HOUSE IN TEN DAYS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17109, 2 April 1921, Page 13

HOUSE IN TEN DAYS.

ERECTIONS,

EX-NEW ZEALAND ARCHITECT'S VIEWS.

Among the builders who are in the .field to erect the cheapest houses.in' tho shortest possible space of time is Mr Henry "White (late of Ihinodin and Christ-church, and now of Sydney). Mr White is advocating the all-«onci'ete house, made in slabs in n factory, which, being numbered, can be erected by unskilled labourers. Mr White recently expressed his ideas in the Syd,nev : 'Evening News" as follows* — : 'With an experience of many years in' building construction throughout Australasia I can strongly recommend tho system' as an excellent one for homo builders, provided, of course, a sufficient quuntity is secured for any ono district. It would cost just as much for the* moulds and appliances for the erectionof one houso as it would for fifty, or any number of houses for that matter, ft is therefore understood that tho great advantage in reducing tho cost cannot bo obtained, unless the cost of the necessary plant is distributed over a large number of houses.* The system is for casting the walls and partitions of the .house in largo concrete slabs made of cement and" sand, no other -materials being used. The slabs, made by an unique process of jointing, may be erected in position by.any unskilled workman, and when erected they are entirely finished, being cast with a smooth surface, "The plastering inside and out is entirely eliminated, dispensing with this class of tradesmen altogether, -whilo bricklayers are also dispensed with. The. only expert necessary is a. carpenter to plumb the stanchion guides used, in fixing the-walls, to nail down the floors, and fix tho roofing and timber work, inclnding tho floor joist'ing, floor boards, rafters, wall plates, ties, -struts', ridges, etc., which arc cut to standard size, shape, and lengths, in readiness for nailing togother in position. All joinery work is done in tho same factory. Tho doors are fitted with frames, hinges, locks, etc., and painted, while tho windows are mad© with tho sashes fitted, finished with lifts and fasteners, glazed, and painted. As the Wall slabs are erected tho doors and windows are set into position as the work proceeds. "With very little practice Ono rough carpenter and a-'gang of labourers -can eaßUv erect a house, somewhere-within; ten days. All plumbing woik is cut to the correct length, fitted wiUb. elbows,

fees, taps, etc. Baths are mtiilo of concrete, carborundum ground inside, and enamelled. Tho copper boilcr.is formed with, a concrete stand, fire box, etc'.,' complete. Wnshtu'bs (of which, a largo number are now being made in Sydney) arb in concrete, while tho chimneys are circulaiv in shape. Floors ot'Hihe building may be either 1 iu concrete or wood. Concrete is strongly recommended, ?z being vermin and white ant proof. A concrete- floor is laid in the ordinal Way, and coated with.'two, voals or bitumen, for damp-proofing, insulated yriUi. coilipfeßSCd co;vk in sheets Jin thick, and oil the cork thin linoleum may lie pasted down or carpets used in the ordinary way. Cavity or holiow walls aro formed as h usual in "brick houses, "but tha house is stronger, than all ordinary brick house. Ventilators aro fixed in conveiti«»t places, which provide i'or a current of air "the walls «t all times. The slabs of the Mall «re as hard as stone, and there is practically* no upkeep. In ordinary plastered houses the plaster is continually being knocked if om the' wall' by chair backs coming'into contact with the same, While, with the monolithic 'liotiß l nnthitig; coming into contact' with .the walls is likely to get the worst of the deal. ....■'. J house by being standardised "dees.not necessarily follotv or call for (their all fcftiilg of similar design. Al!though tho whole work is standardised ! a different appearance can be obtained [by altering the shape of the roof and the position of the doors, windows, j verandahs, etc.,' while the" house, may be tinted any colour to choice, both in- , side- or out, or the interior may bo I papered in tho ordinary way. i "The idea is to provide a strong, substantial,house at medium cost, aflow\m& for medium rent, to eliminate as much as possible the cost of upkeep, repairs, etc., and at the same time, owing t6 the great shortage of skilled Idbour, to building wlu'cli,may W erected hy üßskil}e4 labour.' I havo ; submitted the scheme to many experts, ■and they are all most enthusiastic with regard to its possibilities. Houses,could be supplied ail ilTTJections; with everyj thins complete in readiness for easy Impelling and erecting, with diagram and drawing showing how the whole of . the parts arc placed together. Every piece, could bo numbered. From a e'entral.ijepot a man. on the land could procure fris house and have it crefted in t4fe time before-mentioned, provided ho emu arrarnSo for rail or road transport. Tho .specification will give all particu- , Jars rcgarcting*cight, quantrti-.'s, materials, etc. ' from lestiJnates taken onfc of wttrJs done in Sydney we can show a ; sailing of from 15' to' 20 per cent,, and with a proper organisation and plant for manipulating the. slabs, joinery worJr, etc.,'l' really believe w snving of from 20 to 40 per cent: could be effected on tho cost of the ordinary brick and timber houses, while in addition tho house is monolithic and more durable tlia'n tlte ordinary constructed brink . ho-usa, free from upkeep, and may be erected in a very short time, which is a saving in interest and outlay, instead of : waiting months for a home as Tmlcr the existing renditions, where carpen- . ters*.and bricklayers.and other ■ trades- . merl aVe so difficult to obtain." .

Those interested in the development of aviation Late always been fascinated by,bird flight; Dr. E. "H. H'ankin, chemical examiner to the Government at Agra, India* lias made measurements showing that btfds soar at a speed of 60. miles ah hour over the IMains.of India. This, states ?. scientific writer, suggests motorics 1 ; flight irt tropical climates. How dc-Mjirds soar? Shall -ro be abb to be conveyed without effort when we have discovered what makes them ahlo to soar? "VVhr.t isth* (source of energy? Dr. mnkin, m studying birds, dragon flies, < and flying hshes, apparently proves .that flight ij not due to wing movement,and numberless other observations have been made, but the pnazle stiii remains.