FROM THE BENCH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18525, 29 October 1925, Page 4

FROM THE BENCH.

GREAT BUILDERS. (By "Arcliistruct.") Not from tho judicial bench alone, but also from the joiner's bench, have arisen some of tho greatest men, thus proving that where the mechanic rightly and perseveringly applies his talents he may rise not only to influence but to affluence. Carpenters have been specially prominent in this respect, and at least two bricklayers may lay claim to like prominence. Inigo Jones, the celebrated architect, born on July loth, 1573, in the parish of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield, London, commenced life as a carpenter. It is said that he used to make a practice of carrying his tools to different parts of the country, thereby enabling him to work on the best churches then being erected. He was eventually [ patronised by the nobility and crowned heads, not only of England, but of other countries. liraham, tho celebrated engineer, who conferred so groat a boon upon his country and tho world by the invention of the hydraulic press, was apprenticed as *a carpenter. Dr." Jolin Hunter. Br. John Ilunter, who by common consent of all his successors, has been regarded as the greatest man who ever practised surgery; who left behind him one of the greatest monuments of skill of which Britain can boast —the Ilunterian Museum —was the son of a Scottish farmer, and worked in, Glasgow as a carpenter. Though rough in his manners, and very deficient in his education, ho rose by his indomitablo perseverance to the highest pinnaclo of fame. Another carpenter of fame was John Harrison, born at Foulby, near Pontcfract. Ho was the inventor of the compound pendulum and the timekeeper for ascertaining the longitude. For this invaluable invention he received £20,000 from tho Government. George Harvey, Fellow of the Royal Society, was a carpenter. Sir John Hawkins, an eminent London Magistrate, whose remains are interred in Westminster Abbey, was once a carpenter. Tredgold, one of the ablest engineers of whom England can boast, the author of the popular work on tho steam-engine, worked as a journeyman carpenter in Scotland. His' biographer says: "During his leisure hours he diligently studied chemistry, geology, and mathematics, which was the secret, of his extraordinary success in after life."

Famous Bricklayers. Of bricklayers who have risen to heights of fame perhaps the most noteworthy is Ben Jonson. On the poet's tombstone in Westminster Abbey an admirer briefly inscribed: "O, faro Ben Jonson." He worked as a bricklayer in early life. He was a stern man with worn features, darkened by prison cell, and hardened by battlefields, as he had served in Flanders as a common soldier. Shakespeare was his bosom friend. Sir William Staines, Lord Mayor of London, .1800, began life" as a bricklayer, and by persevering steadily iir the pursuit of one object, accumulated a large fortune. He was an illiterate man, and was a butt amongst his fellows. At one of the Old Bailey dinnors, after a sumptuous repast of turtle and venison, Sir William was' eating a great quantity of butter with his cheese. "Why, brother," said one, "you lay it on with a trowel."

A son of Sir William Staines, who worked at Ms father's business as a builder, fell from a high ladder, :iud was killed. When the father, on being brought to the spot, broke through the crowd, he exclaimed: "Seo that the poor fellow's watch is safe."

CONCRETE BUILDING. NEW ZEALAND PATENT (rBOH OUR OWK COEEBSfOMJ^fT.) LONDON, September go; A New Zealand patent which promises to solve to some extent the building problem is the simple contrivance invented by Mr Edward Holmes, and developed by the inventor and Mr Albert J. Cooper, whoso firm is established in; Timaru. Mr Cooper has been iu the United States for some months, and has succeeded in interesting influential firms in tho patent. The "Box-on" concrete constructional patent forms, as is probably known by many people in • New Zealand, arc intended to do away .with the great amount of timber which it has hitherto been necessary to use iu constructing a monolith concrete building. The device consists of two boards edge on to one another and connected together by hinge rods attached to the centro line of each board. It is necessary, to get the base course of the building perfectly true and then -the device is- applied, one on either side of tho course. The two aro linked together with a tie rod, and they thus form a box in which the concrete is placed. Immediately the concrete is dry the lower boards may bo lifted above the upper ones, and tho mould is ready for tho next courso of concrete.

Boxing Timber Saved. In tho erection of a building iu the States tho Gordon Gallagher Sand and Gravel Corporation made use of tho device. The building was 24ft high, and there was 57oft of wall length. The Corporation found that they needed only 2600 ft of timber as compared with 40,u00ft which would have been needed had they employed tho old system. Tho United States Gypsum Company havo also availed themselves of the "Box-on" device, and are erecting some 200 buildings in Philadelphia with its "aid. General Gothals, a famous engineer connected with tho Panama Canal works, also displayed great interest in tho new process.

Mr Cooper has been instrumental iu forming a company in tho United States to exploit the and some very influential and wealthy business meu have cores into it. Ho is now in England interesting engineers in the matter. If he can find sufficient enthusiasm he will" form another company in England,. but if it is not taken -up readtfy he will leave tho American company to interest English buyers in the device.

'Tis great fun' watching ''NOEUBBING LAUNDRY HELP" cjeutiui: dirt from soiled linen. ■—ll