SPEAR’S BUILDINGS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1927, 28 October 1926, Page 8

SPEAR’S BUILDINGS

IMPROVEMENT TO' BUSINESS AREA. -AN AIS'SET 'TO THE TOWN. For .several months paslt 'the (hitherto vacant section between M omen a tea Tctonis anti iMr W. Jeffery's pharmacy, in 'Alexandra Street, lias Teen a verifiable hive of imlus'try, for a tine 'block of itiriick and fer.ro-'concreite, tousi-li-eiss premises has been under consir ucjfion to the ordjer of 'Messrs Spear Bros. tin the; 'pasli: forltniight or so the finishing touches have been made to the ti'iont of the building, and now passers*sr are able to see one of the finest business blocks in Ithe town, and one really tlralt would do ciredit to towns oon-si'derably larger than Te Awa•ith;l;u'. The section was excavated to pj.'ovLdja for a huge basement, the full *uze of tide building, and the services of Mr A. 'MacDonald, of Hamilton, vfere enlisted to pijdpare. Ithe plans. The contract was (let ito Mr H. Judge, of Hamilton, and he soon had his staff of workmen busilly ein(p.loyled). An idea of the importance of the building may be gained when i|t is mentioned that the cost of |th|si premises exceeds £4OOO Thlci building has a street frontage of ■about 60 feet, arid .plno-vis'ion- iis made for three really commodious shop premises, wilth a separate doorway and staling Raiding to the basement, whidh lalt'ter a|C orice shrikes ‘the (eye as eminently suited for a commodious billiards parlour. However, juslt 'what the own'ers’ intentions are wiith regard to thetaccupancy of this several premises has wot -tfian-s pilled. Along the full width of the building is a -subpension verandah cons|.tructeid on 'the latest prinoi■ples, and surmounting thlis the facade is picked ouit in attractive style, with (|Jbe words, “Spear Bros.’ Buildings, -1926,” in trais-ld lettering occupying the: maim pan|ell, flanked by appropriate -■scroll wbrk. The building liras a- 11 inslkle .depth of T 5 Met, 'two of the shops have a 'widltto of 18 feet, with the full depth of the b.uiilding, and 'the third has a width of 16 fciqt, 'with the 75 feet dlepth, (thus providing a very spacious stoop for each occupant. To gain fihe fullest High ting effect for the windows ■and shops was obviously a special study o lithe architect, add that toe has succeeded admirably will be readily •concedfi'd. The dealings are 15 feet high, and the whole interior is carried out in white plaajter. Each shop has a spacious skylight, and 'tinere are four •fanlights, 8 feet by 8 feet, .along the back of the building. There ape rear lamfdlingis and steps giving access to :the* 'back yard. The front Windows •occupy practically ithe 'whole of the frorifcage, with a m'inim(u)m of woodwork, so that stylish window dressing wii-11 be easy. There is one island window and two side windows, with a depth of 10 feet 'to each dloorwal, the entrances being quite 'adequate for ■accommodating crowds seeking ingress and egress. The facings under the verandah are of brown mottled files, giving a most pleasing effeqt. Downstairs ithe huge room of approximately 58. feet, by 75. feet—therefore wiki a floor space of more (than 4400 ‘feet —is remarkably well High ted, with fids w'indowls (each 5 fetat 6 inches by S feet), along the back, an’d four fodt'lighits (each 5 feet by 3 feet) on ‘the fooltpath. The whole place is a credit to the ownerfe, and 'indicates the faith thtey (have dn the progress of Te Awamutu. As previously indicated, Mr MacDonald was the architect, and 'Mir H. Judge ithe builder. Mr Judge’s foihaman, Mr W : . iFoind, has carried outo the work in a manner dfojhndtly creditable. Mr F„ D. Cliunn, of Te Awamutu, carried out the glazing and painting. Mr Elaagley, of Hamilton, was responsible feir th'a plastering; the Hamilton Hardware 'Comipamy d'id the plumbing; and •the 'National 'El’-ectric 'Company (Hamliliton) installed (the electric fittings.