ART GALLERY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 18 November 1930, Page 10

ART GALLERY.

USE OF GAMARU STONE, j i i IMPORTANCE OF CAREFUL SELECTION. '•Provided it is well-selected and laid on its natural bed, Oamaru stone should give satisfaction, at its price, for the exterior walls of the Art Gallery," said a building foreman with an expert knowledge of constructional stone, when asked by a reporter yesterday for his opinion of the decision, to erect the building in the material mentioned. "It should be built as it is quarried, for if the blocks are so placed that the natural grain runs vertically instead of in a horizontal direction or rice versa, shaling off will be promoted ,and the life oi' the Gallery Trill be shortened. "Buildings constructed in Christchurch of Oamaru stone nearly 70 years ago are still in a good state of repair, while others of the same material are not standing the ravages of time very well. One can Recount for this difference only by expertness in selection in the case of the former, and failure in that of the letter, coupled perhaps with faulty placing also "in the buildings which have begun to deteriorate, the combination of those two factors promoting favourable conditions for chemical action. • "Sometimes Oamaru stone becomes damp and goes green, and it is sufficiently porous; to make a backing of coni erete essential in the ease of walls facing the south-west and away from the sun. I expect this is contemplated with the front of the Art Gallery." A preparation for use on the exterior of Oamaru stone vralls, which did not affect the colour, b>it prevented penetration of moisture, was now available. He was of opinion that the committee would have made a better choice if it had decided in favour of a New Zealand hard stone. Timaru stone would be ideal, and would never let moisture through. It was being used in Christchurch to a considerable extent for base work, for which it was very satisfactory. Timaru stone was not so cheap as the Oamaru product, but, he thought, would cost considerably less than Portland stone, which it was first proposed to use. In a building its appearance was striking, and it had a very long life. About a dozen men were at work yesterday on the excavations for the concrete foundations of the Art Gallery. The soil on the site is sandy and easy to work, with a good clay bottom. Already the trenches for the wall footings are practically completed, and the excavation for the basement has reached a depth of five feet in places, lioots of trees have given some trouble, but most of them have now been removed. While engaged in digging yesterday, one of tho workmen discovered a live .303 cartridge.