STATELY PILLARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 703, 1 July 1929, Page 14

STATELY PILLARS

Whangarei Marble Placed in New Station RAPID PROGRESS BY CONTRACTORS rpwo stately pillars of Whangarei marble, which will adorn the main entrance hall of the new railway station, have already been placed in position. The two remaining pillars were being placed in position this morning. This Whangarei marble is a lovely stone, warm in tone and beautifully veined. Each pillar weighs about eight tons. The marble was quarried at Whangarei, brought to Auckland on scows and polished by W. Parkinson and Company, Victoria Street, on special polishing apparatus. The marble, in sections, was held on lathes which revolved over the brushes. For the first time in New Zealand a new method of placing the pillars in position has been used. The marble, in sections, is threaded over steel stanchions with the aid of cranes. Last week a start was made with the granite facings to the building and already the window-sills along the south side have been placed in position. Altogether about 2,000 tons of Coromandel granite will be used in building the new station. It has been brought from the quarries in its rough state and turned and shaped in sheds beside the building. Great progress has been made with the new station buildings during the last month and work can now proceed even during the wet weather, as some of the floors have been constructed. Standing where the main entrance will be it is now possible to visualise the finished building. Through the main sw*eep of what will be the large and lofty entrance hall one sees the arch of the roof which will cover the lobbies leading to the platforms. Among the clang of steel, the bustle of buzz-saws, the rattle of stonew’orkers and carpenters, the various offices and rooms are being shaped. One of the first things to be finished was a giant safe which is complete with two doors. The tiles of the refreshment room were being placed in position yesterday, and lift wells were almost finished. The wide approach ramps to and from Beach Road are partly finished. They cannot be completed because the main railway lines from the South are still in use. Thousands of tons of soil and debris have gone to make the ramps which lead from the road to the 1 main entrance on w-hich will really be j the second floof of the station. All the subways have been finished and echo to the rattle of trolleys and i busy workmen. j By September the outside of the | building at least will resemble the finished station and it is certain now 1 that the scheme will be completed to i time by the contractors—J. T. Julian and Son. Ltd.