THB BANK OF NEW ZEALAND'S

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5909, 7 November 1885, Page 2

THB BANK OF NEW ZEALAND'S

NIIW PREMISES. Tut hindsotno building ;it tha corner oE Devon-street ;m 1 Brougharu-street, which his beon recently erected by the 15 ink o£ New Zaalsin 1 to provi le accoiutiu latiou more in Icoepia^ with their extenlin'-C biibiucss, is now all but compluLe 1, and will be occupioil during tho coininj; week. Tha building in o£ 11 composite style o£ avchitcotiiro, its most prominent features buin^' Corinthian. In tho front aro square nut"d co'umns, or more proparly pilistGrs, ovtrv fn-c feot, and, between them, BOinewlrit retired from the plune oC the facade, arc arulu-tl windows twelve feet in lmiqht. i'ho architruve, or tho horizontal span from piaster to pilaster, has a heavy entablature, siirmountcl with a bil us trade, and the edifice is a creditable addition to our street architecture. The main entrance is of course at tho comer, aud customers entering tho banking chamber pass through a pair o£ highly finished swinging cedar doors, with plato is;lr.s,s pineli. There is also a porchway just inside ihe doorway, and it is a very creditable specimen of joinery. Its pedimorts are of! rimu, and of Corinthian design, and the trusses are also of riiuu, bnt skilfully cirved. This work, as well as tho rimu pannelling around the banking chamber, was supplied by the New Plymouth Sash and Door Factory, and is of such fine workmanship that ono could hardly credit its being made bj^, such a wholesale establishment rta a woo;^ factory. In pleasing contrast with thb pale rimu garnishings of the walls, tho counter and screens, which divide the*, clerical portion from tho public, are o£ remarkably rich cedar. The counter is circular, resting on carved trusses or supports, with enriched raised mouldings between them. The counter, in addition te bfins; polished to a metallic refulgency, is further brightened by an edging of brass. Tho counter top at first sight would appear to be made of but one large filab, but a close examination reveals the fact that it is what is called in the trade " laminated " or formed of thin strips of wood glued together. The screens, which intercept the public view into tho clerical section, are also of remarkably rich cedar, panelled and surmounted with a miniature balustrade. The walls of. the chamber are of whito piaster, and the ceilings of panelled wood with two mock beams crossing it. In tho centre oC the ceiling is a plaster flower; and the junction of the ceiliag and the walls is set off with a deep while moulding resting on Corinthian dentils. Both walls iinJ ceilings are pure white. Thia serves the better to increase the effect of tho rich woodwork, in which the dark grained cedar and the lighter rimu offer a pleasing contrast. The tinted blue motallic Venetian blinds are the only coloring in the room, except the polished and stained slate mantelpiece. The \Vindows, which by the way are all fitted up with " Sanderson's patent downhaul and sash fastener," are securely barred with iron, as arc the windowßin every other part of the building on tbe ground floor. On tha loft of thia chamber — tho spaciousness of which, when implied in i'eet, is 30 feet square by 23 feet high — is the manager's room. Opening from the manager's room, and also from the rear of the banking chamber is the strong room, built of biick aud cemented over with concrete. This vault, however, is divided by an iron grating into two parts, that availablo to the clerical staff being the depositary of the b joks and deeds, and that opening from the manager's sanctum being the treasury whore the bullion and other "stock-in-trade" of the institution are to be stored. Besides these rooms on the ground floor there are the inspector's apartments, tvhich are on the side of tho building nearest tho stately edifice yclept tho Town Hall. There are two rooms and a lavatory connected with thia department oE the bank management. In each of the rooms thero is a liieplacs fitted up with a marble mantel, and the upholstery is to be ia keeping with those items. Upstairs there are two bedroo.ll3 and a parlor, bosi ies a lumber room and a bath-room. This part of tho building, excluding of course the lumber room, is for the nccomniodation of the clerks, who are to watch over the destinies of the treasure-house during tha ni^ht luurs. The rooms aro to bs uuiic as comfortable as possible, with t!u view of inclining thoir occupants to b 'come stay-at-homes. Gis anil water aro. 0! tionrs.-, laid oa, and in addition to tho 01 Itn iry water connections, there is to be •iitiplu piovision niide in tho way of hosj couplings aud liO3e for combatting firj, should a conflagration unfortunately ojenr. O-.vinj; to the low level oC ihs site thero is a Kirjre cellarage below tho buil.li.ii?. Thi«. however, is not accessible from tho ci'itMcle <•£ the pivniMos. l>L-in^ enclosed wilh inas-ive cument walla, which silso for.v tho foun lation of the building. L'iuctric alarm bells arc litrm! up between the inspector, lh.) t:i i:ngei's, and the b inking room; and spiking tubes tire also piovidud b-twejn tho sime places. Mr. Malnaiy, of Auckland, was tho architect of tho building, ami was represented as supervisor by Mr. Sanderson, of Now Plymouth. Tho tender for the confc'.iii'jtion wiis M to Mr. Taylor, of Christcliurcli, for £2050, but extras, eto., brought up thu total cost, excluding liltia^s, to £"'2450. Tho fittin^f, which were, undertaken by Mr. J O* G.-orge for £300, have b-rm compl'.-fH in a superior style, and cannot hut add to tho reputati m of this U'.-nili man's establishment for first-class w orkm in-.hip. The joinery, such as sashes and dn »s, was procured from the Sash and Poor Factory.