TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16624, 23 December 1919, Page 3

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

-NEW FORD MOTOR GARAGE. A COMMODIOUS AND WELL APPOINTED BUILDING. There is no car more widely known . jr more prominent on our roads than is the Ford, and the growth of the business of the local agents, Messrs. HDerby and Co. (Mr. H. Derby and Mr. T. V. Simons) has been such during th'oi last few year's that they have outlived the accommodation available at the premises they have been occupying in Liardet Street. Some months ago, therefore, the firm instructed Mr. T. H. Bates, architect, of New Plymouth, to prepare plans for a commodious and well-equipped garage to be erected on a site acquired in Devon Street East, almost immediately opppoeite the Red Post Furnishing Warehouse. In due course a contract was let to Messrs. Boon Bros, for the construction of the building, and during the last few days the business of the firm has been transferred to the now premises which are up to date in every particular. The building has been erected in concrete, the walls being of sufficient strength to carry a second and even third storey should the growth of the business warrant it in the future. The main entrance as will have been gathered already, is from Devon Street, but the section runs right through to Courtenay Street, and an entrance has also been provided here. Courtenay Street is some eight dr nine feet higher than Devon Street at this particular point, and an easy decline has been formed to run down into the garage. When the time arrives, as no doubt it will, for the provision of a second storey, the car entrance to the new portion will he from Courtenay Street. The present building has a I2ft. stud* and the proposal is to construct an entrance on a steady rise of three feet, so as to avoid the necessity for a lift. The roof is self-contained, and has been so constructed that it can,be lifted without the necessity of removing even a single sheet of iron. The contract Erice for the building was £5325 bps, ut the firm was fortunate in letting its contract just before a number of smart rises in material took place. Today the garage could not be erected for anything like this sum. The Devon Street frontage is very attractive. A large wide entrance gives access to. the general garage accommodation, whilst alongside is a large show room providing 30ft by 18 ft of floor space, and lighted by a large plate glass window 12ft 6in by 10ft. The garage can accommodate 80 cars, and any one can be taken out without disturbing the other machines. In an emergency possibly over 100 cars could he parked. A turn-table has been provided as part of the equipment of the establishment. Other equipment in this modern establishment includes a Bowser plant for oil and a similar benzine plant is to be installed as soon as it arrives from the makers. _ At the rear of the garage there is a benzine store and men's conveniences, whilst the yard between the garage and the workshop is all concreted to facilitat© the washing of cars. Th© work-* shop itself will be on© of the best equipped establishment of its kind in the district. There are five pits, each provided with electric light, the most modern machinery, including a press for pressing on solid tyres, a room for battery work, a lumber room, and workshop office. It is splendidly lighted by six large skylights. There are eight skilled mechanics permanently employed, and altogether the shop is capable of dealing with any class of work that may be entrusted to the \ Office accommodation has been provided just behind and overlooking the showroom, and is admirably, fitted up with the latest appliances and furnishings for the efficient handling of a comprehensive business.. At the back of the offices is the storeroom for spare parts, which is heavily stocked, and in which there is also a dark room for the storage of tyros, _ A feature of this section is the provision of ready assembled units in order to facilitate the quick re-commission of a damaged car. This even includes a spare engine. If such goes out of gear, witjiin two hours the spare one can bo fitted and the machine be in running order again, while the original engine is being repaired. This should prove of great value to those who are running trucks and lorries. Further back still are the ladies’ cloak room and conveniences. These various departments are all finished in oiled wood, with fibrous plaster ceilings. . ~ The entire premises are admirably lighted, and for night purposes.there have been installed fifty 100-candle poTV©z* lights, which, should produce a brilliant effect. Over the footpath on to which the garage faces tnore has been suspended a verandah across the whole of the building, and above this there has been attached to the upper portion of the building a cement casting of the fore-carriage of .a Ford car. This is a particularly effective sign, and instantly denotes the Ford agency.