LAND AND BUILDINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14819, 24 October 1911, Page 9

LAND AND BUILDINGS.

NEW DOMINION LAUNDRY.

AN UP-TO-DATE CONCERN.

Owing to some delays at the outset the erection of the Dominion Laundry in Hobson street in contract time meant hard, steady work for the contractors, but now it-is certain that the building will be ready for business in three weeks' time. The contract was commenced in earnest about four, months ago, and now the building, two storeys high and brick-built, with an 55ft chimney standing at the rear, has in impressive appearance from the street ront. Inside it is large and roomy, well lighted and well ventilated. The* whole Joor space measures 110 ft by 50ft, the foundations are in concrete, and the front is faced with cement plaster. On the ground floor there are four offices, the wash-house, sorting place, and boilerroom, and while upstairs the packingrooms facethe street, the central space is reserved for ironing, and machinery is to be fitted in at. the back.' Like many other Auckland concerns, the Dominion Laundry Company's place of business will be the most up-to-date of its kind in New Zealand. The most improved machinery obtainable will be in use, including the. latest model of a steam-heated mangle, known as the innihilator flat-work irouer, which not inly mangles the clothes but also drys .hem, through heat and not through pres:urc. Then there will be a patent vringer, working with centrifugal force, md rotary washing machines shaped like :huri;s. with brass cylinders, which steam, wash, blue and sterilise the clothes in one process. The directors expect that the laundry will do a £200-a-week business. and so far the prospects for the success of the venture are extremely promising. The xmiractors are Messrs.Grcvatt and Son.

STATE-MADE BRICKS. COST DISPUTED. Considerable interest has been aroused in building circles in Australia over the announcement made by the Minister for Public Works in New* South Wales that at the State brickworks in Sydney he will shortly be able to supply bricks at 20s per 1000. This quotation "being very much lower than the existing rates, the question as to whether bricks can be produced at such a price and made to pay has naturally been disputed by the Sydney brickmakers, and one of their number has now come forward with the assertion that bricks in Sydney cannot be produced at the kiln for less than 29s 6d per 1000. which is nearly a 50 per cent, advance on the Minister's •estimate.

In support of his contention the Sydney brickmaker points out that to equip the plant necessary to produce the large output promised of 500,000 bricks per week an expenditure of fully £45,000 must be entailed. The interest and sinking fund upon this cannot be reckoned at less than 30 per cent, per annum, or, say, £4500 per annum. He claims therefore that in paying the full union rates, and after allowing for loss and broken time, the Government will be very fortunate in its venture-if it can produce the bricks at even 29s 6d per 1000 at the kiln. "This venture." he adds, "will be watched very closely, and it is, very gratifying to follow the Minister's recent speech in Parliament "to the effect that he was determined" that a true record of all income' and outgo should be kept and audited regularly.' If so, the privatelyconducted yards need not have the .•-lightest anxiety as to their future the cost to the consumer will practically remain unaltered."

A NEW CHURCH.

BUILDING AT HAMILTON.

The ' foundation-stone of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Hamilton, -will be. laid on Sunday next by Bishop Cleary. The - new church will be 141 ft by 80ft at the widest ;' portion, and provision has been made for seating 700 persons. The style" of the structure "will be -unique and . classical, with a bold front and four large lonic columns ; at the - -entrance, - ■ -surnpunted ,by a gilded cross, Cement will ' .'" be used to finish the' interior, with the exception of a dado round, the nave, -._ which will be tiled for about 7ft. The rhoir lobby and gallery, confessional and baptistry will be situated on . the left-hand K > side of the church, and two chapels will be placed on the right side, ' while the nuns* chapel and sacristies will be at the back. The arch leading from the nave to the'sanctuary will be elliptical, having two large fluted columns on either side, and. three, circular- stained-glass - windows. * . The depth of the nave will be about 90ft by 43ft. The architect is Mr. Mahoney, ■• of Auckland, and the work of construct- * ing the building by day labour is under . the supervision of Mr. Leahey.

