CLIFTON COUNTY CHAMBERS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1933, Page 12

CLIFTON COUNTY CHAMBERS

RENOVATION OF OLD POST OFFICE COUNCIL’S FIRST OFFICE OF OWN For the first time during the 63 years it has been in existence the Clifton County Councli possesses its own offices, formerly the old Waitara post office, which was purchased by the council at a very moderate price. The building has been remodelled by the council’s engineer (Mr. N. .C. Fookes), renovated, repainted and refurnished, and while economy of expenditure has been practised convenience has been studied. There is a roomy public lobby off Queen Street .with ample counter accommodation opening into the assistant clerk’s room. Off this there is a small room for the county inspector, this formerly having been the letter box lobby.. The county clerk is located in a comm o di ous room opening from the assistant clerk’s room and leading into the council chamber, which is well ventilated and lighted and has a direct entrance from Whittaker Street. The engineer’s room is entered from the main entrance lobby, but also communicates directly with the council chambers and a draughting room. ’ There is ample storeroom provided by sheds, while the yard room is all that is desired.

For the past 35 years, ever since Mr. H. E. Vaughan, the present clerk, assumed office, the council’s headquarters have been on West Quay. Prior to that the offices were in a small building next to Morey and Co.’s store. Mr. Furze was county clerk before Mr. Vaughan and his predecessor was the late Mr. George Bertrand, Urenui. At yesterday’s meeting of the council the chairman (Mr. H. A. Foreman) said the cost of the property together with renovations and furnishing had been £550 and he considered that ratepayers should be well satisfied with the action of the council in having secured its own offices and with the work that had been done.