Building & Architecture. ♦ •

Progress, Volume II, Issue 5, 1 March 1907, Page 180

Building & Architecture. ♦ •

Tenders for the extensive additions to Messrs. Sargocd, Son & Ewen's Wellington warehouse close this day. ****** Drawings and specifications for the Crematorium to be erected at Karon are being prepared by John S. Swan. ****** A brick and stone residence m Manchester street, Chnstchurch, is being erected for Mr. Zebulun Leigh. Architect, W. Y. Wilson. ****=> * Four two-story brick shops and dwellings are m course of erection in Colombo street, Chnstchurch, for Mr A. Lawry. Architect, W. Y. Wilson. *** * * * Two-story brick workshops and offices, Armagh street, Chnstchurch, are in course of erection for Messrs. Macarthy & Clark Architect, W. V Wilson. ****** The contract for semi-detached houses in Roy street, Wellington South, has been let for /1019 Architect, J. S. Rowden ; contractor, P. C. Watt ****** Tenders for the erection of four houses to be erected in Dock street, Wellington, from designs by John S. Swan, architect, closed at noon on Monday, the 25th ult. ****** Substantial additions to Mr. Dunlop's warehouse fronting the river, Gisborne, are in course of erection. Architect, C Tilleard Natusch ; contractor, Mr. Clayton. ****** Tenders for the erection of a large private hotel to be erected at the corner of Victoria street and Cambridge terrace, Wellington, closed at noon on Monday, the 25th ult. Architect, John S. Swan. ****** Mr. J. M'Gill, architect, has accepted the tender of Messrs. Martin, Hurrell & Snaddon for erecting a brick building of three floors and a basement in Manners street West, Wellington. The contract price is just under £6000. ****** The contract has been let for Mr. Scott's new residence at Hastings at £1250. With the exception of a recreation room on the first floor the house is a ground-floor one, with a flat garden roof accessible from the recreation room and surrounded with embattled parapets. Architect R. Tilleard Natusch ; contractor, S. Tong. ****** Mr. C. Aleck Natusch, who is in charge of Mr. C. Tilleard Natusch' Gisborne Office, has m hand substantial additions to Mr. Walter Barker's fine residence. The new works consist of two wings one of which contains a handsome billiard-room and the other a ball-room and over this several additional bed-rooms. A conservatory is also included in the contract. Contractors, Skeet Bros. ****** Three two-story residences are in course of erection in Tonk's Grove, off Cuba street, Welling ton, for Mrs. K. Tonks at a total cost of about One is of twelve rooms, including drawingdining, breakfast, and sewing-rooms and is provided with conservatory and all modern conveniences ; while the other two are smaller, being of seven rooms each. Architect, J. M. Dawson ; contractor, F F. Cameron * * * it * * It is the custom to believe that youth is in command of everything in the United States, where it is said, chiefly on the authority of Mr. Foster Fraser and other lightning calculators, that a man is absolutely old at forty The selection of an octogenarian architect for one of America's largest contracts is a somewhat flat contradiction to the prevailing theory ****** During the nineteenth century there were four architects who after a fine career achieved " Westminster Abbey." In the first years of the twentieth one has been accorded that distinction. Sir Charles Barry, Mr. G.. E. Street, Sir Gilbert Scott, and Mr. J L. Pearson, the four above noted, have been followed by the late Mr, Mickelthwaite, F.S A.,

who was buried in the Abbey early in October last This gentleman was not in the first rank of architects, absolutely, so far as creative work is concerned, but there is a special reason why his labours should be commemorated in the Abbey He had been architect to the Abbey since 1898 and had watched and protected the famous fabric with admirable taste and zeal He was widely known as an authority on ecclesiastical a'chitecture, and was the author of a book on " Modern Parish Churches " and of many papers on archaeological and antiquarian subjects. * * H- * * =t= A new building is shortly to be erected m Panama street, Wellington, for Mr. W. H. Sefton Mooi house The architect has the preparation of plans in hand, which he is instructed to arrange to suit the requirements of those desiring to become tenants 11ns building is to be erected in ferro-concrete work, and as ferro-concrete structures give the greatest possible security against fire and earthquake, these offices should be rapidly filled. Aichitect, C. Tilleard Natusch. ****** A contract has been let for the erection of a five-story brick and concrete building in Christchurch. The building will have a frontage of about 60 ft. to High street, and is to be finished within eight months from date. There will be three shops on the ground floor with doors at the back "of each, and the other floors will contain 36 offices, together with sanitary conveniences An -electric passenger lift will serve all floors. Contract price, Architect, John S Swan Wellington ; contractor, J Smith, Christchurch. ****** A Boys' Preparatory School is to be erected at Oran for Mr. J. R Orford. The building is planned to accommodate from thirty to forty boys, and contains on the ground floor two large school rooms, boys' dming-room, kitchen, etc private dining-room and drawing room, study, office and music room, and lavatories for boys ; first floor contains two large dormitories and two smaller ones, nursery, sick-room, matron's sitting-room and bed-room, work-room, two large bed-rooms, and large boys' bath-room and private bath-room • ?ttic floor contains servants' rooms and box room. The school portion of the building is heated by hot air • while the whole structure is lit by electric light The outbuildings contain washhouse, laundry, fuel, dairy, and engine-room, stable, coachhouse, etc The building is three stories, including attics and covers, and has 45,000 sq. ft of ground space Architect, J. S. Turnbull, Timaru ****** Some time ago the architects of the British isles were much exercised by the decision of the London County Council to throw open the competition for the design of their projected great hall — which is to be a wonder of modern architecture — to foreign competition. Since then they have been given

