BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3270, 5 August 1871, Page 3

BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

THE COEET HOUSE AT WANGANUI. This fine building stands on a beautiful sito known as the Market Reserve, and in the immediate vicinity of tho Rutland stockade. Tho building faces oust, has its principal front towards the river, and etands well back on the roserve — indeed, sufficiently far to admit of tbo ground being laid out and planted as a public garden, which if done, and a nent fence erected round tho roserve, would greatly assist the alreudy imposing architecture of the Court. It has a frontage of 78 feet by a depth of 66 feet. The Court itself measures 63 feet long by 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high in (he clear. A.t the west end is the judge's bench, with a private ontrance communicating with it, and the judge's room, 22 feet by 20 feet. The bench floor is raised 2 feet 6 inches above the business or counsels' floor, and four feet above the public floor on the general level. Under tho bench are provided police quarter?, two cells, and two furnaces for warming the building with hot water, which is not yet completed, the apparatus being on its way from England. From the basement iioor, about three feet below the ground level, a passage leads to the prisoner's dock, which is reached by a flight of steps not seen from the Court, thus enabling tho officers in charge to conduct prisoners to tho dock without contact with tho outside public. Over tho judgo's bench is a report era' gallery, in front of which the Royal arms are placed, neatly modelled and gilt, At the cast end of the Court house iB tho central entrance, leading into a lobby for the public, measuring 22 feet by 14 foet, and over this lobby a public gallery, 30 feot by 14 feet. The Court is lighted by ton windows, j varying from one to three lights each to twenty I single light windows, the sills of which are about 18 feet above the lowest part of the floor of the court. Tho east front is divided into three distinct entrances, the central ontrance, as just stated, being for tho public into tho Court. The entrances north and south of the centre stand under verandahs, with neat railings in front, and open at the ends, with flights of steps. Corridors, 35 foet long and 3 feet wide by 14 feet high, arc reached from the verandahs, off which are tho necessary apartments and conveniences required in such buildings. These offices form two wings, 58 fest by 43 feet exclusive of the verandah, the height being 14 foet in the clear. In the north wing, wo havo a room for witnesses in waiting 16 feet by 14 feet, a petty jury room 18 feet by 14 feet, and a grand jury room 22 feot by 20 feet ; while in tho south wing tho barristers havo a room, as also the registrar and judge, equal in size to those in ; tho north wing. The elevations havo all a finished appearance, for standing as it does on a public reseryo, surrounded by streets, the building is seen from all sides. This necessitated that all four elevations should be in keeping the one with the other, and a chief point aimed at has been to make it appear a structure built of wood, and in coneequeuco we do not find mock pilasters, mock ashlar work, or any othor work in disguise. Each part of tho whole flSfcms to say, " I am made of wood." All angles nnd margins to door and window openings are of solid totara, dressed and stop chamfered, and tho spaces between filled in with totara feather-carved woatherboarding. THE NEW CJOVEIINMENT OFFICES. It will bo remembered thut during tho last session of parliament a sum of six thoiißiind pounds was voted for repairs to the public buildings and tho erection of now offices. This sum was much below what waß required, and it becuino necessary to expend it to the

