GENERAL POST OFFICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 760, 8 March 1910, Page 5

GENERAL POST OFFICE.

HITCH IN THE BUILDING . OPERATIONS. " ' j»OBSON'S STONE NOT AVAILABLE. - There has been an unfortunate hitch in regard to certain of the-materials specified to be used in the erection of the new General: Post Offioe-in Featherston Street. The specifications provide that the building' s"hiill, bo erected id Tonga Bay stone on a basement of.'Dobson's stone. (Greymouth), which, in turn, was to rest upon the substantial concrete foundations laid by the Public Works Deportment. The 'specification:of Dobson's stone—a closegrained blue stone—was a concession to the West Coast, good reports having been heard of the stone, and tho test being satisfactory.' It, now appears that the quantity of large blocks of stone is not availablo at the moment. -The position of . the contractors, : Messrs. J. and A. Wilson, is stated to be that thoy are ready to proceed with the erection of the base, bat unless, the Minister, formally varies the specifications,, enabling them to put in Tonga Bay or 6ome other stone, the) cannot go on. • There are at present 50 men engaged on the oontract, of whom 21 are masons The rest are bricklayers, carpenters, steel workers, arid labourers. There is a consignment of steel girders on the Eimutaka (due here to-day) for the Post Office, As soon as the contractors are in a position to push ahead, tlio number of hands employed will l>e greatly increased;