A Model Wool Store

Southland Times, Issue 14221, 14 December 1898, Page 2

A Model Wool Store

Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Company have just made an important addition to the business premises of the town. It would be difficult to find a building more suitable in every way for the purpose for which it was erected than the wool store that this firm has built in Tweed street just across the Bluff line. The principle that has governed the plan of the store is utility. The result is a store that offers the best possible facilities for the display of wool. The most noticeable feature in this respect is the lighting of the building. The roof is of the kind known in England as the work-shop roof. There are six spans on the roof. The side of each that faces the north is a long gradual slope and is wholly covered with iron. The side that faces the south on the other hand is almost upright and is almost wholly glass. The advantage gained from this style of roof is a valuable one. Since the sun cannot touch the skylights, from their position, shadows and all dazzling lights are avoided and throughout the whole day the light is soft and even and equal in every part of the building. Farmers will appreciate the benefit that will be derived from this in examining wool. To show that the store is thoroughly lighted it need only be mentioned that there are nearly 3000 feet of glass in the roof. The measurements of the building are :—length 132 feet, breadth 83 feet, floor area 10,400 feet, height to barriers 164 feet, to pitch of roof 24 feet. A railway siding runs down the whole length of the east side under a verandah and the trucks discharge at landings made for the purpose. A cart road will be constructed down the west side and the drays will load or discharge at doors of convenient sizs. The building stands on solid concrete foundations and is strongly, even massively built all over. The storey posts are constructed of iroa rails and are undoubtedly a great improvement on the huge wooden posts used in other sheds. The rails are neat, strong and take up a minimum of room: a desideratum that is their strongest recommendation. The store as a whole is built on the most modern lines, and Messrs Wright, Stephenson are to be congratulated on having so successfully studied the convtniences of their clients, whose wants for a great many years to come have been anticipated and amply provided for. Great credit is due to Mr W. Sharp, C.E., the architect, who is responsible for the excellent design, and also to Mr Alex. Menzies, the contractor, who has done his work in a workmanlike manner. The cost of the store was over L2OOO.

In selecting the site on which they have built Messrs Wright, Stephenson have made a choice which will probably be commended by many. If we remember rightly Tweed street, as being the approach to the wharf, was made wider than other streets in that part of the town, because it was thought that ib would become a busy thoroughfare. There is a large amount of room in the locality that Messrs Wright, Stephenson have chosen, the railway is close by, and it would give the town a greatly improved appearance if half a dozen wool and grain stores were to be built in proximity to Messrs Wright, Stephenson’s. It is to be hoped that commercial firms who find it necessary to make further accommodation for business purposes, and we hope that there will soon be m»ny in that predicament, will consider Messrs Wright, Stephenson’s example worthy to be followed.