THE NEW POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH STATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2064, 18 January 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NEW POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH STATION.

The Post Offico tnd Telegraph Station ia now completed, and a brjef description of the architectural features of vie building will do doubt bo read with interest. To our minds a mistake has been made in having tie building so low, it would appear to much greater advantage, and have a more striking effect if it had been raised a foot or so off the grouni. With regard to the building itself the architect bas inacto another mistake, for a worse lighted building we do not think could be possibly erected. Notwithstanding that the sun shove brilliantly whilst we were inspecting the building yesterday morning, the rooms appeared to bo gborny and dark. We certainly cannot complimen; the architect either on the design or the plan of the building, which is perhaps as unsuitable for its purpose as it possibly could be. The building occupies a block of ground forty-four feet by thrty-four feet, whilst it is sixteen feet in heigh,. From the front, which faces Queenstreet, the letters will be delivered ; aud there is a veranda, which will be a great convenience to persois waiting for their letters in wet weather. Gi either side of the veranda are rooms. The one to the right being the receiving-room for tht telegraph department, and connected with the operating room, and the room to the left for the Post-otfice Savings' Bank business. On the east side there is another veranda. Hore the prime boxes will be, and also the Money Order Office. The private eutranoo to the Post-office is at the back. The Postmaster's private room is to tho right on the south side, whilst a bedroom for a resident is on the left. The telegraphist's operating room is between the bedroom and the lobby, and is on the west side of the building, The rooms we have described surround the so'ting room of the Post Office, and communication may be had from tho ceutre with eaoh of them. The sorting-room is twenty feet by sixteen feet ; tho telegraphist's operating room fourteen feet sii inches by twelve feet ; all the other rooms are tvelve feet by ten foot. The ground and outer work is of totara, and the walls of the building " rusticated." The work has been completed in a most satisfactory manner b/ Mr. Taylor, the contractor, under the supervision of Mr. W. Ncrihcroft, both of whom deserve great praise lor tho thorough manner the building has been finished, and the only one whom we cannot compliment is the architect who might have designed a larger aud more airy building at no extra cost to erect.