WOOD-BLOCKING IN WELLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 927, 21 September 1910, Page 6

WOOD-BLOCKING IN WELLINGTON.

POWELLISED BIRCH TO BE TRIED. . The projecting footpath 7 caused by the setting-bacji of tlio City Council's, block of shops 1 in Willis, Street,, will riot be removed for some weeks yet: The City Enginoer ■ (Mr; W. H. : Morion)' states that an order has. been placed for ;the jarrah :blocks, but they-are not likely to be ready before December, when the ' widening of\ the street will be proceeded with. • : -■ So far Australian : hardwoods -V .Lave given-the V best "results for woodblocking all the world over, but representations have been made to the City, Council advocating the use of New Zealand birch, •■. after .? .undergoing; the "powellising" -treatment, : for woodpaving. Host, .people interested; .in timber in this- country , nowknow.: that this process■ consists of saturating .the wood in a liquid solution in which saccharine and strychnine are included, and /which . hardens;: and preserves . the wood. New Zealand birch, which is plentiful, is. said to- be ..very, amenable' to "powellisation," and as it would readily cut ,up into iblock-s, is calculated to make good wood-paving.; : , ' V . L ~: ■.The City. Engineer has decided .to give it a trial, and after Christmas; his staff will, commence the wood-blocking of that , part of Customhouse Quay extending from the junction .of Willis Street. and Lambton '; ■ Quay to ; the General Post Office in ' 'powellised'' birch. •.