ST. PAUL'S.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18303, 10 February 1925, Page 8

ST. PAUL'S.

+ NO NEED FOR PANIC.

CANON ALEXANDER'S ASSURANCE.

(BY CABLK—raESS ASSOCIATION"—Cv . 5 .1.C.11T > (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received February 9th. 7.4-3 p.m.)

LONDON. February !).

Canon Alexander, preaching at >t. Paul's, deprecated sensational statements. Ho said that the people were now aroused to a sense that all was not well with St. Paul's. This was right, but there was no need tor panic. A great deal had been done to strengthen the structure during the last twelve years"Our present advisers, - ' continued Canon Alexander, '"who know the facts tell us that tho building will soon become dangerous if adequate remedies aro not applied, but at present there is perfect safety, and all tliat human skill and science cjui suggest is being done to keep tho Golden Cross uplifted over the city."

SAFETY OF THE DOME.

THE WORK ENTAILED. (BT CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT) (AUSTBALIAN* AND -V.2. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, February 8. Mr John Todd, tho City Corporation's surveyor, who Is responsible tor tho declaration that St. Paul s Cathedral is a dangerous building, interviewed, said that eminent men, who from time to time reported on the building, had placed all their information at his disposal. After long and anxious thought, all lio did was to conclude that ho must act under the dangerousstructuro clauses of the London Building Act. Discussing the construction of the Cathedral, he said that Sir Christopher Wren was u mathematician, astronomer, and physicist, but was not. a builder. When ho started building St. Paul's, Wren, though he followed the traditional methods of building a cathedral, realised and guarded against the danger in the design. This was an oblique wall which, without the necessary support, would have rested on the edgo of the piers instead of the piers taking the weight evenly. Wren designed and built properly, but probably owing to tho constant financial embarrassments} built the piers of inferior material, from which tho whole of the present evil resulted. It was impossible to-day to take down and rebuild the dome, but they could literally hold , the dome in its present position and mako the piers good 4 then lower the dome bodily .one three-thous-andth part of an inch. Tho dome would then take a now seating on the piers, resulting in the stressing returning to the original position. This would ensure St. haul's ehduring 1000 years. Mr J. R. Pakeman, chairman of the special committee of the corporation of the City of London, which is dealing with the question of St. Paul's, declares that Mr Todd's statement was made without the knowledge of tho committee, and it must not be taken that the committee approves of his views.

[Mr John Todd previously outlined a scheme to save St. Paul's, which lie j said would cost £2,000,000 and twelve years to carry out. Ho would j hold tho dome in its present pOMtion with tempo nary supnort-s and take down and rebuild tho present rotten piers, which, owing to_ inferior filling, carried thrice tha weight that solid Portland stono should. Ml* Todd said that he would irt&lce a great joutld base of concrete 61 feet thick tinder the | Cathedfal.] j THE RESTORATION FUND. LONDON, Fcbmry 8. i The fund for the restoration of St Paul's Cathedral has now reached £227,857. "THE PRESS" FUND. As wo announced a few days ago, we have opened our columns to the publication of particulars of such contributions as may be Bent by readers' of "The Press" in aid of tho fund fot the carrying out of tho work necessary to secure the safety of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. This venerable and historic building, one of the glories of London, and a precious possession of tho Empire, is in serious danger, and repairs are urgently necessary. Our readers are invited to assist in this good work. We have received the following'for the fund:—

£ s. a. Dr A. F. J. and Mrs Miekle 1 1 0 H.A.O. m 0 3 0 H. H. Pitman a o 0 Cliristchurch British Israel Association. 2 15 0 Mr and Mrs Hastings Bridge 2 0 E.H. 0 0 10 0 Miss E. Menzies 1 0 0 Londoner „ _ 1 1 0 Tao M 5 0 0 G.H. ,. m 10 10 0 G. "\V. Bagrie, Auckland , • *i 1 1 0 W. Bower 1 0 0 E. A. and M. Bower 1 0 0 John Montgomery 5 0 0 F. G. King 1 1 0 Peter Trolove ;. 0 o u G J. G. 0. Judd, Darfield 1 0 0 Captain alid Miss Lawrel] 2 ;» 0 D.G.B. 0 10 0 Miss E. M. Orb ell .. 1 0 0 "Dnmnouia" 0 2 0 E.E.H. 0 10 0 Mr and Mrs Charles Bean 5 0 0 C. D. Humphreys .. 2 o 0 Edward Speedily, Tim&ru • o 0 0 Total to date .. £49 15 c