THE NEW ALBION HOTEL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 848, 30 July 1879, Page 2

THE NEW ALBION HOTEL.

We have been favored by Mr. ,W. P. Finneran, architect, with an inspection of the plans designed by him to the order of Mr. S. M. Wilson, of the Argyll Hotel, of the handsome edifice intended to be erected on the site of the late Albion Hotel. The building is an extensive one, and will include an hotel and club-room for the members of the Poverty Bay Club, and we have no doubt that when erected it will present an appearance second to none in the Bay. Nor will the exterior appearance of the building be the most imposing part in connection with this structure. Every provision will be made as regards the interior which the foresight and ingenuity of the architect can devise, in order that every room and apartment shall be as comfortable and commodious as they can possibly be made. The frontage of the whole of the erection contemplated will be 104 feet, and the front elevation 40 feet, and a balcony is to extend the whole length of the frontage. The building proposed may be for purposes of description divided into (1) the club-room, and (2) the hotel. - The Club on the right-hand portion of the .building possesses a private entrance, and may be considered distinot and altogether separate from the hotel. It consists of a reception-room, two cardrooms, dining appartment and billiardroom on the ground floor, with additional drawing and sitting rooms and a a suite of bed-rooms and bath-room above. The reception-room is 14x15 feet, and is approached from the front immediately on entrance. A wide corridor, extending the whole depth of the building, conducts one to the two cardrooms each 15x11, and all the other apartments below. After the reoeption the card-rooms are next entered. These are to be filled up in the most recherche style of upholstery, and decorated with pier glasses and rare old paintings and oleographs. A registered grate will be provided in each of theae rooms. Light and ventilation have also been considered, and as respects these no better arrange* ments could be desired. A wide staircase with beautifully finished balustrading leading to the upper storey, intervenes between the iront apartments and the dining-room. This room is 25 x 16, and is to be furnished with tableß for the accommodation of 50 guests. This room is lighted with four windows opening into the central yard, and is served by a covered way direct from tbe kitchen. Then there is the billiard-room, 25 x 16, lighted by eight windows and a fan-light, and splendidly ventilated. In the upper storey there is the Club drawing-room, opening into the balcony ; two additional sitting-rooms and a suite of bed-roomß, besides a bath-room with water to be laid on by tanks and a force pump.. Indeed, from what we observed of the disposition of the various rooms, nothing oould. have been better or more admirably arranged, and we think the members of the Club will have every reason to be satisfied with the comfort provided for them. The Hotel proper consists of a bar, 22x16; with a wide front entrance, and possessing five different places for service. A hall 6 feet wide connects the bar with three private sitting-rooms. A billiard-room {19 x 25, and a large .dining-room at the remote end of the passage. Upstairs there are large and commodious sitting-rooni9 with a lift from the bar for the purpose of supplying drinks. The bed-rooms, thirty in number, are airy and lofty. Then, at the rear of the building, are the servants' appartments with every provision made for their accomodation. There are perhaps other matters in connection with, this structure we might mention, but we defer doing so for the present. We conclude with wishing the energetic proprietor success to his undertaking.