FEDERAL TEAROOMS

Southland Times, Issue 20949, 5 December 1929, Page 6

FEDERAL TEAROOMS

RE-MODELLED AND IMPROVED. A. C. MILLARS’ ENTERPRISE. The milestones marking the progress of a town might be said to be of two classes: .the obsolete structures which were once up-to-date business premises, and the new buildings that are regarded by some as being in advance of the times. When business men show confidence in the future by building for its needs they are carrying their town one step nearer the status of a city, and that is what several business men in Invercargill have done within the last few years. The most recent improvement in the business centre is that just reaching completion in the premises of A. C. Millars, Ltd., known as the Federal Tea Rooms. The old Federal Tea Rooms were familiar to the majority of people in Invercargill, but, when the re-modelled rooms are opened on Saturday, it will be hard for former patrons to recognize the place. A Times reporter, who was shown over the premises by the architect in charge of the alterations, Mr A. C. Ford, yesterday, had to ask where the stairways and other fittings had previously been for the whole place is altered out of recognition.

The furnishings of the downstairs shop have all been altered and renovated, and the ceilings and walls have been reconditioned in fibrous plaster in a panel design, the whole being painted to match the colour scheme of the tea rooms above. The stairway to the first floor leads to a roomy vestibule, which in turn leads to the main tea rooms, the lounge, cloak rooms and banqueting room on the second floor.

The main tea room measures 40 feet each way and will accommodate about three dozen tables. The docorations are not ornate, but they are very pleasing. The ceiling is done in fibrous plaster in an Adam design, and the walls are in a similar material with panels. The whole is done in soft cream relieved with soft pink facings, the lower portion of the wall being in grey panelling, the grey and cream together giving a very dainty effect. A distinctive feature of the room is its fine windows finished in leadlight of unusual design, and the same scheme is continued around the walls by three very fine mirrors in the same design. The tables and chairs arc of black oak and look very well against the softer colouring of the walls. The floor Is stained and carpet runners are to be used between the tables. A fireplace in plain concrete and tiles blends with the rest of the scheme and gives the room a homely air.

The lounge is roomy and comfortably furnished and can be reached from the tea room or from the vestibule. The colour scheme is similar to the tea room, and the furnishings are also in black oak. The grey panelling and tinted plaster is continued from the vestibule up the stairway to the banqueting hall, which is slightly larger than the tea room. The banqueting hall is also daintily treated in grey panelling and fibrous plaster in a distinctive design. It is very well lighted, having large windows to the north and the east. The floor is an excellent one, and the soft colours of the curtains and walls combine to make the whole room look like a place specially designed for dancing. An ingenious arrangement of the tables enables the staff to convert them into long tables in the banqueting style and, when the floor is required for dancing, to remove both tables and chairs with despatch and without interference with the guests. The banqueting hall is served by a kitchen of its own, the furnishings of that department being identical with the furnishings of the larger kitchen on the floor below. The kitchen attached to the main tea room is roomy, well lighted, airy, and very clean. Electric, gas, and coal heating appliances are provided, and every labour saving device available has been installed. An elaborate system for keeping food hot and in good condition is placed in a handy position, and automatic hot water boilers, soda fountains, bread and meat slicers, and an electric oven for hot pies are among the numerous furnishings. An outside storeroom for meat and vegetables, a large crockery pantry, and a rest room for the staff open off the main kitchen. The crockery pantry is stocked with hundreds of cups, saucers, plates, and cake dishes, the crockery for outside catering being stored there.

The whole building is heated by a low pressure hot water system, with radiators in all rooms to assure an even temperature in cold weather. Several utility points are provided for fans on hot days. An electric dumb waiter serves all floors and is designed to carry a fully loaded dinner waggon. Temporary light fittings, loaned by the Southland Electric Power Board, are installed, the permanent fittings not having come to hand in time for the re-opening of the rooms on Saturday, Practically the whole of the carpets, furniture and fittings have been supplied by local business men, and the walls of the main rooms are to be decorated with framed photographs by local exhibitors. The main feature of the alterations is perhaps the greatly increased convenience and the privacy available for parties who do not wish to use the main tearoom.