The rise of Stuart Street

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Starlings took advantage of the shape of this old boot, hanging in an outhouse at Gore, to build their nest.- Otago Witness, 9.2.1910. COPIES OF PHOTO AVAILABLE FROM THE STAR STATIONERY SHOP, LOWER STUART ST, DUNEDIN, OR FROM WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

Stuart street is fast becoming one of the city's busiest thoroughfares, and a great deal of activity has of late been shown there in the erection of buildings.

The largest of these is that which is now being erected for Messrs P.Hayman and Co., warehousemen, and it gives promise of being a very imposing structure.

It has a frontage to Stuart street of 132ft and of 82ft to Moray place, and is five storeys in height, the basement floor being 5ft below the pavement and the ceiling 6ft above, thus giving ample light.

The foundations are of concrete and the super-structure of brickwork, with reinforced concrete bands running round the building at the level of the joists on every floor.

Attractiveness is given to its appearance by a finishing on the two facades of red faced brickwork and cement-finished cornices, while the fact of the pilasters being carried up to the full height gives it a solid and bold appearance.

The floors are carried on massive jarrah columns and Oregon beams, with a steel flitch between the beams. The ceilings are panelled, and the walls are finished plain, the wall space being required for fittings for the display of goods.

The bond and packing rooms are on the basement floor, and the offices on the ground floor, with frontage to Stuart street.

The remainder of this floor and all the other floors will be fitted up as showrooms, and some idea of the size of the building may be obtained from the fact that the total floor space is equal to an acre and a-quarter.

Two electric lifts will be installed-one for goods and the other for passengers.

The building has been designed by Messrs Mason and Wales, architects, who are also supervising the erection.

Mr James Annand is the contractor for the erection of the building.

• Considerable interest is being manifested in the ballots for the various small grazing runs that are to be offered for selection this month in different parts of Central Otago, and many intending applicants from outside the district are at present inspecting the different areas.

Much dissatisfaction exists throughout the surrounding districts at the action of the Land Board in holding the ballots for Matakanui, Ida Valley, and Linnburn runs in Dunedin, it being held that some central place should have been chosen instead of asking applicants to journey to Dunedin.- ODT, 9.2.1910.