NOTES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 4

NOTES.

The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided to take over the old City Council building in Oxford terrace. A caretaker has been appointed. anci his quarters have already been renovated. It is understood that the committee set up to deal irith the matter will bring down a report at the next- meeting of the Chamber on

the matter of painting and redecorating the old building.

The cause of high housing rentals is placed at the door of labour by the National Industrial Conference Board of Xcir York, in a report just issued on the building situation. Pointing out that building costs have increased 100 per cent, in ten years, the Board adds that the average wage-earner is forced to pay tor rent too great a proportion of his family budget unless he is Trilling to occupy accommodation far beneath his Deeds."—American paper.

Building construction, in the State oL" Xeu" York was reported officially last month to be four times larger than, at any period in the State r s history. The value of the programme of projected buildings was estimated at £7.000,000. The outstanding need of The State, however, was -declared to be the expenditure of over £25,000,000 cn new buildings and extensions of existing premises for relieving the overcrowding afc public hospitals and institutions for the feeble-minded.

Mr G. L. Bruco has secured the contract for tiio reinstatement of the Phoenix Insurance building }'n Manchester sueet.

"Work m connexion with the Auckland "War Memorial Museum at the Domain is now on a footing which will enable the contractors to go straight ahead, says the "Star." All excavations for the foundations have been completed, and over 100 tons of granite are now on the site and a start has been made to cub this up. In carrying out the excavations, blasting had to be resorted to as solid strata were met with, apparently on the Kp of the crater. The concrete tower which lias for some time been in use at the Auckland Trotting Club's course, has been removed' to the Domain and reerected, and all the electric cranes to be used, are installed.

Messrs Ellis and Hall have recenty accepted tenders for the following v ork: Mission Efall, North road, for St. Paul's Church, Papanui. (Builder. Mr J. A. Yeitch). House, 'Hereford street. (Builder, Mr J. A. Mander).

Competitive designs of a. cenotaph war memorial ato invited, from architects and engineers, by the Cheviot \Var Memorial Committee.

Messrs England Bros, are inviting lenders for the erection of outbuildings for the Jiank of New Zealand, at llangiora.

Tenders are Virig invited by Mr G. T. Lucas, until noon, December 9th, for additions and alterations to the Canterbury x Automobilw Association's rooms, "Worcester street.

3Tr.G. AV. Haines is inviting tenders until 4 p.m. on Tuesday next, for the erection of a two-storer residence in llarakekc street, Jliccarton.

A total rl 61 building permits lias been issued to date by the CHristchurch City Council for the month of November. Of these, M are for the construction of houses. ,

How often do ivc hear it said that "colour looks different at night 1 '? This ia a truth that should be allowed for in colour for the home, and as the home is used possibly 30 per cent, of its timo under artificial light conditions, it were well to remember how things will look when the sun has passed into the west and night comes on.

There exist two principal ways of destroying buildings, both equally efficient, but one quicker than the other—(a) dynamite, (b) ivy. The first ruction wrought every ;ycar by tho Latter would he astounding could it be put into figures. Once ivy has attained a real grip on a building it will send its roots into every crevice of the wall, sucking the mortar into dry dust; its tendrils will wedge the stones apart, and its branches act as sails to catch the wind. Tho result is inevitable. Sooner or later during a storm tho building collapses and everyone attributes 'tin's to the action of time instead of attaching tho blame to the ivy. But even if ivv" had not these deadly attributes there would be nothing beyond h vag.ie sentimentality". to urge in favour of its existence even on old ruins that possess the slightest architectural value. Ivy has its j>lace and is suitable cnougTi when restricted to ruined walls of no value or interest, or fin dead tree stumps. There is no doubt, knowing what we do about ivy and its dangers, need of a great deal mere circumspection as to its control.