This photograph was taken during the construction of the New Zealand Insurance Company building. The building is now primarily the office of Innes Dean Tararua Law and known as Innes Dean House (2018). The building also once housed the New Zealand Defence Recruitment Office. On the left is the Royal Hotel. The original Royal Hotel was built in the corner of The Square and Rangitikei Street. In 1915 the Bank of New Zealand erected their premises on the corner and the licence was transferred to this building further up Rangitikei Street to what had been Dawick's Buffet.