CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 2748, 24 October 1868, Page 5

CITY IMPROVEMENTS.

MB. BARRAT7I>'S JTEW ESTABLISHMENT.

The handsomo and elegant building erected for Mr Barraud on Lambton quay is now completed. The design is modern Italian. The bnilding has a frontage of 32ft by an average depth of 59ft. The lower floor contains two shops, one 28ft in depth by 15ft wide; the height between the floor and ceiling is 12ft, and the shop is tastefully fitted up with elegant counters, side tables, shelves and the greater part being made of Spanish mahogany. Adjoining this shop, through an open archway, is a second shop, for fancy goods, paintings, and water-color drawings. Tho ceiling is ornamented with an open cupola, admitting light from above. The front shop windows and doora are made of cedar, and provided with best plate glass. In front of the shops, and over tho footpath, is a very handsome verandah, with plate-glass panels, where tho name and description of business is written in letters of gold. The upper part of tho elevation has a double window in the centre, and two niches, where figures of Esculapius and Minerva will be placed. The top of tho building finishes with a pediment crowned by a carved phoenix rising out of the flames. On each side of the pediment is aneatcorniceandopen balustrade. The back of the building is occupied by dwelling and store rooms ; the walls and ceilings of dwelling rooms are of lath plastered. The design was by Mr Toxward, architect, who has, we understand, also designed the whole of the new buildings on that side of the quay which now forms so important a part of the city.

KIRKCALDIE AND STAINS' NEW PREMISES. Those elegant and extensive premises recently erected for Messrs Kirkculdio and Stains, on the reclaimed land on the eastern side of Lambton Quay, will bo opened to-day with a largo and varied assortment of drapery goods, to which, however, it is not our present purpose more particularly to refer. Our object is rather to afford information to our country readers regarding the improvements which have recently been mado in Wellington, which, considering the depression of the times, are both gratifying and surprising. The new store of Messrs Kirkcaldio and Stains is one of the largest retail establishments in Wellington. It has an area of about 3000 square feet. The counters, shelves, &c, aro ail made of seasoned rimu timber, highly polished, which gives a flattering idea of New Zealand wood when used for internal fittings. The back of the shop is lighted by a large skylight, and the ceilings are decorated by a frieze all round the walls. Tho height of the shop is between 15 and 16 feet, and it has a frontage to Lambton Quay of 70 feet, with three spacious entrances fitted with cedar spring doors. The sashes consist of 12 sheets of polished plate glass, each 11 feet in length by 4 ftet wide, the frames of which are of cedar, varnished. We understand that these sashes will shortly be fitted with 6teol rovolving shutters. The style of building is modeen Italian, which produces a light, pleasing, and imposing effect. The upper windows are circular headed ; the front elevation is about 45 feet high, and it is crowned with an open parapet. The upstairs story is divided into eleven rooms, 12 feet high, with lath and plastered walls and ceilings. The verandah is not the least important part of the structure, and is at once both ornamental and useful. Tho designs wore made by Mr Toxward, who had the superintendence of tho work, find tho builder i 3 Mr M'Eonzie, to both of whom great credit is due.

toxward's new store,

I JMr Toxward is now erecting a handsome building between the large premises recently built for Mr Joseph Burne as an extensive drapery establishment, and Mr Barraud's new store, described above. The shop is 32 feet long, 21 feet wide, and 12 feet high in the clear. The ceilings are lathed and plastered. The shop windows are of varnished cedar and glazed with polished plate glass. The structuro contains clevon rooms, four of which nre on the ground floor. The ceilings of tho two front rooms are ornamented with centre flowers, the uppor windows aro of plateglass, and tho stylo of tho structuro is modern Italian. Tho building will bo lot, and would be suitable for a banking house, or some similar ( establishment. NEW MUSIC HAM. I Mr E. Gf-. Smith has recently erected a handgome and commodious music hall at the voar of his music warehouse on Lambton Quay. It is 40 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 18 feet high, with arched ceilings. The walls are lathed and plastered, with a neat cornice. The hall is principally lighted by a lantern light in tho ceiling. The design was by Mr Toxwavd, and the building was erected by Messrs Linder and Lett. STTTART AND COS WAREHOUSE. Adjoining the very extensive premises now in the course of erection for W. & Gh Turnbull & Co, to which we referred some time ago, a largo warehouse, counting-house, and offices are being built on Custom House Quay for A. P. Stuart & Co, under the superintendence of Mr Marchant, and | there is every indication that the reclaimed land will be soon covered with business premises and constitute the busiest and most attractive part of our embryo city.