City Improvements.
The block of wooden buildings in High street belonging to Messrs H. J. Hall and A. Simpson, lately destroyed by fire, are to be replaced by handsome stone structures. Plans for the purpose have been prepared by Mr A. W. Simpson, architect, and the contract for erection has been let to Mr J. Greig. The two buildings are uniform in style, and contain two storeys. The lower part of the fronts is of Hoon Hay blue stone, while White rock stone is used in the upper portion, which is divided by Corinthian pilasters, supporting a frieze and entablature, with a moulded and bracketted cornice and balustrade. The central portion of each front projects slightly, and is capped with a semi-circular pediment, above which is an ornamental entablature.

The windows, of plate glass, are various in shape, those in the centre being circular-headed, while others have square heads. At the sides of the windows are small Corinthian mullions, and above them are recessed panels of carved stone. Beneath the windows is another moulding. The upper storey fronts are supported on iron girders, resting on blue stone piers, and ornamental cast iron columns. The windows of the ground floor are of plate glass, those in Mr Simpson's premises having panes 12ft by 8ft, with frames of carved and polished cedar. A handsome verandah will run along the whole width of both fronts.

In Mr Hall's premises an entrance hall 8ft wide, in the centre of the front, communicates with a staircase leading to the upper storey, and also with the steps going down to the basement. A passage leads from the hall to the back yard and lavatories. The basement or cellar is about 63ft long, 36ft wide, and 8ft in height. At each side of the main entrance is a shop 14ft wide in front, and extending back for a distance of 64ft. These shops are unusually lofty, being 16ft from floor to ceiling. In the back portion of the upper floor is a photographic studio, a room 32ft in length, 14ft wide and 15ft 9in high, with a ground glass window at the side of the room about 19ft wide. This room is carefully ventilated with two large ventilators and several air flues. Attached are dressing and waiting room, dark chamber with sink and water supply, a room' for printing, and all other requirements of a completely fitted photographic studio. In the front are two suites of rooms that could be used as offices or other purposes, one suite being especially designed to meet the requirements of a dentist's business. Lavatories and other conveniences have been provided. The staircase, passage and some of the rooms are lighted by means of a large skylight.

The ground floor of Mr Simpson's building contains one large shop, about 30ft wide, 80ft deep, and 16ft in height, so constructed that it can be separated into two shops if required. From the back of this shop a staircase communicates with the upper floor, where there is a large show room 80ft in length, 30ft wide, and 15ft 9in from floor to ceiling. On the landing at the top of the staircase is a lavatory, &c. Behind the building is a small triangular yard, concreted, and containing the necessary out-offices. A large cellar, 80ft by 30ft, is situated under the shop, and is approached by a staircase from a right-of-way at the back. It may be noted that, though the buildings are only of two storeys, provision has been made for the addition of a third storey, if required, the walls having been made sufficiently thick for the purpose. The height of the present front is about 40ft from ground to top of coping.

Star, Issue 4947, 11 March 1884, Page 3

A Bit of Old Christchurch.

Star, Issue 5739, 2 October 1886, Page 4
A Bit of Old Christchurch.

[Contributed].

I think it must have been about 1857, on the section where now are the buildings occupied by Messrs Dunning, Milner and Thompson and others, at the junction of High and Cashel streets, that an unusual event occurred. A circus planted itself on the vacant block, it may be the first that ever visited the city. The proprietor and manager was Mr Foley, who at that time was well known throughout the Colonies, and met with some ups and downs. As may be imagined, so important an occurrence made a sensation. The juveniles were not as numerous as to-day, and some of those are now staid old family men; but it needed not the youthful element to fill the tent. Hardened old fellows who had wrestled with the tussocks and bush and rivers, found their way in from the sod whares and weather-board homes by every mode of conveyance, from a plough horse to a bullock dray, to enjoy an evening reminding them of old times in the towns and villages of the Old Home. As may be imagined, the show was somewhat less than Bailey's or Colonel John Wilson's, and included no elephants or other sensational creatures. It simply consisted of a few horses and ponies, and a divinity or two. Including the bewitching Mrs Foley, and of course he could not be omitted — a clown. They took money, and I believe were very well satisfied with the venture.

