STATE BUILDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 203, 29 August 1939, Page 11

STATE BUILDING.

WORK THIS WEEK.

FINISH IN 15 MONTHS. RUST TO BE REMOVED. Eiplit months after the completion of tlie steel framework, work is tu be recommenced on the new Government building of eight storeys in Jean Batten Place. Within a few flays the peace tlint has prevailed in this vicinity will be shattered by the crash of hammers as the contractors, the Williamson Construction Company, of Christchurcli, begin the 15 months' task of clothing the gaunt, rusted girders with concrete and masonry.

The contract price is in the vicinity of £150,000, and this will include a substantial amount for the removal of the thick coat of rust that has formed on the steel since it was welded Into position last year. It will be a tedious job for a small army of labourers, for every speck of rust must be scraped off with wire brushes before the girders can be surrounded with auxiliary steelwork and concrete. This applies not only to the outsider of the girders, but also to the 'inner sections, which are badly pitted.

Although the number of workmen will be increased considerably as the work progresses, for a start there will be only carpenters employed, these being occupied in preparing the boxing for the concrete vork. It was learned to-day that "pro-mixed" concrete, which is delivered to the job from an outside mixing depot, will not be used on this building on account of its cost. The linn will use its own huge concrete mixers for the many hundreds of tons of concrete that will be required.

The building is to be faced with masonry, and it is intended by the contractors to sublet this work. The specifications allow a choice to be made between Putaruru stone and Whangarei marble, but a decision has not yet been made which material will be used. This will no doubt lest in the hands of the sub-contractor. Orders for Steel. Orders have been placed for the hundreds of tons of steel that will be required to strengthen the concrete in the piers and flooring and this is being fabricated in Australia at the present time. Delivery will commence next month, and it is not expected that there will be any delay caused to the constructional work. The original tender for the preliminary work was £52,804, which covered the excavation of the foundation and basement and the erection of the steel framework. The successful tenderers were the Fletcher Construction Company, and they sub-let the steel work to William Cable and Company, of Wellington. Williamson and Company's tender, for which a time limit of lii months lias been fixed, is for the entire completion of the work.

The building, when finished, will be an imposing addition to / Auckland's architecture. Kiglit storeys high, there will be a post office on the floor, with an entrance from Jean Batten Place. In the plans provision is made for ample counter and desk accommodation and circulating rooms for the public. There is also commodious accommodation for the staff. The Shortland Street and Fort Street ends of the ground floor will be used for other Departmental purposes, as also will the upper floors. On the roof will be a large flat area. Adequate provision is made for lifts and generally the plans give the impression of utility as the outstanding feature.

Mr. W. Williamson, the head of the contracting Arm, is a well-known builder who has done much important contracting work in many parts of the Dominion, fie has carried out many bridge contracts for the Government, beside buildings. He is at present engaged in completing large extensions to the works of the Westfield Freezing Company, Limited, at Westfield. Auckland buildings for which he was the contractor include the Embassy. Theatre.