TE AROHA’S PROGRESS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6543, 13 November 1924, Page 4

TE AROHA’S PROGRESS

NEW BANK BUILDINGS Gradually the old building in the main street of Te Aroha are giving place to modern structures, anyone of the latest is that owned by the National Bank of New Zealand, Ltd. The small temporary premises formerly occupied have now been vacated for the new building situated in the heart of the town and in the Busiest part of the main thoroughfare. The new building is of substantial materials and has peen designed to meet the requirements of the distant future. The architects were Messrs Gummed and Ford, of Auckland, who won the £IOOO prize in the competition for the civic square design for Auckland. The good name of the firm is well maintained in their Te Aroha work and they have succeeded in expressing in the new bank building not only, prosperity and solidarity but that which satisfies the asthetic taste. There is little ormentation, but sufficient to relieve the bareness of concrete and give the building a pleasing appearance. The whole building is 25ft by 75ft, and the work throughout is in conformity ( with outside appearances. Full provision has been made for the staff and for the accommodation of clients, who have been considered to an extent quite unusual. All the latest ideas have been introduced and clients will be able to enjoy greater privacy than formerly when filling in forms, etc. The woodwork is solid heart of rimu, beautifully grained and polished. The vault is spacious and constructed so as to resist every danger that might threaten its valuable contents. The*, manager’s ' room *• is easily accessible and furnished in keeping with the rest of the building. A large corridor from the public office leads down to a room at the back used for the storage of stationery. The living rooms are right up-to-date, and quality, durability and convenienre, both in structure and furnishing, have apparently been the main considerations. There are modern bathrooms and lavatories, and provision has been made for the heating of every room by means of hot water radiators. In winter \vater for the bath .is heated by a califont. There is a large skylight in the roof of the main office which serves its purpose well. The builders were Messrs Ritchie and Hepburn, and the plastering work which, like the woodwork, has attracted much favourable attention, was done by Mr G. P. Allen. The bank also owns the adjoining premises-'now used as a billiard saloon, so that there will be no difficulty about extensions when the proper time arrives.