdon. The walls from floor to ceiling axe covered with white Italian marble, and all the woodwork is of Ancona walnut, a particularly striking effect being given to the panels by quartered veneers. Desks and office furnishings are also of walnut. Similar decorative effects are to be found in the smaller offices, and the board room on the first floor is exceedingly well furnished. Here the walnut skirting is 10ft in height, the mantel timbers of heavy walnut, and the fireplace of white marble. Electric lifts, steel window fittings, and all other up-to-date devices have been incorporated in the building, and tho members of the staff will doubtless feel proud of their new business house. Certainly it is a decided addition to the architectural beauty of that particular part of the City.