BRISK ENTERPRISE

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1925, Page 4

BRISK ENTERPRISE

NEW J WILDINGS IN WHANGAREI.

BUISSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT,

Thai the prosperity and progresoive tendencies of a town are indicated by the extent of its building activities is axioma ■ic and Whangarei on that account must be deemed to be making marked headway, as the number of building 3of all kinds in course of construction will testify. Newcomers and visitors to the town refer to the extent of the building now in progress as one of Whangarei's notable features.

Local architects and building contractors are not inclined to regard the present state of progress as anything in the nature of a boom, but are unanimous in declaring that the trade is uniformly steady, which most builders prefer before speculative rushes, booms of all kinds being subject to similar laws to those which govern the swing of the pendulum—the'higher the swing to the boom side, the higher the corresponding and inevitable swing in the opposite direction.

Plentiful examples of the three principal types of building—brick, reinforced concrete, and wood —are at present in various stages of advancement in Whangarei, and each style ha 3 its adherents. Reinforced concrete is being largely used in public buildings, factories and schools; very many large buildings are in concrete, in brick, or in both. Its advocates claim that reinforced concrete has decided advantages. Modern appliances have brought the use of this material to a high state of efficiency and this method is undoubtedly speedy. Some authorities, however, assert tliat its use in the erection of dwellings is not generally to be eommended.

The ideal residence to suit local ■conditions is that which is practically damp-proof, and one means of ensuring a dwelling which includes this freedom from dampness amongst its attractions is the "cavity wall" method. As this method necessitates the erection of two walls, one within the other, the usefulness of brick is evident at once. An excellent example of the "cavity wall" method of building is to be seen in the new residence at present under construction fo.r Mr. C. Bevins in Lupton Avenue. The cavity wall cf this house consists of an outer "sMn," 4* inches in width, and an inner one of the same width, having between them an air space of 2i inches. Any moisture which may by percolation penetrate the outer walls is drained off by an ingenious device in the air space, wluch affords complete freedom from damp in the interior. Apart from this feature, the architecture of this residence is unique in Whangarei, there being no exact counterpart in the district.

Dwelling houses are in course of construction in all, or most of the suburbs. At the northern end of the town there are several residences on the Kanio Road nearing completion. In this district building in kauri is undoubtedly ' the popular method. Outside the brick area, indeed, kauri is being extensively used, the western suburb especially having a number of cottages and dwellings under construction, among them being two residences in Kauika Road which are being erected by the Borough Council under the workers' dwellings scheme a dwelling and shops and dwellings in Burnard Street by Messrs Foster and Telfer and a cottage in Kauika Road being erected for Mr E. Fickling. Other dwellings in various stages approaching completion are situated in Princes Street, Donald Street, Otaika Road, Sea View Avenue nn<l Powhiri Avenue. These are being built to the order of Messrs E. Taylor, H. Parkin, J. Foster, A. Dobson and R. McCormack, respectively.

A building which, serves very aptly os an example of the facility and expedition with, which reinforced concrete can be used is that under construction for the Australian Mutual Provident Society, for use as offices and flats in Bank Street. This imposing edifice will, when complete, be one of the most ornamental in Whangarei. A well-known local architect, who predicts that in the near future reiuforced concrete will completely supersede all existing material in use, advances a very feasible and convincing justification for his prediction.

In nearly every case of fire which occurs in a brick building, not only is the interior of the edifice completely gutted, but the brick walls are subsequently condemned as being unsafe, owing to the extreme heat having rendered the brickwork "crumbly." Questioned as to the affect,of a serious oxitbreak of fire in z reinforced concrete building, the architect "'narrated an instance of a recent occurrence of a fire in a manufacturer's large workshop, built entirely of concrete, which served as a striking proof of the desirability of the material for this class of building. The entire workshop, he said, was completely gutted, but such were the fire-resisting qualities of the concrete that within six wreeks new machinery had been installed, new windows put in and work w\as going on as before.

Two further examples of concrete buildings are to be seen in Water St.eet, where Messrs Richards and Churstnin are erecting sliops for Miss E. M. Marshall, and Mr W. Dudley is ereer. ing a largo garage for Messrs Weston Bros.

The faet tliat there 13 so much building no.w; in progress is sufficient indication tliat WTmngarei is a progressive town, and the local architects and brilders speak quiia confidently of further building schemes at present under consideration, which undoubtedly point to the probability of tlie present satisfactory conditions in the building trpde being continued over a considerable period. Judging by the steady progress at present being made; by the building trade, fullest confidence in the future of Whangarei is fully .instified.