THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND'S NEW PREMISES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 2136, 27 September 1873, Page 2

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND'S NEW PREMISES.

This vory handsomo odifioo, which has boon In course of erection during tho past 13 vo or six months, is now oomplotod, and takou possession of by tho manager (Mr. T. King) , aud for tho futuro tho business of tho bank will bo transacted in it. Beforo this building was | commencod, wo gavo a brief description of it, but now it is finished we aro enabled to describo it moro fully. Tbo building is situated on a section of land at the oorner of Devon aud Robo-stroets, and is oloso to tho Postoflioo. As an architectural composition tho odifico possesses oonßiderablo merit, and is quito an ornament to the town. Tho fac.ado is in tho Italian stylo, aud presonts a very handsome and commanding appearance. Tho height of tbo baiiding from tho plinth to tho top of tho balustrade is twenty-six feet. Tho frontago in Devonstreet is forty-nino foot, and in Robe-street fortyfivo feot. Tho side facing tho former struct has three large windows ; whilst in Robe-street thora" are only two. These are dividod by pilasters of tho composito order, eighteen feot from base to the top of capital ; whilst the windows aro oironlar headed, aud finished and surrounded by appropriate mouldings and entablature. Tho building is surrounded by a balustrado parapet, which totally secludes the roof from the oye. Tho ontrance to tho banking department is from the corner ; tho principal room being thirty feet by twonty-ono feot, aud sevonteen foot in height* This is a noblo apart tnout, and now that it is fitted op with desks, counters, &c, has a vory imposing appearance. Tho fittings aro of kauri, with oappings of Australian cedar, and being highly polished, tho former shows off to advantage tho beautiful grain of this usoful as well as ornamental wood. Tho counter top is of polishod cedar, with ornamented columns, and on a pedestal to tho right is fixed a large date box. Tho manager's room is to tbo left, and is cloven feot by sixteen. Tliore aro two strong rooms, built of Bolid masonry ; tho ono communicating with tho manager's room boiug six feet by four feet, and the other with tho bauking room six feet by seven feet six inches. They nro arched, and aro about eleven feet six inohes in height. Both are provided with iron fire-proof doors, ono of them being Tann's " rolianoo patent." Tho windows are lettered " Bank of New Zealand" in gold characters, and worn done by Mr. C. Hooker. Inside- tho windows, for protection from burglars, wo presume, iron bars are fixed. Orer the entrance doors, inside, is an excellent piece of cabinet work in tho shape of a cornioo, which is bold, without boiug too heavy. Communication may be obtained with the private apartments by a door at tho back of tbo teller's couuter, bnt the chief entrance to them is in Robe-street. Tho hall is thirty-four feet long by five feot six inches wide, and to the right of it are tho drawing aud dining rooms. The former in sizo is sixteen feot by fifteen feol, and is very lofty. It has been papered with a delicate pattern, and the door is grained inside to imitate maple wood. Tho imitation is excellent, being a close copy of the wood itself. The marbling of the mantelpieces, and the oak graining on the other doors, is good, but the imitation of tho maple wood surpasses ali. This work is by Mr. Stitt, of Auckland. The dining room is twelve feet by fifteen feot, and will be rathera gloomy apartment, wo should imagine. Between tbis room and tho bodroom is a passage four feot wido, which leads to tho kitchen and servants' apartments. From this passage entrance is obtained to the two bedrooms, which aro airy apartments, being abont ten feet by thirteen feet. Attached to the main building, and communicated with from tho passage np fonr steps, are the servants' apartments, which consist of a kitchen thirteen feet six inches by thirteen feet ; scullery seven feot by thirtoon feet ; pantry soven foot by six feet ; and a servant's bedroom, seven feet by nino feot. These apartments have a soparato ontrauoo from Robe-streut, aud are gained through a yard twonty-soveu foot by twenty-two feot in size, which is enclosed by a five feet galvanised corrugated iron fence. Tho building is thoroughly drained by means of drain tiles on one side, and by largo pipes which go nndor tho bnildiug, the latter carrying all the waste water from the sink in tho scullery, and from tho pump, whiob is closo by. The ground at tbo side will bo plauted with flowering shrubs, and tho oathouses hid from tho public gaze by an ornamental trellis work about seven feet high. The architect of tho building is Mr. E. Mahouey, of Auckland, and tho work has been carried oat nnder tho supervision of Mr. KnoLt, in a manner that has given satisfaction to the owners, as well as to tho contractors. Messrs. Aitobeson and Price havo completed the building in a most satisfuotory manner, and which mast certainly add to their reputation as builders and contractors. The stone work was douo by Messrs. Macdonald, Christie, 'and others, of Auckland ; the slating of the roof by Mr. Okey, of Now Plymouth ; tho drain tiles were supplied by Mr. Wilshiro, and wore mndo in the Provinco ; tho graining, painting, and paperbanging by Messrs. Stitt Brothers j tho carving by Mr. Bates ; and the ironwork by Mr. Carroll. Tho wholo engaged in tho construction of tho building deserve ovcry credit for tho workmanlike manner in which they havo brought their labours to a oloso ; and wo hope to soe other buildings of a similar ornamental character erected in this town before long.

The Patea Bridge. — Drawings and specifications of this bridge can now bo scon at tliu Poblic Works Offico.

Cricket Club. — Wo have boon reqnostod to remind tho members of tho Tnranaki Crickot Club that a meeting will tako placo this ovouiog, in tho Taranaki Institute, at 7 o'clock.

Church of England Services To-morrow.— Sorvicos will bo hold to-morrow, at St. Mary'; Church, at 11 a.m., by tho Roy. H. H. Brown ; and at G. 30 p.m., by tho Von. Arohdoaoon Govett ; at tho 801 l Block Church, at 3.30 p.m., by tho Von. Arohdenoon Govett; at Waitara, at 1.30 p.m., by tho Von. Archdeacon Govott ; at Tikorangi, at 10.30 a.m., by the Yen. Archdeacon Govett.

Weslrtan Church Services To-morrow.— Services will be held at the chapel in town, tomorrow, at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m., by tho Rev. J. Smith ; at 801 l Block, at 11 a.m., by Mr. W. Collis ; at Oakura, at 2.30 p.m., by the Rev. W. Kirk ; at Tataraimaka, at 11 a.m., by the Rev. W. Kirk.

Primitive Mftiiodist Services To-morrow. — Wo extract from the I'riuiitlcc Mctlndist Magazine tho nanios of tho parties who will preach tomorrow. Afc tho chapel in town, at 11 a.m. and at G. 30 p.m., Itov. J. Dumbell ; at tho Henni, at 2.30 p.m., Mr. W. Bassott ; at Omata, at 11 a.m., Mr. T. Bayly ; at Mungoroi, at 2.30 p.m., Roy. J. Dumbell.

"Acorns," Raid au Irishman, "is a house that a man lives in whou ho is dead."