best advantage, the first consideration being the safety of those portions of the old buildings suffering most from the inroads of the dry rot. Tho heavy slate roofs were taken off tho two chambers, and corrugated irjn substituted, thus securing our legislators, for a time at least, from broken evaniums should such a calamity have occurred as the falling in of a roof. There is now not the slightest danger to be apprehended on this scoro, and this object being attained, tbo next consideration was to provide shelter for the many members of the civil service who bad hitherto to tako refuge in deserted chambers of legislature, committee rooms, smoking rooms, Bellamy's, or any other nook or corner wberoin a table, chair, and pigeon boles could bo squeezed. A general design to accommodate tho entire civil service waa first made and decided upon, aud as the money voted could not bui'd tho whole, tenders were invited for the building in three sections, viz., the north wing, centre and south wing, that for tho latter being accepted far about £4,000. The architectur-3 ia that known as French Gothic, and advantage has been taken (probably a liberty) to avoid tho heavy mullionod windows common to the style, but which nevertheless aro very obstructive to the admission of lights, a most necessury desideratum in public offices. The south wing contains nineteen offices, generally 18 x by 16 oach, all having fireplaces, besides two havo brick fire-proof storing rooms, providing accommodation for six departments not previously housed in Government buildings, and consequently effecting a yery large saving of rent. On tho ground floor will be found the offices of the Public Works Department and Colonial Architect. On tbo first floor are the offices of Ihe Minister of Justice, the Attorney- General, Assistant Law Office, Attorney-General's clerks, and Patent Office. Tho second floor is occupied by the Government Annuities Office, the Defence Office, and Inspector of Militia and Volunteers. The building is plastered throughout the interior, finished with totara weatherboards outside, and corrugated galvanised iron roofs. In an architectural point of view it is already a success, but when the whole facade is completed, with the clock tower in the centre, it is expected to be the most imposing building in Wellington, Looking at tho oust aud west elevations, the centre portion of the former has the nppearance of a two-story building, while tho latter, with its secure basement, looks to have three, the reason being that the top windows give light to the court, while those below do like I office for the public lobby, under the strangers' gallery and tho Judge's private entrance under the reporters' gallery, tho basement receiving light from windows under the latter. The centre portion, both east and west, is finished by the roof projecting three feet, and forming pediments ; tho north and south sides having similar projections of the roof, in tho form of eaves. These projections have very bold moulding?, and are ..supported by double cantilevers together, three feet high, springing from a moulded string course ; the centre window in each gable being finished with pediments and the usual trusses. The wings have hipped roofs extending over, the verandahs having similar projections, or overhangings to the pediments and eaves of the centre, and, like them, supported by solid cut cantilevers, but single instead of double, and springing from a stop chamfered string intersecting with the margin and angle studs. These projecting oaves form cornices, and being made to extend along tho centre portion, which it divides into two stories, adds much to tbo general effect. The continuance of the bold cornice, its groat projection and deep cantilevers, give length and breadth of shadow not otherwise attainable. These cornices, as eaves, extend round the north and south sides, and are finished to correspond. Much effect is gained by tho solid appearance of the thick cantilevers. The verandah posts also terminate nt the stop chamfered string course, and with similar tfoiek cantilevers, but of different design, the strength of tho roof supports is much increased. As wells aro unknown in Wanga nui, the water supply for tho heating apparatus and other purposes has to be provided for from the rain-fall, and a very large brick tank, lined with Portland cement, has been constructed, with a force pump, to supply the cisterns. Between the sessions of tho supreme court the building will be used as a resident magistrate's court, for which purpose only ono wing is required, and the warming apparatus is so arranged that the court and ono wing only can receive its benefits as desired. Tho interior is plastered throughout aud colored in distemper. The work has been executed in a most excellent manner by Mr Charles M'Kirdy, under the supervision of Mr W. H. Ha]e.°, from the designs of the colonial architect, and the building is creditable to all, as well as an ornament to the town of Wanganui, while the institution itself must bo a great convenience to the inhabitants generally in that part of the country. MR BUHRETT's PREMISES. Among the many improvements that have been lately made in the shops and business premises in our city we must notice those of Mr Robert Burrefcf, bookfeller and government bookbinder. Less than two years ago Mr Burrett, from increasing business, found it necessary to removo from his original shop in Manners-street to the larger and more commodious one he had erected in Willis-street. His increasing trade has rendered further extension necessary, and where the smull low shop stood at tbo corner of Charlotte-street and Lambton Quay, he has raised a largo two storied building, with a very tastefully decorated front, surmounted by a balustrade ornamented with carving. Entering the front shop a handsome staircase ascends to tho show-room, on tho walls of which are hung some very good specimens of oleographs and chromo-lithographs ; among the former nre somo excellent copies of paintings by both old and modern painters. On the counter and in the centre of the room under glass cases is displayed a profusion of fancy articles. Passing from the show-room the paper-room is reached, where on racks are stored the various kinds of printing and writing paper used in tho business. Further on ia tho engraving and lithographing department. At the back part of the upper workshop is the collating room, where throe or four hands are busy collating parliamentary papers. Descending by a staircase to the lower workshop, which is under the immediatoßuperinteudoncoof the proprietor about a dozen men are engaged in the various depattments of bookbinding. The finishers' department is well fitted j it contains an arming press for blocking the covers of books, gas stove for heating the tools, and a full supply of other requisites. On the other side of the shop tho booksewors aro seated at a long table stitching tho sheets of paper into books for binding. Next como tho ruling machines, a paging machine, perforating machine, embossing machine, a machine for cutting millboards, and various others. Returning to tho retail Bhop, the stock room is passed, the shelves of which aro filled with school books and various kinds of stationery, whilst tho general literature, of which there is a good variety of most branches, is stored in tho front shop, which has boon enlarged and refurnished with show cases, and now presents a very handsome appearance. Tho alterations have been designed by Mr Tringham, the architect, and satisfactorily executed by the contractors, Messrs Barry and Co. The establishment is the largest in the colony, and is fitted up with tho latest improvement in machines and tools in use in the old country.