NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18151, 14 August 1924, Page 4

NOTES.

Good progress is wing wad I .* by the contractor ior tho extensions to Dalnety ami Co.'s wool and grain store,, and already tho walls of the new building arc taking shape. "When completed tho new building should alter considerably the appearance of tho neighbourhood in the vicinity of the Cuiombo street railway crossing.

The Grand National Week feeling has extended itself to the plasterers, tho bricklayers, the painters, and, in fact, practically every branch of the building trade/ with tho result there seems to be' little activity on

works in hand at the present, time. However, with the remarkably line winter, when conditions wero exceptionally favourable for building, a slight slackening of activity during the present week will have little eil'ect, and both employers . and .employees seem to bo thoroughly enjoying their relaxation.

The- housing problem in Vienna, which is quite as acute as it is in Great Britain, has been solved—or, rather, is in a fair way to solution. The project is a bold Socialistic experiment which might not bo at all acceptable in Great Britain or her Dominions. The municipality has imposed a building tax which is levied upon everyone in possession of a house or flat, and is devoted to building more small houses and flats. The plan has the merit of simplicity. Whether it is working smoothly we are unable to eay.

• ; A total of 50 building permits has been issued to date for the month of August by tho Christchurch City Council. Of the&& no fewer than 29 ftre for the erection of houses, several more being for additions and alterations to dwellings.

Plans for the new homo for the old people at Greymouth, providing for a building costing £11,200, have been received from the Health Department and approved hy the Greymouth Hospital Board. Tenders will be called, and the work pub in hand 1 at an early date.

' Some slight alterations and repairs am being effected to the old' Governrnont Buildings at tho corner of Armagh Street and Oxford terrace. Mr H. C. Smith, of the City Market, 550 Colombo street, is calling for the erection of office accommodation in the store of his premisesi Messrs Ellis and Hall are inviting tenders for the erection of a twostorey house in Motivate lane. Tenders will.close at ■£ p.m. on August 19th. Mr RoV Lovell-Smith is inviting tenders, until 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 23rd, for tho erection of a new vicarage for JSPfc. Chad's parish. Messrs Hart and Reese are- calling for tenders for the erection of chambers in Worcester street. Tenders will close on Friday, September 19th, at i p.m. Tho samo firm of architects is also calling for tenders for the erection of a brick residence in Eapalri road, St. Martina.

Timbar building is quite common in i America. Yet as long ago as 16-S5 j Uobsrt Turner, an Irish Quaker, was J writing to the groat William Penn ■ advocating brick in preference to timber for house-building. His quaint letter is quoted by the. ''Detroit FreePress." "And since I built my brick house,'' soys Turner, "the foundation of which was laid at thy going, which I did design, after a good manner to encourage others, and that from building with wixid, it l>eing the first, many I irike example, and some that built ! wooden bouses are sorry for it. Brick i building, is said to. bo as cheap. Bricks are exceedingly good, and "better than , when I built." More makers fallen i in, and bricks are cheaper. They were before His. English y>er 1000, and now many brave brick houses aro going up, with good cellars. "

Tenders for the lease for 21 years cf the City Council Chambers will be received until to-morrow.

The demand for spet-d in the cuii-Kliruut-Loii of post-war towellings has been answered by American inventive talent and industrial enterprise in the form of the fabricated wooden houses. A European visiting the United States for the first time is greatly surprised, to note the prevalence of wooden dwellings, but the fact remains that wooden dwellings have certain advantages in their favour. They can be readily erected; they are dry. well insulated against tho cold of winter or the beat of summer; they are highly attractive, because' of the extreme workability of wood as compared with masonry construction, as well as the colourful possibilities of paint; and they aro reasonably permanent- if properly painted or otherwise protected against tho elements and dry rot. Our European is still further surprised when he learns that Americans now buy their houses from n catalogue description, in very much the same manner as they would /buy an automobile, a set of dishes, or a pair of boots.