FERRO – CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13202, 13 June 1906, Page 7

FERRO - CONCRETE STRUCTURES.

LETTER FROM MR. W. J. NAPIER. A letter was received by the Harbour Board yesterday from Mr. W. J. Napiei, dated London, April 27. Mr. Napier acknowledged receipt of the Board's letter asking him to obtain information on ferroconcrete erections, and to ascertain whether this description 4 of work had been largely adopted for harbour works, such as those the Board had decided to construct. He regretted that, owing to the late arrival of the New Zealand mail, and to there being no outward 'Frisco mail, he was unable to write fully with regard to the information already acquired. He would be happy to undertake the duty. He went off his route in the Untied states to inspect works m reinforced concrete, and to interview civil engineers, talking ovei the matter with 14 or 15 leading American engineers. He was going to Southampton, in order to inspect the works there, and was procuring photographs, which might be of use. So far as lie had gone, the information gained, and his observations, led him to conclude that reinforced concrete was a complete success; and that it was destined to be more and more widely used for harbour works and buildings. There were some magnificent river structures in ferroconcrete in America. He would see Mr. Mouchel before leaving England. -

The Chan-man, in moving that the letter be received, stated that some time ago there Triad been a great discussion about, the merits of ferroconcrete, and-lie wrote to Mr. Napier, asking him to ascertain the latest information, and authorising him to go to an expense not exceeding £50. Since the Board had adopted the scheme propounded by Mr. Harner, its engineer, it had received information that other countries were adopting a similar class of structure. In Antwerp ferro-concrete works were being put down on ui very great scale, and at a cost of several millions. