BUILDING TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 22734, 9 November 1935, Page 6

BUILDING TRADE

BOOM IN INVERCARGILL ALTERED BUSINESS PREMISES MORE ATTRACTIVE SHOPS Tire building boom in Invercargill continues unabated. Each week sees steady progress being made with structures or alterations that are gradually changing the appearance of the city area. Each week, too, new projects are planned or begun, so that the year 1935 will be remembered as something of an epic period in the progress of the city. Some of these building programmes are having an important effect on the city’s life and welfare. The extensive alterations that are being made to at least two big shops will result in Invercargill standing on a par with any city in New Zealand in the retail clothing business. Then a theatre is being altered so that three fine modern picture houses will cater for the public’s entertainment taste. A new social rendezvous is almost finished, and finally the great new Kew Hospital is becoming an accomplished fact. The needs of the people in sickness and in health are being fully served. Thomson and Beattie’s extensive alterations to their Tay street shop form probably the biggest business work at present in progress. It is significant that this drapery establishment, one of the earliest to be established in Invercargill, is now to be one of the most modern. The whole upstairs portion has been changed to allow for 8000 feet of additional display space. With this extra space all the departments, including the men’s clothing department, are to be consolidated in the one building. Modernizing Process. Several thousands of pounds are being spent on “The Exhibition”—as the shop is called—to bring into fruition these new ideas, many of which were gained by Mr Rodan Thomson during his visit to England and the Continent. A large modern passenger lift will adjoin the staircase to provide comfortable access to the upstairs showrooms. Large lifts are now finding great favour, one of their advantages being the facility of taking prams into the lift compartment. The stair well and staircase are to be panelled throughout with beautiful cross fire polished walnut relieved and brightened by small sections of chromium plate. The new showroom is to be lit by 24 300 candlepower lamps of modern designs. AH these electric fitting are also to be chromium plated. Actually, artificial lighting will not be needed very much for the shop is lit by skylights from street to street. By making extensions to the system the whole building will be warmed by hot water heating. Tire whole appearance of tne shop from the outside is to be improved by altering the front windows in the upper portion. These will be constructed of plate glass, with leadlight tops. The natural lighting in the showroom enhances the beauty of the fibrous plaster ceilings, which though simple in design are striking in effect. A Times reporter who visited the premises yesterday saw the builders hard at work on the showroom. Yet amid, all the bustle of construction the pleasing lines of the showroom dominated everything. Here are to be housed the millinery, mantles, underclothing and children’s wear departments, all with low fittings so that the general effect will not be lost. Lounge to be Provided. A comfortable lounge is being erected at the eastern corner of the showroom. Tire upstairs portion had to be built back to Wood street to provide for this. Here patrons will be able to write letters or refresh themselves with the pleasant scenery provided by the bowling green and gardens on the other side of the Otepuni. The offices will be retained upstairs, but they also will be rearranged. The alteration rooms will adjoin the lounge. The reserve stocks formerly housed upstairs will now be kept in the great basement, which with its dryness is admirably suited for this. An electric goods lift will provide conveyance between the three floors. In the main shop, on the ground floor, the Manchester and dress departments will be afforded practically double the. present display space, while there will also be a big increase in the fancy department. The men’s clothing department will be shifted back to the main shop The work on Thomson and Beatties was begun nearly two months ago and will probably be completed before Christmas. Praise For Invercargill Shops. Mr Rodan Thomson told the reporter, in response to a question, that the shops here compared favourably with those in places of similar size in England ana that drapery stores in New Zealand were just as up-to-date as those at Home. This remark was borne out bj a northern wholesale agent when visiting Invercargill a few weeks ago. He said that drapery establishments here were fully equal to those in the north and he, too, made the same favourable comparison with shops in England. On the opposite side of Tay street the frontage of Herbert, Haynes and Company’s drapery shop is being completely altered by the builders and soon this building will bear a handsome appearance from the street. In a previous article was described the work being done within, and the promise of modern beauty then indicated has been more than fulfilled; After four months of work this shop has been transformed to present a highly attractive appearance both upstairs and down. Here big additions to floor space, 6000 feet in all, have given Invercargill another fine, commodious, modem shop. The whole of the work will be finished by next Saturday. Other Business Alterations. J. Manson and Sons, ironmongers, whose shop adjoins Thomson and Beattie’s, have also extended their premises back to Wood Street. This will give the firm considerably more floor space, while the additional section made of ferro-concrete will provide room for the storage of heavy goods. The additions to buildings are now greatly improving the appearance of Wood Street. Meek and Oughton’s building in Esk Street is being renovated and remodelled, while a new frontage, probably in colour, will mark a further step in the improvement of Esk street properties. The firm will occupy the ground floor and the upstairs portion will consist of modem offices. Buildars are at present busy on the front of the'building. The work was begun a month ago and will be finished in about three weeks. Among the modem features will be a hot water heating system.

Numerous shops and business premises are being altered on a small scale, so that it seems that by the holiday season the city area will be looking at its best. The handsome reception rooms ana garden being constructed for Miss D. Paterson are almost completed. The premises, which are entitled “Elmwood Garden,” are situated on the North Road.

The Popular Picture Palace is being completely altered to bring it into line with modem requirements and before

long will be housing patrons for talking pictures. Permits for Houses.

Though the number of permits for private houses showed a slight drop in October compared with September, the individual values were slightly higher. In October 17 permits to a value of £16,803 were issued, but during September the declared value was £18,682 for 23 houses. September was the peak month of this year, the figures being: January, 14; February, 13; March, 8; April, 12; May, 12; June, 8; July, 11; August, 12; September, 23; October, 17.

Several attractive modern residences are being built in the vicinity of Wellesley Avenue and Alice street. For instance, three new houses are being built in Wellesley Avenue and one has just been completed. Building activity in other parts of the city has shown no sign of decreasing.