PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1930, Page 6

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE

HAWERA BRANCH ALTERATIONS.; Extensive alterations and additions, involving in part th© erection of a large two-storeyed block, have bhen made, to the Public Trust Office at Ha-wera,-and-the building is now more in keeping with the solidity associated with such an important Government institution. The Hawera branch first came into existence as an agency about 30 years ago • and as business has progressed it has been necessary from time to time- to enlarge the premises, so that now the building covers the whole of the site, occupying an area of 38ft 6in by 118 ft. Character in the street frontage has been obtained by a well-desighed urn and rosette. : Entering the office through attractive French swing doors the visitor is immediately struck by the refined yet simple interior. The spacious office extends, for almost the entire length of the building, and the whole of the office staff works in view of the public, thus doing away with the old idea of an office for practically every official. The floor is covered with an attractive design of rub-linoleum and the counter is, of stained mahoganycoloured rimu, inlaid with coloured wood, and with a brass kick plate at the base.''The cashier is enclosed in a small office, fronted by a bronze grille, while in front of . the counter is a writing table made to match the counter. Extra strongroom and safe deposit accommodation has been provided and many new features are incorporated in the design. One safe door, a Chubb, has been made in Australia and, althf/h it weighs in the vicinity of Te ton, it is so delicately balanced that it can be moved with one finger. Wood has been eliminated in the safes and everything is to be housed in steel. A novel feature of the safe-deposit lockers is that each person has his own key, while a guai\d key is also kept. It is impossible to open a locker unless both keys are used, and all the locks are interchangeable. At the rear the building is of two storeys and accommodation has been arranged on the first floor for male and female staff', while there is a heating chamber, fuel, cycle and cleaner’s stores and lavatories, mosaic tiled, on the second floor. The additions are all constructed of reinforced concrete finished with cement facing to match the remainder of the building. Simplicity is the keynote of the decorative scheme of the one private office in the building, that of the District Public Trustee. It is a large room, the, only articles of furniture in which are a writing desk, a few comfortable ch irs. and two bookcases, The Hawera branch of the Public Trust Office came into existence 30 years ago, Mr. C. A. Budge being in charge. The agency continued until early in 1911, when it was decided to make Hawera the head- office of the West Coast Settlement Reserves branch in Taranaki, and also to open a branch office to do the administration work of the department in the district, Mr. Cnarles Zachariah, the district manager of the office at New Plymouth, was appointed district manager at Hawera. Mr. Zachariah served in this capacity until July, 1912, when, as a result of his transfer to the head office, Mr. Ernest. Barns was appointed manager. The staff in those days totalled five. . The site at present occupied by the branch wae purchased in August, 1911, and the erection of a new building put in hand, the work being finished in October, 1912, Further alterations and additions were made in March, 1920, when the floor space of the building was about doubled. On Mr. Barns’ retirement on superannuation the present District Public Trustee, Mr. Cuthbert Freyberg, was appointed in May, 1923, to be District Public Trustee at Hawera. The Public Trust Office no longer dealf-j with the West Coast Settlement Reserves work, which was taken over by the Native Trustee from the coming into operation in 1921 of the Native Trustee Act, 1920. An added duty, however, is that of handling the advances under the Rural Intermediate Credits Act. RIFLE SHOOTING. HAWERA DEFENCE CLUB. Under fairly good conditions and with a glaring light the Hawera Defence Rifle Club shot for Messrs Gerrard’s trophy during the week-end and some good performances were registered. Particular credit is due to R. J. Evans, a young shot who headed the list. The following are the detailed

OPERA HOUSE, HAWERA. “THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES.” A dramatic etqry of crime and intrigue has been given novel treatment in “Through Different Eyes,” the Fox Movietone all-talking production which ■will commence a season at th© Hawera Opera House talkies to-night. The film deals principally with a dramatic murder trial, and the court scene is one of ■the most thrilling in the 'production. The sound and talking effects are clear, and the voices of the players ; *e distinct. The leading'artiste are Warner Baxter, Edmund Lowe and Mary Dunean,, all of whom acquit themselves well. The supporting programme will include other short talking pictures. The box plans are.at Mis© Blake’s shop.

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