TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13355, 3 August 1907, Page 2

TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

CHAS. BOWKEB'S BUILDINGS. The north-west suction of (lie Arcade is i:ow closed in. the block ended by Mr Chmles Bowker liiling in the *P :lte between Ro>s' i)!«l building. ;l!l,! ,I,e »><» i *' l " block belonging to the Tjnuuu Herald Company, i-'e.-n from th- Arcade and inspected'doit! ii business point, of view, the Bowker i'.lock is Mibxtamiiil. finely pioporthmed itn.l n great credit to the ia.ste and :.kill of tli.- designers, .Messrs West aii.l Hid!, the well-known architects. Tli- front is of the English Uenai:i;aiiee i.hl;t. the brinks being left in their neural colour, and all mouldings formed ul" nviihis. so as to throw good shadows. All sills are bevelled, so that they can be i-asv cleaned, and the natural grty of the Dunedin sand Li left clear from the too! and panels ;.:o thus sharply denned. The buildings cover a ground area of 45 feet, 6 inch by 38 feet 9 inch, the former being the frontage on th- Arcade, and rise to a height of 40 feet on the arch, the panel of which is ornamented in high if-iief. and above are the words : " Arcade Chambers, 1907." On the ground floor :trs three commodious shops, with tiled entrances and newark panels above the doors, brick nitre, being at the end, and each shop is divided iron columns. Nt-xt to the western c-hop is a newark arched gateway, giving entrance to a spacious pa.ssa.ge-way. at the end of which springs lb.* rimu. staircase leading to the litst -floor offices. Th-a i-hops are each 12ft. 3in. by 25 ft., with a room 12ft. 3in. by T?.ft. 6;*n. at the- back, the partitions being of picked liniii. As the Arcade is rather narrow and the buildings on it somewhat high, the shop fronts are almost plate giass from floor level to brestsummer, so as to give a maximum .of light, and have been .specially ventilated to ensure ;t dry atmosphere. Each shop has also a fireplace with tiled grate, and will be very completely fitted up for tHianra' use. Access to the first floor is gained by th? general entrance above referred to, and the, itairway gives on to a commodious landing. From this one proceeds to the £,uite, the largest offices overlooking the Arcade. 24ft. 6in. bv 12ft. 6in.. 18ft, square, and 18ft. bv 12ft. 7in. Behind are other office*. 20ft, by 12ft, "4in.. and 18ft. by 18ft. 9in. Each has ai fireplace and tiled grate, walls and ceilings are neatly finished in plaster, and lighting and ventilation are excellent. The offices should be cosy in all weathers, and their central situation should be found most convenient. Taken as a whole the new block is substantially built of brick on desp piers, and the tasteful use which has b-en made of brick and plaster and plate glass on the frontage, and 'plaster, tiles and wood in the interior, raises it to the highest rank in modem busjr.e* places in Tircaru. 'J he architects we;-a Messrs West and Hall (mature experience and modern idea; in combination); and the contractors were Messrs Petrie and Macdougall. Messrs Hunt and Werrv did the brickwork, Mr H. Berry the plastering, Mr Nisbet the plumbing, and Mr James Craigie the painting and" glazing. In this case the many hands made first-class work of the handsome" t block which graces the Arcade.