Building Notes

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 8, 1 April 1916, Page 604

Building Notes

AUCKLAND A new theatre which, it is clnimed, will be the largest and most up-to-date in New Zealand, is now in course of construction. Recently it was decided to close the Albert brewery in Queen street. This valuable site is now being converted into an up-to-date theatre. The actual structural alterations have been in progress for some weeks past and at a cost of between £IO.OOO and £12,000 a line ferro-con-erete building is taking the place of the old brewery. A new five-story ferro-concrete building is about to be erected on the three frontage block of land next to Stewart Dawson’s and facing Queen street, Yulean Lane and High Street, for Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., who are opening a branch of their ever increasing business. The block measures 185 feet by 35 feet and Messrs Chilwell and Trevithick are preparing the plans. Auckland has again been fortunate. A park of seven and a half acres valued at £IO,OOO has been presented to the Borough of Mount Eden by Mr. Fred Potter, CHRISTCHURCH A new wing has been added to the Lewisham Hospital in Bealey Avenue consisting of a ward, bedrooms and sitting rooms. DUNEDIN (Contributed by Mr. Leslie D. Coombs, A.R.1.8.A.) The prospects of the building trades for this winter are now much better than may have been anticipated. Most of the architects have a fair amount of work in hand for which contracts will be let in the immediate future. We are, •however, rather dubious re the effect of the threatened rise in the price of timber, a matter of twenty-five per cent., so we understand. Undoubtedly such a rise will be “the last straw that breaks the camel’s back” with many investors, especially those people contemplating the erection of wooden residences. Mr. E. W. Walden, architect, reports having completed the following works: —Business premises, Princes Street, for Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., Fletcher Bros, builders; “Everybodys” Picture Theatre, Princes Street, W. McLellan builder; alterations to the “D.S.A.” building, South Dunedin, G. Simpson and Co., builders; alterations to Messrs Donaghy’s Rope Works, J. E. White, builder; a two-storey brick residence at Dunotar, L. Warren, builder; a single story brick residence at St. Clair, A Dempster, builder; a wooden residence at Mornington, W. H. Mills, builder. Alterations to a residence at Mosgiel, J. Lindsay, builder. Mr. Walden also reports a large three story building in Moray Place for Messrs Fairbairn, Wright and Co. as nearing completion, J. McGill and Son, builders, and the C. T. and W. A. Associations Club building in Dowling street as being course of erection. Mr. E. Anscombe, architect, reports that operations have been commenced in the erection of a building to cost £5,000 for “The Evening Star Company.” The building will be occupied on the ground floor by the International Harvester Co., and on the two upper floors by Messrs Raich and McLennan, WELLINGTON The tender of A. A. Renner, of Wellington, at £6,490, has been accepted by the Masterton Picture and Entertainment Company for the erection of a picture palace in Queen street. The work of erection is to commence at once, and as the company has provided a bonus for early completion the building should be ready for opening on first November. In adition to the contract price of the building, a sum of £2,000 is to be expended on fittings, seating, illuminations, etc.