GOVERNMENT BLOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 9

GOVERNMENT BLOCK

STEEL FRAMEWORK

START TO BE MADE

It is now severa". months since the site in Stout Street, near the Supreme Court buildings, was scooped out and the foundations, the subject of a separate contract, were completed for the modern eight-storey Government office block. Since then there has not been a great deal of activity behind the high fence surrounding the site, but there soon will be when a start is made with the erection of the steel frame by William Cable and Co., Ltd. One of the principals of that firm stated today that it would probably be the beginning of August or about the end of July before the work was under way.

During the interval since the completion of the massive reinforced concrete foundations and basement, the contract for which was let to the Fletcher Construction Co., work has been proceeding on the fabrication of the steel required for the frame of the building. . There are now some 300 or 400 tons of steel beams on the site ana at the present time they are being stacked with the aid of cranes. Although difficulty has not been experienced in placing orders for the steel, certain of it, mostly that required for stanchions, it was stated today, did not come to hand when expected, the delay being due to the position in which the rolling mills are placed m the United Kingdom because of the heavy demands for steel for armament purposes. Practically all the re " quired for the job is now to hand, however, and once a start is made it will not be long before the frame of the new building will be rearing itself skywards. L—