HEARTH AND 'HOME'

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18898, 13 January 1927, Page 4

HEARTH AND 'HOME'

(By Builder.)

"Builder" invites contributions from readers on any matters of interest which they might like to propose. Correspondence on various subjects pertaining to building will also be accepted.

NOTES. An office will be erected in wood in Moorhouse avenue for the State Coal Depot. Tenders close at 4 p.m. on January 25th, with the Public Works Tenders Board, Wellington. Messrs S. and A. Luttrell invite tenders, closing at 4 p.m. on January 19th, for additions to store for Messrs D. H. Brown and Son, Moorhouse avenue,.

Tenders are invited for the erection of a row of shops and concert hall in reinforced concrete at Napier. They close at noon on January 19th, with Messrs Ager, Westcrholm, and Ager, 202 Cashel street, Christchurch.

It has been decided to build, in brick and stone, a Sunday School for St. James Church, Riccarton. Tenders for the work close with Messrs S. and A. Luttrell, architects, Manchester street, at 4 p.m. on January 21st.

Ilr H. St. A. Murray, architect, 130 Hereford street, is calling tenders, closing at noon on January 22nd, for the erection- of a school in Lower High street, for the Sisters of the Mission. There will be two storeys in brick, with eight class-rooms. An Assembly Hal] with stage and science room, will also be provided. The building will be well ventilated, lighted, and heated.

Additions in Cranmer square for the Church Property Trustees will cost £l9O. Messrs P. Graham and Son are the contractors.

A store is being built by Mr C. Calvert for Messrs Trent Brothers, at the corner of Chester and Durham streets. Its cost will be £465.

Messrs Sail Bros, have undertaken a contract for an open-air school in Cholmondeley avenue for St. Mark's Trustees. The price was £350.

The partnership between Messrs J. S. and M. J. Guthrie, architects, of 178 Manthestei street, has been dissolved. In future Mr J. S. Guthrie will carry on lii& practice at 178 Manchester street, and Mr M J. Guthrie, at the T. and G. Mutual Life Buildings, Hereford street.

"Builder"has experienced some difficulty in ascertaining from the several Borough and County Councils contiguous to the City, particulars of the building permits isrfued in the past two years, in order to make a comparison between 1925 and 1926. In the other centres these figures have been published several days ago.

Waimairi County Council issued 201 building permits in 1926, 157 being for dwellings. There were also 21 garages, shops, schools; sheds, etc., accounting for the remainder. The value represented by dwellings was £123,325, and the total £133,185.

The firm of Ager, Westerholm, and Ager, registered architects and structural engineers, has been successful in winning the competition for new Working Men's Club rooms at Napier. Tenders are.now being called for the eerction of the building, which will be of reinforced concrete, and will contain a dance hall with a specially constructed dance floor.

Mr W. Williamson has in hand the reconstruction of a garage in Chester street for Mr W. Hayward, of the Rink Taxis, Ltd. It will be used as a workshop and: offices. Mr H. St. A. Murray is the architect, and the work will involve an expenditure of £2500.

Messrs Dawe and Willis, architects, are working on a sewage scheme for the Selwyn Huts, which will cost approximately, £3OOO. The work has been undertaken by the Springston South Domain Board. Ninety-five huts will be served by a septic tank and general drainage system.

Some comment has been made on the peculiar shape of the roof of the Municipal Concert Hall, and on its _ steep slope. It was designed with a view to strict economy. The tie beams are each 72ft long, and are of Oregon pine. Plasterers are at work and the lathing for the ceiling is completed, while the fibrous plaster has been made and cast, and is all ready to place in position. Coinage metal has been used as the material for the two ticket box grilles, which will arrive in Christchurch in a few days from the maker, James Gibbons, of Wolverhampton, England. The lamp standards and torches, which are of the same material, are also on the water. The door furniture has already arrived from England. In all of this equipment superior materials have been used, and they will probably last the life of the building.

In a recent Wellington Court case dealing with the use of western red ce"aar weather boards in connexion with the building trade, evidence was given to the effect that on the Pacific Coast of North America, the bmlding authorities commonly allowed the use of bevelled sidings-nailed directly to the studs. It was known, hotfev-r, at the time of the case that the general procedure was contrary to this, ana that sheathing must first be the studs before using bevelled sidings. Enquiries were accordingly instituted by the State Forest; bemcc, to ascertain the practice on th|) lacine Coast, and advice has now been received from the City Engineer of San Francisco that the building laws of that city require the use of sheathing the application of bevelled wes'.ern red cedar nailed direct to the f ul f ™ being approved. The method -adopted in New Zealand in respect to naive matai is to apply it direct to the m ,1. and the importers of western .1 1 cedar claimed that similar construct,™ should be allowed with cedar, although it .is cf T thinner cross-section than native matai. As a matter of fac the poor strength of western red cedw and its poor nail-holding qualities should require a much thicker section to be anclied if the same strength is to be rowined as in the case of matai.