a set-off, unexpected as it is magnificent, from the United States Mr. Bodley, R.A., has been selected to design the new cathedral for Washington. Mr. Bodley is the leading ecclesiastical architect in the British islands. The selection by so exclusive a people as the Americans proclaims that in the opinion of very competent authority Mr. Bodley is the first ecclesiastical architect in the world. Mr. Bodley has built more churches than any living man and he is associated with Mr. Gilbert Scott in the carrying out of that gentleman's designs for the new Liverpool cathedral, but he has never before had such an opportunity as is now afforded to him No doubt the popular appreciation of these numerous works of his will now be higher than ever * ***** One of the best examples of the Hammer-Beam Roof in the world is the roof of Westminster Hall. The building which dates from the days of Richard the Second, has been used for generations as the dinmg-hall of the King's Scholars of Westminster School It is full of interest, with its beautiful fourteenth-century windows its quaint minstrels' gallery, and its massive oaken tables, carved according to tradition out of one of the wrecked hulks of the Invincible Armada The improvements lately made in this remarkable chamber are chiefly at its northern end. Here a number of interesting coats of arms, which in the piocess of years, had become almost obliterated have been renewed, while others have been added The coats of arms which have undergone restoiation are those more peculiarly associated with the Abbey, such as reputed arms of Edward the Confessor, the arms of Christ Church Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge, also the arms of the Order of the Bath, which has the Dean of Westminster for its chief ecclesiastic. Among the arms now added are those of the Lord High Almoner to the Sovereign of England, an office now held by the present Dean. ****** One is reminded, by the selection of Mr. Bodley in his eightieth year to design the new cathedral at Washington, of the fact that few architects have ever lived to see the completion of their designs, that is to say in the matter of great church buildings. Many of the great cathedrals of England were some centuries in the building, as is proved by the various styles of so many of them. The Cathedral of Cologne and the Duomo of Milan were each begun several centuries before they came to completion, if indeed they can be said to have yet reached the final stage. In Australia the late Mr Wardell — brother of the well-known magistrate and ex-runholder of the Wairarapa — was the only one who saw the completion of a first-class Gothic cathedral of his own design — St. Patrick's at Melbourne — a completion which did not include the towers and spire, which have still to be built. He did not, of course see the whole of this design for St Mary's at Sydney carried out, for the nave of the fine edifice is still to be completed But as things happen in the order of nature it is not improbable that Mr. Bodley is destined to be the architect of a great cathedral and see nothing of the work which owed him life ****** The other side of the question, so far as the British isles are concerned is to be found in the statement recently made by the president of the Sheffield Society of Architects, that young men who have embarked in architecture are not sufficiently " pushful." This is taken by at least one authority to mean that too many of the juniors do the work while their seniors draw the pay and obtain the credit. Says one authority in the profession • "It is quite true that there are many

