The Town Hall, Auckland.

Progress, Volume IV, Issue 7, 1 May 1909, Page 246

The Town Hall, Auckland.

The architectural style of the building is a free treatment of the classic. The material used for the facades is "Oamaru" stone with a bluestone base. For the main Queen and Grey streets fronts a columnar method of design has been adopted. These two elevations terminate . at the apex. formed by the junction of the two streets. in a segmental eolonade, surmounted by a tower 18 feet square and 130 feet high, with provision for 9 feet diameter clock dials. In front of this colonnade is a terrace enclosed by a stone balustrade with provision for a statue at the extreme angle. A feature of the construction of the building is the arrangement of the foundations. The great depth of a good rocky stratum necessitated a special treatment. Accordingly concrete piers have been carried down at intervals to the rock and the spaces spanned by concrete beams cairying the walls. All these beams are reinforced with "Kahn" steel bars. This method of piers and beams has been used by the architects, Messrs. Clark, in several important buildings in Australia .

chair lift being conveniently placed between the halls. The tiling, lead lighting of the windows and the ornamental ceilings of halls, Council chamber and entrances will be features in the artistic finish of the interior.

The Harbour Board's new offices at Auckland are to cost £60,000, not £6,000 as was made to appear by a typographical error in our account of the building designed by Mr. W. Weisman of Auckland. Mr. Weisman, architect, of Auckland, has in hand for Messrs. Warnock Brothers of that city, tanners and soap manufacturers, a contract for a new building costing £3,000.

The difference in level between Queen and Gray streets, makes an upper and a lower ground floor. The great hall is situated on the lower floor, level with Grey street, and adjacent to it is a large supper room under the small hall, which is on <i level with Queen street. These halls are arranged so as to be en suite with the Mayor's rooms for the convenience of public receptions. They have ample escape doors direct into the street. The public staircases and landings throughout will be fireproof Every convenience has been provided in the way of dressing rooms and lavatories, both for performers and the public, and the retiring and cloak rooms will be most commodious, and there is a large smoke room. In connection with the supper room is a large kitchen and serving room conveniently placed at one end and arranged so as to provide for the largest functions. The great hall includes a ground floor. balcony and gallery, the whole capable of seating 3000 persons, exclusive of 350 in the chorus and orchestra. The organ space provides for an organ which will be the largest in New Zealand, the electric nppar-

atus of which will be situated in the cellar underneath. The orchestra platform is made to slide under the choir front, thus giving more dancing space on the main floor when required, making a total area of 122 feet by 75. The small hall comprises a ground floor and gallery, accommodating together 800 persons and 150 in the chorus gallery. The galleries of the two halls are constructed on the most up-to-date principles, being carried by steel cantilevers, thus leaving the ends of the halls free from obstruction both for seeing and dancing. The main entrance to both halls is in Queen street, a grand staircase 12 feet wide leading down to a large crush room off which are the cloak rooms before mentioned. Above the entrance vestibule is a large promenade and lounge on the level of the galleries. The entrance to the municipal offices is near the angle in Queen street, the vestibule te the same leading to a wide staircase in the tower communicating with a large vestibule on each floor, and there is an electric elevator in the centre. Off these vestibules access is got to the Mayor's suite, Councillors' room, library, Town

Clerk, City Engineer, all the necessary administrative offices, and the Council chamber This last is semicircular in shape and placed in the centre of the building, so as to be protected from the street noises. The public are placed in a gallery directly opposite the Mayor's dais. The City Treasurer's offices and pay office are under the Council chamber, and .ire approached from Grey street. Ample strong room accommodation has been provided, there being no less than 6 large strong rooms distributed among the various departments. xV large flat is situated above the Council chamber, and connected with it are the photographic and dark rooms for sunprinting process, and the caretaker being on the same level, has also ample accommodation for his yard. His quarters consist of five rooms and kitchen. The offices and Council chamber will be heated bv hot Avaler radiators, and the building lighted by electricity. The boiler room for the former is situated in the basement. The storage of seats, &c, will be under the great hall, the full width of same, a

What is Pozzolana 1 ? The Roman concrete, such as was employed in building the Pantheon for example, owed much of its strength to the employment of a light volcanic earth known as "Pozzolana" which formed with lime a very strong hydraulic mortar to form floors, and large vaults. The answer to our question comes from the Builder.