In 1916 200,000,000 super feet of timber were imported Australia. Last vear it took 516,000,000 feet to meet her softwood requirements. Ine sum that she now pays to America and to the Baltic countries -for softwood exceeds £4,500,000, and is growing annually.

IRONBARK.

FIRE-RESISTING QUALITIES,

(By W.H.W.) In old days the Australian timber known as ironbark was quoted as a type of what was solid, enduring, reliable, whether the reference was to a human being or the block of wood itself. Ironbark was regarded as the last word in fireproof construction for stores and warehouses up to three or four storeys high, and storey posts and girders, not less than 12in square in section of sound ironbark were regarded as more reliable and trustworthy in case of fire than iron, marble, or granite, which were very susceptible to injury from contact with water after a fire had been raging round them for some hours.

It was frequently found that the ironbark beams and storey posts which had been in the centre of a fire for many hours were' simply slightly charred on tho outside, and after this burnt external facing had been taken away, the timber below was perfectly good; always provided that the section was not less than 12 inches by 12 inches.

One peculiarity about ironbark, like most Australian hardwoods, in the difficulty of really seasoning thick piece of timber. ' A 12in by 12in girder which has been in use for 20 years will show signs of further surface shrinkage after planing, which is conclusive proof that even at so small a depth below the original surface as would como under the influence of a carpenter's plane, this timber is still unseasoned. Large block will not burn. It is a hard matter to burn a block of I2in by 12m ironbark. On the other hand, if such a block were split up not loniy would it burn freely, but it would give out a very fierce heat.

If a 12in by 12in girder were composed of six pieces of 12in by 2in, it would carry the s'amo weight, if well secured together, as a solid piece, or perhaps even more, as only perfect pieces would be selected in one casci as against taking what Nature chose to give in the solid piece. But a builtup girder would lose the fire-resisting qualities which make the solid ironbark girder famous. As far as steel is concerned, its greatest weight-carrying capacity is when at its normal temperature; but excessive cold and excessive heat have a detrimental influence. Ironbark, on the other hand, is not subject to change from these causes, and is, on this account, much more reliable. Steel girders have many points in their favour, but they fall short of ironbark in the matter of fire resistance. «

As a further security against damage by fire on even the outer facing of an ironbark girder or storey post, instances have been known in which this was cased round with some directly inflammable material such as plastering; but this so seriously detracted from its general utility under normal circumstances that its use was never general. As a matter of fact, the first duty of a girder or storey post is to carry its load, whilst interfering with the business of the place to the smallest possible degree, and precaution against firo is grudginglv given out of necessity.

An ironbark storey post may have nails or bolts put into it and be used as part of a partition, exactly the same as any other timber. The" main difference is that it will answer the purpose of any other material,, and in many cases do it better.

MAORI ART.

DECORATIVE WORK.

FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS

[THE PSESS SpccUl Service.]

AUCKLAND, January 12,

"I am confident the newly-formed Maori Arts and Craft Board} will be successful in its endeavours to foster Native handicrafts," said Dr. P. H. Buck on his return from Rotorua, where he attended the first meeting of the Board, of which he is a member. Lately there had been a great stimulation and advance in practical steps toward the study of the Maori race, added Dr. Buck. First there was established a, Board of Maori Ethnological and that body had funds for the publication of data and material and for assisting in research work. The establishment of the Board of Maori Arts and Crafts concentrated on what might be termed the decorative side of Maori handicrafts or the artistic work of the Maori. The Board would bo an organisation under which all material bearing on those things could be brought together, and one of the effects of the establishment of the Board would be the collection and amalgamation of all information on such' crafts as carving, plaiting, and weaving, painting of house rafters, and decorations of the wall panels of the larger meeting houses. The Maoris themselves in many parts were experiencing a desire to use some of their own decorations for the embellishment of their homes, but the trouble had been that there had been no craftsmen in many districts, and the art had passed completely away. The establishment of a school whero students could be taught would probably have a big effect in supplying that want.

"The view is held by many people that the Maori has an innate artistic sense." added Dr. Buck, "and the establishment of the school will enable him to develop it and create new ideas rather than slavishly follow old models, and to make it a living art by adopting it to suit modern requirements. Many of our large public buildings have nothing characteristic of New Zealand about them, and it might be that the work of the school and its collection of data and material might help to develop certain elements in decorative art that could form part of a national art characteristic of the country. At present. ' outside the Native districts, there is practically no art or decorative work distinctive of New Zealand, and the new Board will create an opportunity to use and adopt some of the Maori features in public buildings. The Auckland War Memorial Museum will incorporate some such features."

