LIMESTONE IN BUILDINGS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 2 May 1925, Page 7

LIMESTONE IN BUILDINGS

SHOULD BE SET “ON THE BED” A building expert points out that reference has been made to the. stone facingS| on the Central Free Public Library as being of Oamaru stone, whereas, he states, they are of Mt.. Somers stone. This stone’ is quarried in South Canterbury, and not near Oamaru, and, like all limestones, varies a good deal in quality. Our informant has a theory that the scaling noticed in so many buildings in which these limestones, aie used is due to the blocks not being set “on the bed,” i.e., set in the wav' the x stone has grown. He says that assuming that a block of stone is set laterally instead of vertically, it loses something of its strength, and he seeks to _ . illustrate his contention by pointing out that blocks may be discovered in build- ‘ Ings which have not scaled or pitted. These, he says, are blocks which have been set “on the bed.” The base of the Town Hall is. of Footscray stone (Melbourne), a granitelike stone of great strength, winch pits here and there with time, but without losing its strength. In the General Post * Office the base is of Dobson’s stone (from Westport), a kind of papa stone, which experts say should not. be. used to carry great weight, and which is not asked to act independently in the case of the G.P.0., as the brickwork, in that instance, stands on its own base. Of all the building stones produced In New Zealand, said our informant, perhaps Coromandel granite was the best, but it was somewhat difficult to work. Portland stone (England) was a sound building stone, and. was being used in connection with a big building now being erected in Auckland.