That section remained unbuilt on, and was used for some time by Mr Barnard, the horse auctioneer, as a saleyard, and upon the rails of that block he posted himself on Saturdays, knocking down horses and other necessaries. It was a busy scene in a rough way. Most of the old identities who figured there have disappeared some have successfully mounted the ladder, many are under the quiet sod, some in other Colonies and defeated in the battle, but very very few to be seen in the streets of Christchurch.

So the section remained until about the time of the Otago rush, when, having passed into the hands of Mr W. Wilson, it was by him leased, at the rate, it was then said, of from a pound to twenty-five shillings a foot frontage. It was soon covered with buildings, and those have disappeared to make room for modern ones. In one of the original buildings was after wards published for some time a lively little evening paper, The Mail. It passed through many hands and met with many vicissitudes. It was originally started by Mr J. L. Hall, the comedian (who first appeared in Christchurch about 1858, amusing the public with all his abundant humour as clown to a dog show, then exhibiting in a tent alongside the right-of-way of the White Hart Hotel), and was meant to be a sort of Entr'acte; others then ran it, and for some time Mr E. J. Wakefield was editor, the then proprietor being, I think, Mr G. F. Tribe, once of the Central Hotel, later on M.H.R. for a West Coast district.

One of the original shops was occupied by Mr James Wood, the saddler, and in his windows he used to pillory, in caricature fashion, a rival tradesman who some years after disappeared; and also, one of his pet aversions, Mr John Birdsey, once of the British Hotel, Geelong, who came to Canterbury about 1861 and revolutionised the catering trade. Mr Birdsey's first venture was at the corner where now are Mr Hulbert and the Langham, and there he made a gorgeous display. He called into requisition the undoubted artistic talent of Mr St Quentin (an old Victorian decorator, who for some years came to the front as a political agitator, and even went so far as to very nearly get into the old Provincial Parliament), and ornamented his large window in a style to which the unsophisticated Christchurchians were quite unused. Added to this, his alimentary display was something immense. The window groaned with the fatness of the land; and, inside, behold the landlord, en chef, apron and cap spotlessly white, smiling benignly. That continued for a month or two, and then Mr Birdsey obtained a license. That was the original of the hotel, under many landlords, and under different names, where now is the Langham.

From the Wilson block were issued, some years later, the first penny tokens, claiming Canterbury as their parent. They were not an artistic success, being very plain, and not calculated to charm the eye of a collector of coins. Inartistic as they were, and not intrinsically very valuable, they, never the less, afforded the Resident Magistrate some employment in an action between Mr Raphael, a pawnbroker, and Mr Hall, a grocer, who had put them into circulation. The former claimed the right to compel the issuer to take the tokens over his counter as penny pieces, the latter refusing. There were counsel employed, and a grand display of ancient and forgotten law was made.

Whole cargoes of horses were, in the former years, brought down from Sydney and Hobart Town and auctioned, fetching prices that would astonish sellers of to-day. The pushing farmer and contractor had no difficulty in buying, a good providence having thoroughly established the bill system; and the man wanting only one horse had an opportunity, in bidding for two, of placing one on favourable terms. The only Bank — the Union — must have been a paternal institution. Its site was where now is the property of the late Mr W. Jones, in Cashel street. The manager for some time was Mr Stewart, a most genial and pleasant man, who was succeeded by Mr Palmer; Mr Stewart, I think, becoming manager of the Bank of New Zealand, when that now omnipotent concern commenced its modest career in a weatherboard building in Cashel street, about where is now Mr Hale, sail-maker.

Later on, Mr Wilson, whose old place of business was on the present site of His Lordship's Larder, erected premises at the corner, and there, with Mr Aikman, carried on auctioneering; and upon the dissolution of that firm was joined by Mr Alport. In the upper room, as is well known, the Chamber of Commerce held its sittings. That building, also, it may be said, was for some years the head quarters of electioneering doings, both as to superintendents and members of Council, especially so in the Moorhouse, Lance, and Travers' election.

