NOTES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17861, 6 September 1923, Page 4

NOTES.

Trade iu the building lino Trill ba exceedingly brisk during tho coming spring and summer. Plans are already in tho course of preparation for a large number of big buildings and extensive additions to presefit buildings. Says tiie Manawatu "Daily Times" : —A typical example illustrates the extremely conservative character of tho average Britisher. For a hundred years the double chimney, serving the kitchen and tho dining-room, has been a feature in almost every house. Last year a - Palmerston North tradesman secured protection for an attachment to any ordinary kitchen range by which the flue was connected to the front room chimney, thus saving the space and* tho cost of the kitchen portion. Already scores of new houses in Palmerston North have been fitted with tho new contrivanco. Everyone using it wondens why it took us a century to adopt the obviously better plan. Tho most serious aspect which is facing the "builder during the present building boom is the lack of tradesmen. The shortage of labour in Christchurch is already seriously handicapping local builders. The stairway hall bespeaks the hospitality of the home. It at once rejwesente the-family to the visitor. It should be simple, and' of ample dimensions, and its furnishings should be j strictly in keeping with tho taste and personality : of its owner. Amongst the tenders which are at present being called are those for the extension of the stewards' stand at the Metropolitan Club's course and tho erection of the Railway Hotel. So far we have not had enough warra weather to attract even the most ad-1 venturous of flies, b\it when he does ■ venture out he will probably find him- | self the victim of an interesting experiment. In various houses he may discover that a'room has been painted blue for lii.s especial benefit—that is, j of course, presuming that the spirit of i enquiry is so strong in our midst ns one hopes it is. lor the suggestion has been put, forward that flies have an unaccountable aversion to blue. Its author, Mr Ihickham, of London, first had his attention drawn to the subject by observing tho immunity from flies of blue-painted cow-sheds ana tho blue-painted interiors of native barracks in Trinidad. He asfc«i a lab'iur superintendent in Trinidad to make further observations, and his report, which Mr Duckliam has just received, states tJiht no flies have been seen in an experimental room since it *waa painted blue, and that mosquitoes were fewer than formerly. Messrs Royds, Bros., and Kirk , are having extensive alterations effected to their premises in Bedford row. They are not having three shops erected in. Manchester street, as was previously stated. The beauty and manifold uses _ oL l tilo are only now finding recognition in modern residential architecture. On the hearth, in the kitchen, m _ the uathroom,. in the vestibule, and in a score of od'il places tile may be introduced with excellent effect and' eminently practical results.

Messrs England Bros, are inviting tenders for the erection of a residence in Papanui road, another at Springfield, and a £urtlier one at Eicearton.

The imposing building now nearing completion in Queen street, Auckland, for Milne and Choyco. Ltd., is a. notable addition'to tho business houses of the northern city, and in the matter of design and magnitude marks a new era in tho progress of Auckland. Some idea of the immensity may be gathered from the quantities of material used. Being of reinforced construction throughout, with concrete slab flooi-s, cement, shingle, and stovl are the principal materials used. In all, 1490 tons of cement and 5600 yards of shingle have gone to the making of the concrete, while 550 tons of steel liave beon used in welding the huge structure together. The timber used, in the making of forms into which the wet mixed concrete was poured totalled €50,000 feet and gallons of water were required in the mixing of tho concrete. The floor space of the completed building is approximately 3J acres, or equivalent to the surface area of a road twenty feet wide and one and a "half miles long.

Stewart and Clarkson, architects, of Blenheim, .tare calling for tenders for the erection of a grain store in reinforced concrete at Bleiihoim, for Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd. Plans and specifications are to b3 seen at the offices of Mr G. Haines, architect, Hereford street.

A now reinforced concrete grain store is in the course of construction in Papanui road for Mr'"John Cocks. The contractor is Mr C. J. Green.

Messrs Ellis and Hall are inviting tenders for the construction of a house in Pendalton.

Tenders are invited for the erection of two brick shops on Stanmore road. Plans and specifications can be seen at Shaw's, 165 Casliel street.

Since September Ist there have been ten building permits issued by the Cinistchurch City Coiuicil.

SHORTAGE OF CARPENTERS IN

SOUTHLAND,

(special to "the rsisa.'') I2\ YJEIJCAKGXLL, September 5. There is unusual activity in the building trade in Southland at the present time, and builders are finding it extremely difficult to secure carpenters Mr Provan, secretary of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Union, stated yesterday that he could place at least 35 carpenters on works in various parts of the province. It was the intention of a number of local carpenters to go to Dunedin to assist in the erection of the Exhibition buildings, and this should make the shortage still more acute.