NEW. ZEALAND TIMBERS.

USE OF WHITE PINE.

• White pine timber used in the construction of- the Supreme Court at Christchurch fifty years "ago has been found on examination'; to be still in a good state of preservation. ; The soundness of the timbers has caused some surprise among •builders, and the need "is again strongly suggested for the scientific investigation of ' the whole timber question. White pine, because of - the attacks it suffers from' the .borer, is banned by architects, but the fact is recalled that it was used . rerv extensively in the early days of ! ettlement, and old settlers state that it ; lasted".very well. The Lyttelton Times, in commenting on the' question, remarks . that there - are buildings of white p:ne timber on the Peninsula that have withstood the attacks of fifty or 60 years -and;still are in habitable condition. We do not need to put this wood into our .. .houses to-dav, since the demand for the . ourposes of the butter-box trade will soon be able to absorb the available supply, but an ' explanation of its peculiarities would be interesting. In the old days, however, it would seem as if the quality ol the method of treatment of the much criticised timber was superior. In the Provincial Council Chambers, when alterations were carried out recently, white pine was found to bo perfectly sound, and this experience has been repeated on the Supreme Court buildings. On the other hand two or three white pine panels that were put into the main corridor of the building some time ago are now absolutely riddled and will have to be- removed."

MAIN TRUNK PROGRESS.

BUILDING AT TAUMARANUT.

The boom in the building trade that set in along the Main Trunk line a tew years ago-shows no signs of ■ slackening During the present year many buildings have ' gone up. and the state of business fully warrants the new extensions. A contract was let last week to Mr. J. Ellingham for the erection of a two-storey general store ■ for Mr. J. Schischka, of Auckland, in Taumaranui, and on the, completion of the ' building in four months' time it ..will be the biggest in the town. The store win be built in concrete, and the front portion ■ will "be let for use as shops -J. He cost, will be between £4000 ana £5000.

i* • IMPORTANT LAND SALE. '; ■ NEWSTEAD . ESTATE SECTIONS. An important sale of land = took place> at Hamilton on Thursday last, when Messrs. ■: Samuel Tdle and Sons, in conjunction.

with Dalgety and Company, offered by auction, sections in the recently-sub-divided Potato. Six allotments were sold by auction for a total price of over £21,000. The homestead block, a very pretty, piece of property, and comprising some of the best land'in the Waikato, with fine plantations of English trees, sold for £27 10s per acre. It contains 255 ocies. It was on this place that Mr. Reynolds practically started the dairying industry in the Waikato manv years ago. and it was the site of the first creamery in the Waikato. Although the day was rainy, there was a large attend! ance of buyers, showing a good demand for land.

TENDERS INVITED.

LAST WEEK'S LIST.

lenders for th? erection of buildings have, been invited as follows durimr the last week:—

By the Public Works Department : For steel and iron work for bridges on the Wanna section of the Kaihu Valley railway.

By Mr. P. W. Croker (architect): For two houses in wood. Morrow-street, Newmarket.

By Mr. D. B. Patterson (architect): For a house in Remuera.

l>v Mr. W. Pinches (architect): For a villa in King George's Avenue, Epsom. By Mr. G. E. Jones (architect) : For house and outbuilding in Oamaru stone, Mount Eden.

By Mr. A. H. White (architect): IVr a bungalow in Lorn wall Road, Three Kings.

By Mr. 11. IT. Schofield : For cottage at Milford Beach.

By Mr. J. Currio (architect) For a residence at Kihikihi, Waikato. By Mr. J. W. Wrigley (architect): For residence in wood, Rotorua.

Tenders have also been invited by the Auckland Harbour Board for a clock in the tower on the new ferry building; by the New Zealand Brick. 'Tile and Pottery Company for the formation of roads at New Lynn ; by the Newmarket Borough Council for mineral asphalte and woodblock pavement, Manukau Road, and by the T. W. May (architect.) for installation of electric light and plant in Messrs. Rawlinscn and lfwerson's new warehouse at the corner of Durham and Federal Streets.