The next section working northwards was, I think, the property of a Mr Bradley, and occupied for some time as a schoolroom. About the year 1859, the Wesleyan Chapel was built upon it, later on sold, when that denomination built their new church in Durham street. It was said that the land had been given by the owner for the purpose. The chapel when sold was converted into a hall and used for many purposes, and is now replaced by a drapery establishment.

The houses from there to Fisher's corner were unpretentious buildings. In one Mr Prebble carried on one of the first hair dressing enterprises in Christchurch, later on developed into Professor Ayers' establishment and baths. At the corner for many years Mr Fisher carried on a grocery business. Such is a short outline of the appearance at that time of the busy footpath from Cashel street to the Bank of New Zealand.

Ah, had people only known, wouldn't they have secured a few feet. But in those years, as in later years, even now, there were any amount of gloomy forebodings, and Christchurch and Canterbury, there is no doubt, have been doomed many times. They take a deal of killing!

1866

NZ Trust and Loan Building
(Former)
84-86 Hereford Street
Historic Place - Category II
architect: Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort

7 Riccarton Road
cracks in facade

159 Deans Avenue
no damage seen

Saggio Di Vino
185 Victoria Street and 183 Victoria Street

Carlton Hotel
corner Papanui Road and Bealey Avenue

Knox Presbyterian Church
28 Bealey Avenue

Coptic Orthodox Church
90 Edgeware Road

1929
Repertory Theatre
144-148 Kilmore St West

Historic Place - Category II

Church of St Luke the Evangelist
corner of Manchester and Kilmore Streets

Historic Place - Category II

St Lukes is situated on one of the original five church reserves set aside in the plans of the Canterbury Association for the town of Christchurch. Of the four church reserves that were to have bounded the Cathedral reserve, this is the one still intact.

The church was designed by Julian Cyril Mountfort (1852- 1920) and completed in 1909. It is a competent example of early English Gothic Revival church of substantial scale. The construction method of a brick lining and stone facing is of note, which is complimented by an extensive use of Oamaru dressings and the high roof structure. The church also features good quality stained glass by the English firm, Whitefriars. Also of note is the stand alone bell tower in the church grounds.

http://www.historic.org.nz

corner
Manchester and Tuam Streets
(108 Manchester Street)
no damage seen

Para Rubber Building
90 Manchester Street

Para Rubber Building
90 Manchester Street

Para Rubber Building
90 Manchester Street

Edison Hall
230 Tuam Street

Tuam Street
McKenzie and Willis Building
the interior appears to have partially collapsed, facade cracked.

Tuam Street
McKenzie and Willis Building
the interior appears to have partially collapsed, facade cracked.
Formerly A. J. Whites Ltd - architect, A. W. Simpson 1878-1879.

1906

The England Bros House
167 - 177 High Street

architect: R. W. England

1879

A. J. Whites Store Building
view along High Street
238 Tuam Street
Historic Place - Category 1

High Street

1899Strange & Co. Department Store
corner Lichfield and High Streets

architect: Armson, Collins and Harmanowner: KPI Rothschild Property Group

no damage seen

1915
ANZ Bank Chambers
188 High Street
corner High and Lichfield Streets

Excelsior Hotel
The New Excelsior Backpackers Hostel
120 Manchester Street Category 1 Historic Buildingarchitect William Barnett Armson
Built in an Italian Renaissance palazzo style

1883

225 - 227 High Street
architect: T. S. Lambert.
owner: KPI Rothschild Property Group
The building was originally built for Bonnington’s Chemists and Black Beattie & Co., drapers. The owners received an award for the restoration from the Christchurch Civic Trust.

116 Lichfield Street
corner Lichfield and Manchester Streets
Ruben Blades Hair Dressing Academy

Lichfield Street

127-139 Manchester Street
(I understand this building will be repaired)

210-218 Tuam Street

210 Tuam Street

180 Tuam Street