The new Board is to establish a school at Rotorua, and there will be collected nhotographs and casts of all good Maori work now scattered throughout the Dominion.

Charing Cross underground station is to have a new escalator with a speed of IOJJft per minute instead of the usual 90ft. -

A MODEL WARE-

HOUSE.

R. AND E. TINGEY'S NEW

PREMISES.

OILS, PAINTS, AND WALLj PAPERS. i j Tangible evidence of belief in the I future° growth and development of Christclmrch is given by the commodjous, well-designed, and faithfully constructed business premises erected at 154 Tuam street for R. and E. Tingey and Co., Ltd., wholesale dealers in oils, colours,'glass, and wallpaper Provision has been made for extending the building upwards when the expansion of the business, which is confidently anticipated, calls for additional space. The building is of brick and concrete, and covers an area of 139 ft by 33ft, extending from Tuam street to Mollett street, the last-named street providing suitable facilities for the receiving arid dispatching of goods. The building has a flat roof and is top-lighted. The building is fittingly designed for the purpose for which it is to be used. The architects were Messrs England Bros., and the builders were Messrs Rennell Bros. , Advantage has been taken of/ front of the premises to present ex-' amples of the firm's handiwork. The entrance door, which is of cedar, is embellished with squares of bevelled glass; the large windows on each side display samples of leadlights the firm is manufacturing for builders. The panelling of the wide passage giving access to the different departments is done effectively in New Zealand woods. On the right, after entering, is the show-room, and the first impression conveyed is the appropriateness of the neutral tints in which it is finished. This ensures that wallpapers of almost any colour and design naturally harmonise with the surroundings. All . the necessary facilities for displaying the latest and most artistic designs in wallpapers, of which the firm carries extensive stocks, are provided. The manager's office adjoins, and the public office is opposite the showroom. On the left, beyond the public office, is the Wallpaper Department, consisting of specially designed racks for the storage, in wholesale quantities, of the large range of wallpapers stocked by the firm. These racks hold 50,000 rolls of wallpaper, and are so arranged as to facilitate quick delivery. Opposite is the Paint, Varnish, and Enamel Department, fitted with bins, constructed on the modern bay principle, in which is stored the firm's stocks. The rear portion of the building is devoted to the Plate and Sheet-Glass Department. , A special feature of this important branch of the business is the up-to-date appliances provided for the handling of the heavy cases containing glass. These consist of travelling cranes capable of dealing with weights up to seven tons. The result is that the receiving of these heavy goods can be accomplished expeditiously and easily. The firm claims that in this respect its facilities are second to none in any similar warehouse in the Dominion. This department is fitted with the latest model racks for the storage of plate-glass, and a machine table for cutting plate-glass. As already indicated, the firm manufactures leadlighte of the latest and most artistic designs, and also does glass-bevelling. One corner of this part of the building is devoted to a dangerous goods store, which has been constructed in strict compliance with the requirements of the City Council's by-laws. It is as nearly fireproof as it is humanly possible to construct a building, and though a part of the main building, it is self-contained, and it is entered only from Mollett street by a special steel door. Here is stored the firm's stocks of turpentine and methylated spirits. The general impression gained from an inspection of the building is that it is a model of what a warehouse of its character should be.

The firm of R. and E. Tingey and Co., Ltd., though comparatively new in Christchurch, is an old-established one, having been founded in Wangairoi in 1868. Later its activities were extended to Wellington, then to Auckland, and latterly to Christchurch. It is the 6ole agent in New Zealand for the following important firms:—Aspinall Enamel Company; Benjamin Moore and Co., New York; Meredith and Co., Varnish Manufacturers, Birmingham; Reg. N. Boxer Co., Toronto; Docker Bros., Ltd., Birmingham; Thos. Parsons and Sons, London; Valentine and Co., New York; and the Ercelsior Varnish Co. Wellington. (1)

NEW GRANDSTAND.

RUGBY UNION ENTERPRISE. Messrs Ager, Westerholm, and Ager, architects and structural engineers, have just received advice that they were successful in the recent competition for a grandstand to be.erected by the Napier Borough Council on McLean Park, for the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union. This structure will be of reinforced concrete and steel, and will be of unique design, affording as it will a full view of the football field. Seating accommodation will be provided for 3500 people on one floor. The basement will be of reinforced concrete and will contain all requisite accommodation for competing teams, referees, and attendants. The super-structure will be supported on steel stanchions, and lattice girders of 60 feet span, and it is considered it will altogether be one of the most modern of stands for playing fields. Hawke's Bay is considered the home of Rugby football, so the Union is desirous of holding the premier position in the accommodation of its patrons. Tenders for the work close at noon on January 17th.