BIGGER POST OFFICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 841, 9 December 1929, Page 10

BIGGER POST OFFICE

FOUNDATIONS READY AT NEWTON MEETING PUBLIC DEMAND The foundations are ready for the addition to the Newton Post Office. Through the additions and the improvements to be made in the present building, the accommodation at the post office will be more than doubled. To provide for the cost of construction, a vote of £3,500 was made in March last after repeated representations. Recently a tender for construction at a price of £3,455 13s was accepted by the Public Works Department from Mr. J. R. Simpson, of Green Lane. At rush hours there is great congestion in the present building, and improvements have been needed for some time in an office serving a busy commercial area. The present building has not been enlarged in its 50 years of existence. Complaints were made by business people to the authorities and the plan of improvements was announced. The upper floor of the present office has been used as a residence for the postmaster. Remodelling will be carried out in the ground floor of the present building, and counter space will be nearly doubled. There will be public space along the frontages to Karangahape Road and Cobden Street. Two storeys in brick and concrete will comprise the new building where it joins the old. fn this portion, a new staircase will be constructed. Behind will be a large mailroom, which will be lighted by windows and skylights. On the Cobden Street front age a new private box lobby will be provided, and, on the south-west corner, a stage for mail trucks. The mailroom will be below the level of the existing public office, and will be reached by a ramped corridor. There will be a new staff entrance at the end of a right-of-way at the east side of the old building. While the exterior of the post office will not appear to have been altered greatly. the accommodation will be extended to a degree which should be adequate for the needs mentioned to the department. A great amount of work, hampered considerably by heavy weather, has been required to prepare the foundations. The works may be completed at the end of February.