young men, and, indeed, many no longer young, who have never taken the position and received the emoluments which their talents and industries should command. They spend their lives as architectural assistants, doing the more arduous work connected with an architect's business, including often a great deal of first-rate original designing, for which they receive but a very inadequate salary. The architectural "ghost" who makes designs for which his principal gets the ciedit, and the pay is a melancholy figure." Of course this is a terrible state of affairs. It is impossible, however, to imagine vast crowds of men so utterless spiritless as to put up with injustice of this kind, though here and there may be a genius who suffers from neglect and imposition. In New Zealand genius neglected is not so prevalent as it is thought to be in Britain. On the other hand many people aie in favour of the competition system because it calls out the best talent, and it youth or " ghosts " have the talent, the system will give them the career. The National Harbour Works at Dovei aie described m most of our exchanges as being stupendous. They need to be, for the number of times the works have been the plaything of the sea are a familiar story And the sea thereabouts when in a rage is something to remember, in fact never is forgotten by anyone who has made closer acquaintance with it. This time the nation seems determined that the old fishing village's fame from its earliest days as the starting place for the Continent, shall be emphasised by one of the best artificial harbours m the known world Some idea of the magnitude of the work may be gathered from the length of the piers and breakwater, which is between two and three miles Commencing at the engine sheds with quite an array of locomotives, you pass on to the stoneyard where Goliath cranes are lifting 45-ton blocks of concrete with the greatest ease. From thence on to the eastern arm, the full length of which has a fine elevated promenade protected on the weather side with a solid granite coping. From the eastern aim you cross over a temporary bridge on to the breakwater, which is about 40 ft. wide and from 60 ft. to 70 ft. deep. Here the divers are working m bells and dresses day and night, rapidly placing in position the huge blocks of concrete, all of which have been made at tne ancient port of Sandwich. The blocks that are exposed to the water are cased with 12 in of granite built into them when moulded. The harbour will be one of the largest in the world and will cost from £12,000,000 to £13,000,000. ****** lalking of architects and those capable assistants who, according to some authorities quoted above, do the work for which inferior men get the credit and the pecuniary reward, what shall we say of the great architects who left their work for the admiration of generations of grateful men, but no hint of their names or their no doubt, most interesting personalities. Take the case of this very Westminster Abbey, which shelters the dust of so many architects of note, none of whom ever did anything to come up to the famous Abbey The architect of that great pile, is not mentioned m any history ; he has been forgotten. We are reminded of the fact by the following fine verses in the Westminster Gazette — Dead men, whose heavy ashes here we hide, Not yours, I think, the ghosts to stir this shade But comes he never that this Abbey made, Whose name we know not, neither how he died ? Princes and kings that gave their gold in pride Lie still enough, nor stir themselves at all , But he that nung these arches up so tail Should sometimes wish to see how they abide. Now, while his pillars all stand sentinel, While for one hour the city thunders sleep, In some still shadow surely he must wait, To fade at dawn contented, foi that still Darkness and silence in their vigil keep This his immortal shrine inviolate ****** The new store which Messrs. Williams & Kettle have found it necessary to erect at Poit Ahurni, to meet the requirements of then large and steadily increasing business, is nov completed It is situated at the corner of Bridge street and Ossian street, with a lofty and imposing facade to Bridge street Though not at present lequired, provision has been made for a second story which can be added at a comparatively trifling cost in the future The store has a depth of 155 ft with a frontage of 135 ft , and is capable of holding for sale purposes nearly 3000 bales of wool It is built on the usual lines, with the exception of the roof, which is known as the saw-tooth roof, and which was introduced into this district some six years ago by Mr C. Tilleard Natusch, whose Napier representative, Mr Rene Natusch, prepared the plans and supervised the erection of the build-

ing 'I he wall of the store next Messrs. Williams and Creagh created considerable curiosity and criticism while in course of erection, as it was erected of reinforced concrete according to plans and specification specially prepaied by Mr. Rene Natusch This is understood to be the first time that reinforced concrete has been used to a large extent in a building in Napier. The contract price was £4200, and the work was earned out by Messrs. Bull Bros, in a good and workmanlike manner to the entire satisfaction of the firm and the aichitect. The dumping plant, which is of the most impioved type, was put in by Messrs. Jas J Niven & Co *** * * * Ihe work of the New Zealand Brick, Tile, and Pottery Company, New Lynn, Auckland, are being laid out with the intention of making them the most up-to-date plant of its kind in the southern hemisphere Many New Zealanders will be surprised to hear of the extent of these works when completed. They stand upon 73 acres of land, and clay has been tested as far down as 150 ft. One machine is capable of turning out 100,000 bricks per day on the plastic system, of any colour that may be required ; but though the machine has this large capacity, it is doubtful if the bricks can be removed in their plastic state as fast as the machine is capable of making them. The plastic system geneially is not supposed to give such a perfectly formed buck as the various press machines, but this particular machine turns out bricks wonderfully true, square, and smooth. After leaving the

machine they are clued by artificial heat in one day, and are then burnt and ready foi market in about two weeks The kiln is of the continuous kind, with a capacity of from 30 to 40 thousand daily ; the draught is specially controlled and arranged in such a way as to be away from the workmen, making it much more pleasant to operate Sanitary ware will be specialised, and very soon glazed bricks and tiles will be made. The larger kinds of pottery, as demi-johns, bread pans, sinks, etc., will be also made here. Fire-clay goods will constitute a fan percentage of the output, as a specially good clay is available. The abattoirs at Otahuhu aie taking the first of the company's output As artificial drying forms a feature in the process of manufacture, a large Hornsby steam boiler of 390 h p , working pressure 160 ft) per sq in., is installed and supplies heat for artificial drying and steam for the engine, which is one of Tangyes' 105 h p The managing director is Mr. Hugo Friedlander of Ashburton Mr. A. Crum kindly showed our representative around, and we hope when these works are in regular running order to supply our readers with some views of them. ****** In lading out work on planed surfaces of steel or lion use blue vitriol and water on the surface This will copper-over the surface nicely, so that all lines will show plainly If on oily surfaces, add a little oil of vitriol ; this will eat the oil off and leave a nicely coppered surface.