GISBORNE HOTEL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2574, 7 August 1909, Page 7

GISBORNE HOTEL.

ALTERATIONS AMD ADDITIONS. AN UP-TO-DATE ESTABLISH- ' MENT. The very extensive alterations and' additions to the Gisborne Hotel are rapidly nearing completion, and in a' very short time Mr. J. H. Martin, the proprietor, will be able to enter into possession. A third storey has been added to the old building', and the new ■extension in brick and plaster has a 66ft frontage with a depth of 39ft, and a total height, to tho top of the ornamental parapet, of 50ft. On the top floor 17 new bedrooms have been provided. They measure 15ft by Bft and as single rooms will be most comfortable.

Wailpapors of artistic design are being used, the lighting and ventilation is excellent and the floors are of matai with heart of riiuu finishings. The Wunderlich steel ceilings with ornamental centres are being used in every case, and the rooms are being lighted by electricity, a couple of convenient switches being placed in each room. There arc, in addition, two roomy linencupboards, and at the back of the top floor is situated a bath room with hot and cold water and shower laid on, and adjoining are other conveniences. Safe and convenient iron fire-escapes run right*: round two sides of the budding like a small verandah. They are built of iron, aro very easy of access, and at each end is a ladder communicating with similar escapes on the floor below, which, in turn, are provided with ladders leading to the ground. Adequate provisions have been made in the event of an outbreak of fire, and each separate storey will be provided with a powerful file hose, the water pressure being supplied from a pipe which runs up outside the building at.tho end of tho corridors On tho first floor nine additional rooms "have been provided, including bedrooms of varying sizes from 14ft 6in by Bft Gin to loft by 15ft. The latter will bo double-bedded rooms, and the former single rooms. As on the top floor tlte bedrooms are handsomely furnished, and the steel ceilings and electric! lights are again a feature. At the head of-the present staircase there is a cosy little room measuring 13ft by 10ft which will be utilised as a ladies' writing room. Just opposite it is a room which will supply a long felt want, as it will be exclusively used for storing tho luggage loft in town by country hoarders between their visits. Adjacent to this room, on the earns side of the corridor, is another innovation, which will, no doubt, prove a great boon to .country patrons of the bouse. It is a small room and is to be fitted up with several rows of lockers, of which those visitors who may desire it can obtain a key, and thus have a convenient and safe place in which to leave any articles of clothing, such as R dress suits, washing, slippers, etc., R. ready for them when they come to town. The proprietor'"apartments are also situated on this floor, and comprise a spacious bedroom,, handsomely furnished, with a conveniently-fitted dressing room opening off it. Tho drawing room, which is to bo most elaborately furnished, is situated at the end of the building, looking into Childers Road. It is a lofty, airy room, measuring 26ft by 21 ft and opens out on to the Bft wide balcony, which now runs the entire • length and depth of the building and is supported by massive iron brackets. The drawing-room ceiling is especially pretty, and plenty of light is admitted by several very large windows. The room gives every promise of being a most comfortable and artistic apartment. At the back of the floor there are two bathrooms and two lavatories, a special feature of the former being a closed-in shower. The whole front of the ground floor is being moved along several feet, a work involving great structural alterations. Tho present entrance hall will, in future, be the office, and the main entrance to the hotel will be where xhe present dining room is. Large double doors will lead from the street into what will lie a most imposing entrance hall. All. that space now occupied by a small private room, and the present staircase will be converted into a large commercial room, and at this point, the back wall is to be extended 6ft or Bft further into the yard. This room will measure 24ft by 14ft,- and is to be fitted with writing tables, dtfe’ks, and every convenience for travellers and others. The culinary department of the hotel has received special attention and the arrangements in this part- of the house are most- up-to-date. The new kitchen is a very large room and is supplied with numerous . shelves, cupboards and; bins. The range is a large double - one with a powerful draught. It is made of wrought iron and contains two large ovens. Next the range the supply of hot water is provided for by moans of two large copper cylinders \ containing 160 gallons. These will pro- \ vide hot water for the whole establishment, and, in addition, will supply a most- ingenious contrivance which has been installed—a “hot plate". This is an altogether new departure in Gisborne, and in appearance it is somewhat like- a long range with a galvanized iron top. There are compartments underneath for the reception of cooked joints and vegetables to be kept hot, .and tho plates aro stowed on top. Running throughout the apparatus there are pipes and divisions which are supplied with hot water from the copper cylinders and thus a nice moist heat is obtained, which will not dry up the eatables. In the event of the supply of hot water not being available for any reason several small gas rings have been affixed to Set as substitutes. Between tile kitchen and the dining room is a largo pantry with rows of shelves for the glass ware, crockery, etc. It is also fitted with tubs, into which will flow either hot or cold water. Communication is established with the kitchen by means of a large glass slide, which opens upward from a wide shelf,, and the dining room is entered by moans of double glass doors just opposite tho slide. A commodious scullery, 24ft by 9ft, opens off. one end of the pantry, arid here there are ’ further tubs and sinks with hot and cold water and every convenience installed. Adjoining the’scullery and pantry there is stili another room 21ft by Bft, which will be used as a servant’s hall. The dining room measures 3.6 ft by 32ft, and * ts a very handsome apartment. The 4s walls -are covered with a rich red paper, and ingress is obtained bv means of two * '-Targe swing doors of polished cedar and .embossed glass. The room is brilliantly lit with electric light from no fewer th.an eight fittings suspended from the ceiling, and each of which contain three bulbs, covered with artistically-tinted glass shades. In the centre there is also a large gas- chandelier for use in case of emergency. The ceiling is prettily decorated and is spaced out into 9 massive deep'- bays. A large fireplace with a tiled hearth, is .also installed in one corner of the room. The space which is now occupied jby the old kitchen is to lie converted into an up-

to-date lavatory with, all fittings, washhand basins, and conveniences in white marble with dividing slabs and a drain of the same material. This drain and all the drainage from the house will run into a septic tank in the yard, and the public lavatories in the hotel yard will also bo connected with the tank. A feature of the new building will, be tho grand staircase which will lead straight up from the new entrance and round on.to the first floor, and from there, ill the same direction, to the top storey. The staircase and fittings are all of first-class kauri, and the bannisters and side pieces are tastefully ornamented, and at each turn in the staircase ‘there will be placed a most elaborately carved “newel” or largo post, which are really works of art in themselves.

Taken all through, the new building promises to be one of the most up-to-date' hotels in tho Dominion, every attention having been paid to those little details which count for so much, and Mr. Martin is to be congratulated on his enterprise in the erection of such a substantial and commodious hotel.

The steel ceilings have been supplied by Messrs. Briscoe and Co., of Auckland. Messrs. McMurray and Kane have done itlie plastering work, and the plumbing has been carried out by Messrs. F. Hall and Son. Tho remainder of the work, including painting, brickwork, etc., has been done by the contractor for the building, Mr. Geo. Smith, who is also to be commended for the manner in which he has carried out the work.