NEW COURTHOUSE FOR CITY

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 8

NEW COURTHOUSE FOR CITY

Calling Of Tenders For Contract MODERN BUILDING OF ONE STORY Another step in the erection of a new courthouse for Invercargill has been taken. Tenders for the contract have been called by advertisement. The closing date is November 23, and shortly after that, probably some time in December, the work of erecting the new building will begin. The building, which is to occupy a site in Don street near Kelvin street, will have a frontage of 101 ft lOin and a depth of 147 ft. It will be a modern structure of one story, designed on similar lines to the new State Fire Office and Post Office buildings. Large well-lighted rooms are provided for in the plans and specifications. The law library will have much more space than the library in the present courthouse. The dimensions of this room are 51ft by 30ft 3in. It will be lighted by five windows set in steel bronze. These windows comprise half the 10 windows which will be a feature of the facade of the building. Provision has also been made for plenty of room in the public office and court rooms. Tire principal room of the Supreme Court will measure 50ft by 30ft, the Magistrate’s Court room 40ft by 25ft and the public office 44ft by 32ft sin.

The decorative work in the interior of the building will be modern in design an! simple. The corridors will be lined with a dado of marble, and the entrance doors will have wide marble architraves to match the dado. Much use will be made of panelling, which will set off the specially-designed ceilings. The walls of the court rooms will be panelled in wood, and at the rear of the Benches in both courts there will be the Royal coat of arms in fibrous plaster work.

In keeping with the design of the latest Government buildings to be erected, the front of the courthouse will be attractive without showiness. On either side of the building there will be ornamental gates in iron opening on to wide tarmac footways. Steps leading to the building project to the street frontage, and on either side there will be grass plots. Flanking the steps there will be two bronze lamp standards, and above the door the Royal coat of arms in bronze.