NEW BOROUGH OFFICES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2135, 18 July 1907, Page 2

NEW BOROUGH OFFICES.

Tho plans prepared by Mr. J. It. Little and approved by "the Borough Council provide for an ornate and pretentious two-storied building with a frontage .of 39ft to Read’s Quay, and a depth of 60ft along Childer’s Road. The stylo is composite in character, with the front ornamently relieved with string courses, cornices, and a handsome portico over the footpath. Tho site is an ideal one for the purpose, well situated and convenient. and the new offices will form a striking addition to the architecture of tho town. The building is to be of brick throughout, the external walls all round finished off in cement. The width at the back is to be 37ft 6in, and tho depth of the wall facing the Supreme Court 48ft. The 'main' entrance in Read’s Quay opens into a fine hall measuring 6ft 6in in width and extending tho length of the building. Oil the right hand side are situated the sanitary inspector’s office, 14ft by 16ft, the Borough Engineer’s office, 13ft bv 14ft, a large apartment, 20ft 6in by 14ft 6in, to he fitted up for draughtsman purposes, and, rearmost, a strong room, 6ft by oft, in solid brick as a repository for tlie Engineer’s appurtenances. The plans provide ample accommodation tor the public offices, situated ou tlie left hand side of the main hall. The outer oliico is a fair sized apartment approached from an entrance at. the corner of Read’s Quay and Childer’s Road, with access also from the central hall. This office is to be furnished with two largo counters for • the transaction of public business. Leaves in the counter are provided,, leading to the assistant i S i’tment-, which measures 10ft by 14ft. A strong room of moderu pattern is to be built in here for the use of the Town Clerk’s department, as tlie Borough records must be safely stored. The public office leads to the Xpwn Clerk’s room, an airy apartment 17ft by 14 ft, which should prove comfortable quarters jor tins officer. Both ’there offices have doors opening into the hall, so that convenience has been assiduously studied. The Mayor has a room at the rear of'tlie Town Clerk’s, measuring 131 tby 14ft. which will be furnished in a manner befitting the town’s leading citizen. Additional access is had from a door at the rear

corner of Childer’s Road. The staircase is at the rear of the hall. At the top of the landing there arc two committee rooms, one on each side.

each measuring 14ft by 14ft. Swing doors from tho landing open into tho Board room, a fine commodious chamber tho full width of the building and 35ft in length. This will be used for the Council and the various public meetings for which there is such poor accommodation at present. A neat balcony is the feature of the frontage, and is approached by a casement door, from the Board room. Provision was nado in the plans for gas-heating, lut the Council decided at last meeting in favor of coal fires, so that fireplaces will now be provided. Tenders are returnable In six weeks’ time and it is expectM that the Council and staff, at :present "cribbed, cabined and confined” in the_ old premises that have -served their day, will he in occupation of the new structure by the New Year The total cost will bo about £2 000