REPAIRS TO ST. PAUL’S.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 December 1927, Page 7

REPAIRS TO ST. PAUL’S.

PROGRESS OF THE WORK. AIOBE THAN HALF COAJ.PLETED. “Already remarkably quick progress has been made, and tlie w-ork should be completed in two or three years.’’ stated Air. Aiervyn Macartney, the architect, last month, concerning the progress of the restoration work at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Atr. Macartney explained that the task of repairing the piers in the crypt was now ended. 111 the crypt are the lower parts of the piers supporting the great dome, and these have now been made secure. Sir Christopher Wren tilled the inside of at least six of the eight piers with rubble. This rubble has now been strengthened with cement, which has been forced inside through bore-holes.

So skilfully lias the reconstruction been carried out that it is almost impossible to tell where the new work begins and ends. No scars of 1927 mar the general appearance of the crypt. Now that the foundations have been disposed of. the workmen are engaged with the floor levels, where the. upper parts of the piers arc being treated hv a similar method. First estimates of the time likely to he occupied in restoring the Cathedral were seven years, lmt already, in less than three years, the half-way stage has been, passed.