POWER BOARD OFFICES

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1945, 9 December 1926, Page 4

POWER BOARD OFFICES

A VERY SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING.

JUST COMPLETED THIS WEEK. The Te Awamutu firm of building contractors, Messrs Mclnnes and Ross, have in the past ten years been responsible for the erection of many business premises and residences in Te Awamutu and neighbourhood, but it is safe to. say that never have they done a better job than that just completed for the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board. The Board's temporary officer have been found to be quite inadequate for the needs, and some months ago it was decided to erect commodious permanent offices, with a Board meeting room and show room combined, on the section* in Alexandra Street in front of the yard and storage sheds. After Board members had decided how much money could fairly be set aside for the purpose of a building without going to the ratepayers for a loan, Mr T. S. Cray, the Hamilton architect, was invited to prepare plans. These, with very little modification, were adopted and the contract for erection was let to Messrs Mclnnes and Ross. This firm was soon on the job, and the building gradually assumed shape as a decided acquisition to the business area of the borough.. Our representative was privileged to make an inspection of the finished building this week, and he found that a very substantial building has been. provided. It is of ferro concrete, 66 feet 6 inches deep by 45 feet wide and the front, without being elaborate, is solid and neat, being finished in white Portland cement. A suspension verandah is provided. Flanking the main entrance are long show windows 12ft. x Bft. Folding doors and two steps give entrance to a small vestibule, from which through swing doors entrance is gained to the public space for customers. To the left is the Board room, behind which are the secretary's office .and the commodious office. Across,, the public space is a show room, 19fi x 12ft, a size ample for the effective display of a wide range of electrical goods; and behind this is the .foreman's office, the inspector's office and a test room. A counter in the public space is partitioned off for the cashier and inquiries. All the rooms have a stud of 13ft., and all the facings are of heart rimu, the ceilings and < walls of fibrous plaster, panelled effectively. A dado of wood also gives a satisfying effect to each of the principal rooms. A feature of the building is the provision made for adequate lighting. There are plenty of windows, even to the provision of borrowed lights over partitions between the passage'way and officers' rooms. At the rear, but part of the building itself, are retiring rooms, cloak rooms and lavatories. As previously stated, the architect was Mr T. S. Cray, and the builders Messrs Mclnnes and Ross; while the sub-contracts were: Plumbing, Mr C. F. Battson; glazing and painting, Mr F. D. Chunn; fibrous plaster work, Messrs Gall and Bell; and plastering, Mr J. Joll. The electric fittings' were installed by the Electric Service Co. The whole work is a credit to all concerned, and will assuredly be a big convenience for the Power Board staff and customers.