ST. JAMES IS BUILT WITH BRITISH STEEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 399, 6 July 1928, Page 6

ST. JAMES IS BUILT WITH BRITISH STEEL

HEFFERNAN’S BIG CONTRACT “Britain First” is the motto of Heffernan. and Company, who were the largest sub-contractors engaged in the building of St. James, so all the steel construction work in the theatre is an Empire product in origin and manufacture and was executed entirely by Heffernan’s. St. James was one of the biggest contracts undertaken by Heffernan’s since the establishment of the firm five years ago. For four months skilled hands worked at the manufacture and erection of the steel work supporting the roof, the grand circle, the dress circle, and the entrance. Let it not be thought, however, that the work done by this firm is concerned only with the 'gigantic task of installing steel trusses of - many tons in weight. In St. James are samples of Heffernan’s work providing examples of the deli-

cacy of conception required in what may be termed “side-lines” of steel constructional work. Under this head comes the balustrading for the staircases, and t*he highly ornamental steel sphere enclosing the blue globe which so pleasingly surmounts the < Queen Street tower. Another task somewhat unusual for a Dominion firm was the manufacture of the fire-proof curtain, which weighs one and a-half tons. Heffernan’s works, which are situated on a section running from Wakefield

Street through to Lome Street, are equipped -with British machinery throughout. The firm has been engaged as sub-contractors in the erection of many of the city's newest buildings, including the National Mutual Insurance, the Auckland Savings Bank main building, and Cadman’s parking garage in Grey Street.