NOTES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17855, 30 August 1923, Page 4

NOTES.

Since Monday, August 20th, no fewer thitii 29 building permits have been issued by the Christchurcli City Council. The majority of these permits arc for the construction of houses. Four shops are being constructed in Manchester street by C. P. Nieholls and Co., for Kovds Bros, and Kirk. So far the present month has been the busiest for some considerable time past, as far as building in the city is concerned. The issue of building permits by the City Council is said to constitute a record. Messrs Watson and Home arc building a large workshop for Morlaud and Stocker in Queen street. The saine firm are also making extensive additions to Hampton Brothers' storo. Twelvo building permits have been issued in the inner area during the present month. Fairbairn, Wright. and. Co. aro having extensive alterations carried out to their premises in Bedford Row. Tenders will close at Messrs S. and A Luttvell's office on September 10th for the building of the Railway Hotel and shops in Manchester street for Messrs Ward and Co. Messrs England Bros, are calling tenders for the erection of a residence in Papanui road, and a house at Springfield. ,

BLACK PINE. One of the most useful of New Zealand grown timbers is. black pine or matai. This timber is extensively used for lower plates, sleepers, and other work where lasting qualities and stability are required. For joinery work, window-sills, doors, steps, etc., it has proved its usefulness for many years past, and it also provides excellent flooring for dance halls, etc. The.timber, like totara, is very hard to ob tain in a sufficiently dry state to ensure the best results being realised and here again, this state of affairs exceedingly regrettable, because tnis particular class of timber lias excellent lasting qualities, provided, °f course, only heart timber is used. The most exacting tests have been applied, and it has proved entirely satisfactory, Besides it is a perfect borer resistor. The last statement applies only to heart timber, because the sap is said to bo a • better subject to the borer than even white pine.

the skyscraper evil. NEW YORK'S LESSON. ''When wo built the skyscrapers in New York we mad© a mistake. We forgot that the height of the buildings would darken and dwarf the streets. The tapered building is the remedy, j This statement was made in London by Mr Arnold W. Brunner, America's foremost architect, who designed the famous Foreign Office at Washington. "I have advocated a new form of skyscraper," continued Mr Brunner. "When it reaches a certain height it tapers off in such a way that each extra storey is a little smaller than the one below. Thus a more beautiful building is produced, and the sun is able to reach the street below. Uarflens con be laid out round each storey. "We also forgot when we built the New York skyscrapers that if we doubled the height of the buildings on either side of an important thoroughfare we should increase the traffic in tho street by four times. That is, four times as many people would be going in and coming out of each building, and four times as many motor-cars would be drawing up at the entrances. "The streets are not large enough to accommodate this, and we are therefore trying to keep down the height of our buildings. . , "I hope London will never import the skyscraper. London owes most of its charm to its low buildings and quiet comers. It would be a crime to destroy them. Imagine St. Paul s Cathedral surrounded by skyscrapers. The wonderful dome would appear to be buried. 1 '