NEW HEATING SYSTEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 8

NEW HEATING SYSTEM.

LIBRARY AND ART GALLERY. t FUEL PLANT INSTALLED. WORK ALMOST COMPLETED. Entertaining though the pictures in the Art Gallery are to Aucklanders with an aesthetic taste, the interior of the building is rather cheerless in the crisp weather of late autumn, and the beauty of paint and crayon are apt to be unappreciated. Much thought has therefore be given to the question of heating, by the library authorities, with a view to making the conditions more attractive, and also to protect the canvasses from extremes of teniperatxire. Recognising that an art gallery should never be colder than 65 to 08 degrees Fahrenheit, the Library Couimittee of the City Council has installed a heating system, which will shortly be in use. It may be mentioned that the temperature has sometimes been as low as 50 degrees, which is regarded as injurious to the pictures, besides being rather uncomfortable for visitors.

When the new gallefy was built in 1916, provision was made for heating it by electric power, but owing to the size of the room, the results were not good. In the older part of the gallery there was no heating system at all. After investigations it was decided to install a hot-water system, and Messrs. Jenkins and Mack, heating engineers, of Wellington, were entrusted with the work. The installation is now complete, except for a burner. The central feature is a boiler, in the basement, with provision for oil-fuel heating. Eighty radiators have been placed throughout the Art Gallery and the first floor of the library, the cost of the plant and fitting-up being : £2460. The burner is the essential part of the system, and, unfortunately, has not arrived. Should the delay prove unduly long, it is probable that a temporary fuel might be used until tne plant, is complete. As far as the library is concerned, the new heating system will supersede tne electric form of heating which was lormerly.in use, and, in the Art Gallery, it will provide heating where practicauy none existed before.