NEW BANK PREMISES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1925, Page 11

NEW BANK PREMISES.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S PROGRESS BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Modern offices for the Bank of New South Wales are to be erected at New Plymouth on the site of the existing bank buildings. The plans have been prepared by Mr. T. H. Bates, and it is expected the building will take about twelve months to complete. The building, which will be of modern architectural design, will be of two stories, and will be constructed of briek and finished off on the exterior with cement plaster. It will have a handsome and substantial appearance, and be a valuable addition and improvement to the commercial centre of the town. The building will have a frontage to Devon Street of 50ft. Bin., and to Currie Street of 68ft. 3in. The ground floor will be occupied entirely by the bank for its business, and this will provide probably the largest banking chamber in New Plymouth. The main entrance from Devon Street will be through a handsome double door leading directly into the banking chamber. Over the doorway there will be an ornamental glass fanlight, and right over the whole entrance there is to be a wrought iron balcony. On either side of the doorway and balcony there are to be lonic columns reaching the full height of the building, giving it a very ornate and dignified appearance. At the top of the building the name of the bank is to be inscribed in letters of bronze, and bronze name plates will be-affixed at the base on either side of the entrance. Inside the main doors on the left Will be a commodious office for the manager. Adjoining this and facing the entrance, will be a bills counter, the accountants’ office, two tellers’ boxes at the public counter, and - along a short passageway down the right side of the building will be found the ledger and exchange clerks. Behind the tellers and in the main office there is ample desk accommodation for the clerical staff. A large strongroom will be built in a central position, giving safe storage to both floors. A telephone box, stationery room, and the usual sanitary appointments complete the equipment of the ground floor. All the fittings will be of polished rimtt, with embossed bevelled plate glass, and copper rails will be affixed at the tellers’ boxes. The plan and description of the banking chamber indicate that the building will have a very handsome appearance, both inside and out. On the first floor a suite of twelve offices has been planned. These will be reached by way of a separate entrance from Devon Street.

(BUSY BUILDERS. •Returns from local authorities in 140 of the principal urban areas in Great Britain (except the London County Council area with a total population of 16,104,000) show that in February, 1025, plans were passed for buildings of an estimated cost of £5,336,100 as compared with £4,439,900 in January, 18'25, and £5,0'23,400 in February, 19'24. Of the total for February, 19'25, dwellinghouses accounted for £3,374, 700; factories and workshops for £499,200; shops, offices, warehouses, and other business premises for £414,200; and other buildings, and additions and alterations to existing buildings, for £1,v48,000. GROWING TIMBER. Dealing with reafforestation problems in U.S.A., Mr. Samuel T. Dana, director of the Nort-East Forest Experiment Station at Amberst, Mass., is repotted to have said that “If the Forestry’ Service -were given a free hand to-day, they lacked the fundamental knowledge to grow timber fast enough to save the nation from the impending Wood famine. The big shortage would conic in about thirty years. They Were, just starting to learn how to grow trees, and had years to work ahfead. However, a general turning to tireegrowing would enable them to catch up some day.” WASHING DAY. In a recent article on home building in England, a contemporay says. “The advice of women should bo sought! by local authorities in regard to pointy of detailed planning. Such matters as (the provision of cupboards and larders, adequate storage accommodation, the suitable placing of sinks and coppers, the provision of electrical appliances and other labour-saving devices are of great importance in the domestic

economy of a home and should receive special consideration,” For our own part, we would point out to builders that in most washhouses the tubs are placed on the left of the copper instead of on the right. This is wrong, unless a woman is left-handed and has a left-handed wringer. Try it for yourselves, builders. The matter is one that should be put right, if only for the sake of the man who helps his wife on washing day. He knows. BUILDING SOCIETIES. , In the general appreciation of State Savings Bank work in overcoming the shortage of houses in Victoria, the utility’ and financial strength of private building societies has been overshadowed. That these societies still exist as a most important factor in home building recently published figures amply prove. The -reason why the societies have not been drawing attention to themslves by special propaganda is that they have been embarrassed by applications for loans, which, owing to the stringency bf the money market, they have not been able to fully accept. To the man with an income above the £4OO a year which the Savings Bank insists upon as the alldwable maximum earning of its clients, the building society is essential. There, is reason to believe that these societies will soon command more capital and accept more customers. The statement referred to shows that the building societies in Victoria are in a very- sound position. In the years 1920-21 -22, the gross profits were respectively £143,923, £l-62,151, and .£17'3,991. In the same period their net profits ranged from 11 to 12.5 per cent, and. they’ paid dividends from 9 to 9.5 per cent. Such concerns must always be an attraction to investors,Vinci now that mortgage securities in actual property tend to become irregular in value, the building society as a stable form of investment cannot be overlooked. First share issues to-day would no doubt have a favourable reception. CONCKETE HOUSES. Though concrete houses are now fairly common in Australian cities, nobody has yet proved to the general public that they cost less than brick houses to build. Whether concrete is more durable than brick is not a matter of great moment to the home-builder of to-day, since both materials, properly constructed, will last of centuries.

An English architest, Mr. Douglas Wood, F.R.1.8.A., recently pointed out that the erection of houses in concrete calls for more care and skill in the actual planning and design than brick houses. The nature of the material is less known or appreciated by builders generally, and more carefully prepared plans and specifications are necessary to educate the builder in the proper use of the materials. Systems that are successful follow certain well-known lines of constructional design. The use of light s teel rods as reinforcement effects economy in the amount of concrete required, and enables any desired feature to be produced. Concrete should not be regarded as a cheap substitute for brickwork. Most of the mistakes in the past have been due to builders endeavouring to erect concrete houses at prices substantially lower than they would expeet to pay for brick houses. Inferior workmanship and materials have been the result.

THE FASHIONABLE FIREPLACE. During recent years far more thought has been given to the fireplace by architects and builders, with the result that some beautiful designs are to be seen. But at the moment, preference or fashion in England is in favour of the stone fireplaces rather than that with a wooden mantelpiece. One of the newer designs is of marble with a grate that comes forward almost to the edge of the fender. Another has a sunken fireplace with stone hobs at each side, and is a reversion to an old-fashioned type. In fact, many of the fireplaces that are being put into the newer houses are rather quaint than beautiful, and at best look more suitable for the kitchen of a farm than a living-room of a modern house. But there are some so beautifully constructed that it almost appears sacrilege to use them for the purpose of obtaining heat. A modern mantelpiece is of light green veined stone, and has fittings of oxidised silver. It is something quite modern, and supplies a decorative touch to a room that can hardly be described. There are quite a number of patent grates to be seen, most of which have some particular merit. There are shown with mantelpiece complete in various styles, some of which have exceptional beauty.