THE STONES CHOSEN.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 9

THE STONES CHOSEN.

Of the several stones which were recommended to the board the two which wero first approved were from quarries near Putaruru, both volcanic in origin, vitreous tuffs, one a pinkish grey and a very attractive stone, the other a creamy white, also attractive, particularly when dressed to a surf ace "closely TCsembling a building tile surface. These stones were | placed "on test" in the old Corporation garage yard, next

the Town Hall, but it did not appear to an interested layman that such tests as were given could be regarded as satis- • factory. One test slab, using both stones, was cemented to a wall under tho old garage lean-to roof, excellently protected from the very weather .which was to givo the short period of test ; from time to tima the slab was doused'with water, in lieu of rain. Thus cared for, the stones behaved well indeed. Tho other test slab,_ of the creamy stono only, was cemented at tho foot of a brick wall facing north, just above ground - level, exposed to rain, washings from tho wall, and any amount of dust thrown up by wind and cars. This slab did not behave well; it became and remained saturated, discoloured with dirt from the yard, and in tho wet months developed a most unpleasant skin of greon vegetable growth on its lower'part. Both stones, of course, went through the full laboratory tests, acid, pressure, and other tests, and wore highly reported upon. The creamy stone went into disfavour and in its place tho whiter volcanic stone has been decided upon. In each case, of course, laboratory ■ tests have been carried out, and tho results are

considered very promising. ; It is' an unfortunate fact that quite a number of very promising stones used in the past have not given effect to . their .promises in fact, and there is perhaps just too much justification for the aoubts -which "X" has heard expressed in various quarters of the new stones to be used in'the heavy facings of the memorial campanile, a structure which, by its very nature, must be as ■ lasting as man can build it. A city building, a post office, a Customs building may—and'will—in time be accounted- out of date, and turned over to tho demolition gang, but surely not a memorial carillon. STONES WHICH DISAPPOINTED. No doubt when tho Government decided upon the stones used in the construction of tho G.P.O. that ■ decision ' was backed up by full laboratory tests of the standstone for tho base and the granite of. the. main structure. If| there wore such tests and their results! wcro promising, unhappily the test of i not so many years has given a different' reply to the question of whether the stones have lasting qualities. In short,' tho baso work of the G.P.O. is in any-, thing but. satisfactory condition; there are many bad cracks, and a general in-1 dication of deterioration through weathering. Again, when tho Customs Building was erected,no doubt great things were claimed-and expected of tho limestone used in columns, bands, and ornamentation work. The time and weather test has given too definite an answer that this stone has fallen short. Limestones from further south than tho source N of that used for the Customs building, also, have been found lacking in lasting qualities. For a layman to make comparisons ■ between building stones is to tread on shaky ground, admittedly, but is ho not still to be excused if ho asks, in good faith, whether' the Board of Trustees for the War Memorial Campanile, the Dominion Museum, and National Art Gallery, is not taking a risk in deciding upon yet another untried stone for the facing of a structure which, "Wellington people hope, will become a pride and. will remain a pride of the «ity while many generations pass!