PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

West Coast Times, Issue 125, 10 February 1866, Page 3

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

With tho inoroaso ol 1 trndo and tho extension 6f tho town in vnvious directions, tho of storo-building has boon continued rapidly, and as an improved Btylo of nrohitco> turo is being gradually adopted, tho gonoval look of Hokitika is vastly improving. Wo havo alroady noticod tho orootion of tbo now Supromo Court House, tho judge's residence and tho Commissioner's offices, in tho resovve in Sowoll-strcet, and tho two commodious placos of worship built by tho Wosloyansiand tho Woman Catholics' 1 . Wo havo now to notp tho commoncomont of building operations on a largo and imposing scalo by ono of tho local Banks, whoso oxamplo is shortly to bo followed by ono of tho othor banking institutions. Tho Bank of Now South Wales building is already approaching coinplotion, and prcsonts an imposing fugado to llovoll-stroot, whilst Ilio innor qfUces aro most commodious and convoniontly arranged. Tho commoncomont of building oporations by tho Bank of Now Zealand has beon somowhat dolayod, owing to tho necessity of modifying tho architectural plans j bait doubtless a fow wcoks will sco this noblo building rearing its stately front. A most oligiblo site has beoii scoured by tho Corporation on tho opon piooo of land now known as tho Camp Rosorvo, but which, thoro is reason to boliovo, will soon bo frood from tho prosont unsightly buildings that occupy its conlro, which it is dosigned to romovo to tho roar of tho Supromo Court llouso. Doubtless tho oxamplo sot by tlujso two rich banking companies will oxort a favorablo inllucnco upon the stylo of strcot architooturb in Hokilikn, which, sooth to say, is at prosont Biiscoptiblo of improvomont. Past shortcoinings in this rospoct aro of e'ourso duo, to a groat oxtcnt, to tho insecurity of tho tonuro by which lands havo hilhoro boon held. A nioro licon&o to squat upon a pioco of ground until it may bo required by tho Govornmonfc fov sivlo or othovwiso is not a, condition of poonpioy undpy \f)\io]\ mon m onoonyngod

to spend larger sums of monoy on thoir business establishments than aro absolutely necessary for immodiate trading requirements. With nn improved tonuro, tho conditions will bo materially altered, and a botter and moro ornamental class of buildings may bo oxpected to spring up.

Ono structure of vory largo dimensions is assuming vory conspicuous proportions as an architectural featuro of tho town. Wo alludo to tbo now Prinoo of Walos Thoatro, boing built in Rovoll-strcot North, by Messrs. Bartlctt and Moon. It is intended lo accomj inodato fourteon hundrod porsons, and will J compriso all flio most modern improvoinonts in this class of building. Tho houso will bo complotod and opened boforo tho date of our noxt summary, whon wo shall furnish'a full account of it. When erected, will not only bo perfect in itsolf for tho purpose designed, but will bo an ornament to the stroot, and a fow particulars in referenco to it will no doubt.be read with interest. Its dimensions will bo as follow : — Length, 150 feet ; breadth, 42 feet ; nnd tho front elevation will bo 35 feet in height. Tho vestibule is 34 feet v 42 feet. The entrance lo tho boxes .by tho principal stairs is 7 feet in width, wide enough NlllN 111 plenty for even tho oxpansive crinolines of tho present day. At tho head of theoo stairs ono passage branches away to tho thoatro and tho othor to a caf6, and noxt to tho caf6 a billiard saloon, both of which will bo spacious rooms. ' A ladios' rofroshinont and cloak room adjoins tho boxes. In addition to tho slago box thoro will bo four private boxes, two on each sido of tho .proscenium. Tho stago is to be thirty-six feoj; in dopth, and underneath it aronino dressing-rooms, andalargogreon-room, with a jibrary, wardrobo, &o. Tho theatro is calculated to seat 1200 persons comfortably. It will bo beautifully decorated with a number of raised, ornaments, and a dome so constructed as to aflforl tho most porfeot ventilation. The ceiling is to be of wood, and built in such a manner as to deaden the rattle of rain on tho roof, and prevent tho performance being disturbed in any weather. Another novelty will be introduced by tho uso of gas to light the theatre, the proprietors having a patent gas apparatus, which will produce 3,000 feet per day, a quantity considerably moro than suffioiont for al^ purposes. Tho principal chandelier will havo thirty-six lights in it, nnd tho effect wil^ bo brilliant in tho oxtromo. It is clear that everything to induce patronage, and to provido for tho comfort of visitors has boon dono, and wo sincoroly hope that Messrs. Moon and Bartlett may meet with tho success which thoir enterprise deserves. Wo may obaorvo that tho improved design has beon supplied by Mr. O. G. Smith, architect, who is said to havo built oightoon theatres allogothor in tho colonies and tho United States, and from his past oxporionco wo may anticipate that this ono will prove to bo all that is expected. , Beyond these buildings, thoro aro fow public works progressing. Thoso, taken iv hand by tho Government, bavo boon for tho most part suspended, in obedionco to a decreo to thnt effect from Mr. Hall, tho Secretary for Public Works at Christchuroh, wl^o has issued this order in resentment of tho Y°t° of tho Provincial Counoil, adopting tlio amendment of tho Wostlimd members against tho proposed salo of auriferous lands on ■ tho coast. Tho interruption is probably only temporary, as it is almost certain that Mr. Hall, togother with his chiof, Mr. Booloy, will givo placo to a now Superintendent and a now Exccutivo, moro disposed to a policy of development, ns far ns tho matorial interests 'of this district aro concornod.