HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1435, 9 May 1912, Page 4

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

STEEL WORKS IN FULL SWING. Modern building construction in Wellington city demands an expert knowledge in the handling of steel. Every large building, whether it bo for business or pleasure, must be built up to certain rct|uiremcnts. Steel standards, steel girders, iron bases are wanted everywhere, and wanted sufficiently strong to carry more, weight than they will ever be asked to bear—unless another building nest door falls on to thorn. In Courtenay I'laee is to be seen at the present time an interesting illustration of the methods of building construction -on modern lines. Now that tlio big trench which outlines tlin new His Majesty's Theatre is filled with concrete, that useful commodity lakes a back place, and great stacks of si eel girders and standards claim the attention of a small army of workers. Some of the steel that was on the water at Easter is now in the position that it is likely to occupy for 50 years to come. Tin , building grows as yen watoh it. The girders are sawn the required length by ;V moveable steel saw one-third of an inch thick, which whirrs through the Meol almost as rapidly as one would cut an old cheese \tith a blunt knife. The finish of its cuts are smoother than a saw-cut edge lof a piece of kauri flooring. Then f lie I girder is swung round by a crtiun to the ! high-speed drills driven by compressed air. As they bore through the solid steel a spurt of wafer plays on the drill, and out of the liole curls shavings of steel five or six inches long. It is pretty to μ-p (his modern tool at work.- A Her Mm girder is drilled, its companion plate i« laid nn top, and with the aid of a liipe (which fits the hole), dipped in while" paint, the corresponding hole on the plate is outlined in white. After that the plate is sent a journey under a 40-fon punch, which cuts out the holes at iiio rate of from six to b'i> nor minute. Then girder and plate come together under the great patent compre.<sod-nir rivetter, which has a punch of ItOtons, and camiol be supplied with rivets fast enough by tlio one furnace that was feeding it yesterday. Tt does the work of four or five pairs of men, and does it rinicl«:r and better. To illustrate now easily this mighty tool enn be handled. Miss f'arrin Moore, the popular comeilii-nne. vWtod tile s.iti- of the new tbn'ntri , on Tuesday, and look a hand ill rivettine a p!viler jilate. All (be -staiidnrrls and sjirdoi-M are lobe ci'icasp'd in cnnrrele, and in respect to ill ,, standards nf flic nitt/'r walls Die panels are {<> In' filled with uriek-work.