TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13490, 5 August 1907, Page 7

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

... i ♦ MESSRS. E. GRIFFITHS & CO.'S NEW BUILDING. The new building erected for Messrs E. Griffiths & Co. is now fast approaching completion. The firm has transferred its business to the new quarters. During *the last few years Messrs Griffiths & Co. have built up so extensive a business that the accommodation provided in their old premises at the corner of Devon St. and Egmont St. was totally inadequate', there were no show rooms, and, the staff had to carry out their duties under not at all favourable conditions. Under these circumstances and with the prospect of a further increase in business the firm decided to erect new premises, and the corner section near the Town Hall was procured. The designing of a building was entrusted to Mr Frank Messenger, and the contract let to Mr J. T. Mannix, o£ New Plymouth. The premises hav.e frontages to Egmont Street of 49f^. 6in.,King Street 100ft v ßin., and Ari|i St. 92ft. 2in. Mr Messenger has.certainly succeeded Ein providing a building of architectural beauty. In addition to the accommodation provided for Messrs Griffiths, there' are several suites of offices to be let. With the exception of two corner shops, one on the King 'St. side, 3lft. by 14ft. and the other on the Ariki St. side 20ft. by 12ft., the whole oi the ground floor is occupied by Messrs Griffiths. Their main entrance istfrom Egmont St. Immediately on the left as one enters is the land office and a clerk's office in connection with the land agency business. Opening opt from here is a large and commodious public office, 35ft. by 22ft: Divided from this by a circular counter of polished rimu is the staff office, about 18ft. square. A typewriter^ room 10ft. by 10ft. is approached from the staff office through an arched entrance. On the opposite side of the staff office is the principal's room, 18ft. by 12ft. A strong room is also provided. On the l£ing St. side of the premises is a show room for dairy machinery and appliances. It has plate glass windows so that the machinery ' can be seen from the street. ' The rooms are particularly l|fty, being I3ft. high, and are well lighted. The walls have been treated with a light-coloured paint which considerably . improves the appearance, tfhd there is a dado of rimu. At the rear is a store room 68ft. by 48ft. with a| cart dock from Ariki St. Provision is also made' for' a lift to an additional Warehouse 63ft. by 34ft. on the first moor. This is approached by a stairway from the lower warehouse. - The accommodation on the first floor with tike exception of the store room already mentioned has all been provided for lltting purposes. This section of the building is also approached from Egniont St. Tby a separate entrance. The front four rooms have been taken by Messrs Williams & Storey^ dentists, Who are now busy fixing their apparalnis. These rooms are well lighted and admirably adapted * for a dentist's \jrork. The waiting room is particularly cosy and has been handsomely furnished. The two adjoining rooms are Mr Williams' and Mr Storey's surgeries aespec^ivaly and~the~ oih«r~has -been fitted up for. use as a workroom. On the Ariki St. side of the first floor are offices and show-rooms to be let. All are well lighted, having both side windows and skylights. The building is flanked by a brick wall. Electric light is installed throughout. The exterior of the building is just being completed, and a verandah with iron posts and iron rafters and glass roof being erected. The walls will be sanded giving them the appearance of stone. Messrs Smart Bros. Have been entrusted with the installation of the electric light, and the plumbing work and the painting are being done by Mr Lovegrove.