NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 207, 30 May 1938, Page 5

NEW PUBLIC LIBRARY

Pumping Harbour Seepage A strong stream of clear water still I gushes from tile site of the new AVelj lingtou public library Io overflow the | channels on the northern side on Aleri cer Street. This waler comes from the I harbour, having seeped through the intervening urea of reclaimed land under the pressure of the tide. At present it has to he kept down, ns some of the gangs are still working on foundations. This can be done by I lie two electricnlly-controlled pumps now in commission. One draws 80.000 gallons an hour, and the other about half that quantity: lint it is only the water from tiie lesser pump that is allowed to find its way into (lie street sumps. ‘ At present walls and cellar floor are ■ receiving attention. The cellar floor will be about two feet above the level of any water which may seep through the ground. There were occasions, it is said, when spring high tides have reached the level the cellar will be, but. these were not likely to cause any trouble, as it took some time for the top of such tides to seep through, and then it might be only for an hour or two. In any case, the cellar, with stout concrete walls and floor, will be lined with asphalt, so that there was no reason to believe that it would be otherwise than dry. At present the whole of the work is given over to the fabrication of reinforcing steel and boxing for the cellar floor, and from the outlay of the foundations the shape and ground lay-out of the building can lie understood. The cellar floor poxing for the middle section of the building, on the Harris Street side, is practically complete, and it is anticipated that all will be'ready for the pour on Tuesday next. AA’lien that is completed the cellar levels of the other .sections will be attended to in turn. This floor is 3ft. below the level of the ground. In order that ample natural light will be available for the cellar, there will bo a sunken footpath the whole way round the building, at the bottom of a turfed bunk, thus practically making the new library a three, instead of a two, story building. As the structure is wh.olly of rein- I forced concrete the boxing work will be continuous. To cope witli tiie demand for timber lengths of all kinds, a commodious workshop has been erected on the north-east corner of the grounds.