CRUMBLED MARBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 149, 25 June 1932, Page 8

CRUMBLED MARBLE.

IN HALL OF MEMORIES,

TROUBLE DUE TO DAMPNESS,

SUCCESSFUL REMEDIAL WORK.

Some months ago the council of the Auckland War Memorial Museum received a report that the slabs of black ma.ble which surround the shrino in the Hall of Memories were showing signs of deterioration.

Prompt measures were taken to investigate the cause of the trouble and to arrest its progress, and now it is learned that the deterioration is much less serious than was at lirst feared. Mr. A. G. Luiin, president of the council, said today that the remedial process which has been adopted has fulfilled every expectation, and that there is no likelihood of decay. The deterioration, when first observed, was seen to be a flaking and crumbling of tlie marble at different places near the edge of the slabs, and fear was expressed by some members of the council lest this should portend a process of disintegration. Several theories were advanced, one of the most interesting being that the change of climate —between the northern and southern hemispheres, in fact—had been sufficient to cause an alteration in the structuie and composition of the stone; in other words, a natural metamorphosis. The marble is of the variety known as Blue Belgian, and is of the finest quality obtainable, but it was thought that the change in atmospheric conditions, after a voyage of over 12.000 miles, might have made some essential difference.

The explanation given by Mr. Lunn disposes of this theory, and explains the trouble very simply. Apparently the core of the shrine, which is built of concrete, had remained slightly damp, and th 5.5 all'ected the under side of the marble slabs. A slight swelling in the substance of the stone resulted, and this caused flaking on the surface. Skilled technical advice was obtained, and it was decided to remedy the trouble by the simplest possible means, namely, by allowing the marble to dry. Small holes were bored in the slabs near places where the flaking was noticed, allowing the air to penetrate. The surface of the marble was restored by a simple process, and the shrine now shows 110 sign of deterioration.

Even more satisfactory is the fact tlmt the cause of the trouble has evidently been removed. The council, said Mr. Lunn, is keeping a strict watch on the work, and prompt measures will be taken if there should he any recurrence of the flaking.