TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144277, 16 December 1913, Page 4

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

AIR. VEALE’S NEW BUILDING. New Plymouth should bo proud of the fiuo new building erected in Devon Street Central for Air. John Veale, of Auckland, for it is a handsome addition to tho business places of the town. It is also somewhat of a peculiarity so far as New Plymouth is concerned, for it is one of the first buildings to be erected hero composed almost entirely of forro-concretc. Tho floors, walls, and ceilings aro all of this material, as is also the roof, which is supported by steel tic rods, expanded metal and |in. steel rods. Over these is laid coke breeze concrete, covered with a layer of asphalt, making tho roof thoroughly waterproof, yet practically flat. Built in ferro-concrete. the building looks attractive from the outside, while the interior, to which tho finishing touches aro now being put, is equally handsome. Tho whole of the ground floor is occupied by Air. C. 11. Drew, jeweller, and is probably one of llio most up-to-date shops of its kind in the Dominion, It was opened on Saturday, and attracted a great deal of attention throughout tho day. The owner, Air. Vcalo was present at the opening, in the afternoon Air. Drew entertained a largo number of customers at tea, and on all sides wore heard expressions of surprise and admiration at the splendid and convenient anpointments of the shop.

The verandah is of the postless variety, .supported by wroughl-iron cantilever brackets and finished underneath with Wunderlich sheeting. There are three show plate-glass windows.* The centre window is the largest, while on either side there are small curved windows separated from the main window by doorways. The window glass reels on Alotueka marble plint, while in the main window there is a fine oak and velvet show-case made in England specially for Air. Drew. The light is admitted to the interior through windows abovo the verandah, and is a great advantage in the display of tho goods inside. The entrances from tho footpath lend to the main room, abbot 35ft. nv 25ft. and 14ft. high, a fiuo largo place which has a most artistic appearance, with tho arrangement of the show-cases and tho numerous ornaments. The concrete walls are plastered, while what woodwork there is is finished in rosewood colour. Further hack there are three good rooms, these being the workroom, the office, and the private showroom. Everywhere there are numbers of useful and quaint ornaments of every kind, together with presents in every imaginable shape, suitable for everybody. The upstairs portion Is reached by a ferro-concreto .stairway. Hero there arc suits of rooms, ono of which is to be occupied by Messrs. "Wilson and Grey, solicitors. This intermediate floor is supported by steel girders embedded iu concrete, and the floor is interlaced with expanded metal and steel rods. Electric light has been installed throughout the building, while all tho necessary sanitary conveniences have been provided. Tho architects, Messrs. Sanderson and Griffiths, and tho builders, Aleesrs. Coleman ami Son, deserve congratulations on the creditable work done, which, as said before, makes the building one of the most handsome in tho town.