NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20172, 26 February 1931, Page 4

NOTES.

(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.

Out of over 40 building permits issued by the Christchurch City Council since February Ist, 11 have been for houses in the outer area. As usual, St. Albaxis claims the largest number, but this month Sydenham is nearly on a par in number and value. In the inner area, apart from the Eegent street contract, the jobs are. small in nature, the largest being a contract for a temporary iron building costing £3OO.

Work has commenced on the erection of the new Lodge at Hanmer — a building which will cost approximately £28,000. At the-present time about 30 men are. employed on-the job by the contractors, Messrs Keir and Thompson, builders, of Rangiora, and within, a shorty period the number will be brought up to 50. It is expected that the build•ing will be completed by Christmas, and ready, then, for occupation. The building, has been designed by Messrs Helmore and Cotterill, architects. It is to be .of reinforced concrete with a finish iil cement stucco. Bedroom accommodation is provided for 80 guests, the dining-room will accommodate about 150 guests.

"The building trade is as dead as a doornail," said a Christchurch architect to "Builder" yesterday.* "People Beem to be putting things off., They are chary of spending money." He added that he was of the opinion that building prices would come down in the not far distant future; that the "lucky ones" would make the most of it, and that in the following boom the others would , have to pay higher prices than ever.

Further alterations to the Otago Motor Club's premises in Moray place, Dunedin, are t<j be made immediately by George -Lawrence and Co.. the new owner of this block (Mr A. Ferguson) having decided to convert the building into a ' moje modern one. The whole of the front is to be replaßtered in the latest designs, while the interior is to be converted into one large space for club rooms. To do this, most of the supports will be removed, and the' position of the ladies', retiring room and the offices will also be changed. The hall of the main' entrance stairway will be p&nelled in 'oak. aid; stained. r 1 " s. }\ i , rr tv 'a J $, t - Owing" to the'nature ,of the country, eonatrjiction work on tho atr "Monnt in memoryof McEenjdjß-has kj beea.proceeding, rather - Tfce completed;, find the . remaining,, 10ft should. Be overtaken,in-tlie'.epnirsea few weeks. 1 T&«-monument ia.Jbjeing constirticted- from stone in tWs'viejfcnity, the being in concrete and the exterior finish being. pleasingly executed; In stone. Internally the structure, will , offer t\yo concrete floors and an iron stairway leading to the roof. r -K striking illustralionW the'owe of amo chloride-treated'iimbers in roofs is '.that :o£/ a paper mill in Ontario, with a < daily capacity qf 950 tons news'priaft, 125 tons of sulphite, and 300 tons ground wood (says "Wood. Preserving News").. In the ropf construction )851i0oGf: board feet "of timber was used,presaure - treated according to plank, over wjiieh is placed 2jin of insulite, witn t another top layer of Sin treated plank <Stg»r«d with a fonr-ply tar and - roof,* The inside of the roofs jvA»\painted white in order to afford" more light 'and better working conditions, itt^||je i fvariouß xoojn?, Operations incident, to fhe "manufacture' of paper /create; vapour* whieh. rises to" the ceiling, -Condenses, and results in an alternately wetand dry condition of the timberroofsl. This condition is conducive 'to decay, and if the xoofs have not been given preservative treatment • they,are said to be comparatively shortlived; '