Auckland’s Commercial Expansion

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 54

Auckland’s Commercial Expansion

THE TALLEST WAREHOUSE IN THE CITY.

*’ Messrs L. D. Nathan’s huge new warehouse in Customs-street is now receiving its first cargo of stores. The building stands on the site of the old store which was burnt down about two years ago, but it is a much more extensive and convenient building. It covers about onefifth of an acre of land, and consequently has nearly an acre and three quarters of floor space, and presents a total frontage to Customs and Commerce streets of 183 feet.. Its height is 76 feet, and- counting the cellar, it has seven storeys. In colour the building has departed from the orthodox stucco grey, and presents a pleasing bright red frontage. Its walls are of great thickness, exceeding that required by the city regulations even for a building of such immense height. Its beams and pillars (which may be counted by the hundred) are of Australian ironbark wood, a material which costs as much as iron, but is preferable in case of fire. It is one of the eccentricities of iron girders that they writhe under the influence of intense heat and water, and so pull down the walls, which they are expected to support. Considered from all points of view, therefore, the ironbark beams are now regarded as preferable to iron gilders. There are many interesting plans adopted to resist lire. All the doorways are protected by duplicate iron doors which slide in miniature tramways in cement thresholds, and thus effectually prevent the passage of fire. Many of the windows are similarly protected by iron shutters. Then again Messrs Nathan have shown great shrewdness in preparing against the floods, which are a cause of anxiety to many cellar holders in Lower Queen street. The drains arc all placed high up, so that there may be no fear of flooding unless the flood be sufficiently severe to pour in from the street above. The building is supplied with three powerful lifts. One set of floors is devoted exclusively to the bonded stores, and these are separated from the free rooms by the iion doors already described, which arc secured by'padlocks of the Customs department. In the collar of this section will lie the imported wines and spirits in which Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. do a large trade. In the top floors, which are specially welllighted, the famous teas will be blended and packed by a party of about fifteen operatives; and one of the newest forms of blenders, a kind of huge churn, is now waiting to be placed in position. Another interesting machine is the teacutter used in reducing the leaves to the required size. Close "by, on the same floor, the kauri gum is displayed. The selling of gum on commission is a very important branch of the firm’s business, and at the time of our visit a party of gum exporters were examining the samples with a view to making purchases. Between tlie ground floor and the ceiling the many storerooms are being rapidly packed with merchandise of numerous kinds, and tile proceedings give a striking impression of the enormity of the firm's business. On the ground floor there are to be handsome offices for general and private use, and accommodation for the American Tobacco Company, in which Mr. Nathan is chairman of directors. . The cost of creeling this handsome building was about L 13,500, and the work has been carried out by the Auckland builder, Mr. J. .1. Holland. The architect. Mr. I. Currie, has for 25 years past been the firm’s architect. Ho is familiar with large undertakings, having been the architect engaged in the building of the new factory of the D.S.C. behind the Northern Club, the new warehouses of Messrs. Hayman and Co. and Messrs. Kronfeldt, and Hie large block erected by Messrs. Nathan and Co. some years ago at the bottom of Victoria street, and now occupied by the D.S.C. and the Central Hotel. Messrs. Nathan's present building, somewhat Italian in appearance, is the largest of many large warehouses which have lately been erected in Customs street, which is now Auckland's great commercial centre, and indicates great faith in the future of this city.

Messrs. Nathan intend to still carry an their counting house, shipping, and •ales departments in Sliortland street, where thev have been during the last 04 years. >