Town Im rovements.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12650, 7 September 1904, Page 3

Town Im rovements.

HOWE AND PATEKSON'S BLOCK.

The bottom has not yet fallen out of New Plymouth, although a "cheerful idiot" in the columns of a country paper a few months ago asserted it had. The wish was probably father of the thought. The progress of a town is best gauged by its improvenients, especially in business places. During the past few months some substantial additions have been mad* 1 to the commercial part of this town, and it can therefore be fairly claimed that a steady progress is being maintained here. A noticeable addition to the business' premises is, Messrs Rowe and Paterson's new block at the corner of Brougham and King-streets, in which the firm in future will carry on their business as seedsmen, florists, and general produce merchants. The building, which is encased in brick walls on two sides, has a frontage, of 66 feet to King. street. 52 feet to Brougham-street, and an elevation of 37 feet. It has a commanding and substantial appearaiice. On the ground floor the main shop is situated, with a frontage to each street, and the entrance door in the angle. This shop is 24 x 21 ft., with a height of 13 it. There is a window in each frontage, and these arc enclosed inside with ornamental plate* glass, and fitted with sliding sashes. An office 18 x 7 ft. has also been fitted up, with direct communication to the •hop. At th<: back of the shop is a storeroom 3T x 29 ft. and 13 ft. high, and along the whole length of the west side runs a cart dock 10 ft. wide. The balance of the ground floor is sub-leased to Mr Dixon for a butcher's business. The sbop, front- j ing Brougham-street, is 20 x 20 ft. 6 ins., and 13 ft. high, fitted in front with roller shutters. An office, 10 xl 3 ft., is provided at the back of the shop, and at the rear is another division, 20 x 22 ft., with concreted floor, and tubs concreted in, where salting down and other work connected with a butchery will be carried on. This division has an entrance Jrom the cart dock on the next side. From the Brougham-street frontage a stairway loads to th"c upper storey, which has been divided into offices and a large storeroom. There arc six offices, of the following dimensions :-- VI x 10 ft., 9 ft. C ins. x 14 ft. 9 ins., M ft. x 1 Bft. 10 ins., 14 ft. x 14 ft. <5 ins., 14 ft. xl 6 ft., and 14 ft. xl 2 ft. lavatory and other accommodation has been provided on this floor. The remaining part of the upper flooris flet apart for a store-room, 50 ft. x3O ft. 6 ins., which will be used by Messrs Rowe and Paterson. There- is a hatcihway in the floor for lifting, and lowering goods, the power that will be used being a Polton wheel driven by water power. The timber used is rimu, except the match-lining and front boarding! which is the best seasoned kauri. A verandah' runs along the whole Brcuffham-strrol front, and partly along King-street, having a corrugated irnn roof, and supported by cast Iron pUlavß. i Mr J. Sanderson, the architect, has executed a nice design, on the Italian ,

principle, and has had the work carried out satisfactorily. Messrs Boon Bros, arc the contractors, and they have done all the work in a most creditaHe manner. Gas has been laid on throughout

tho block. The approximate cost 01 tho block is £1600.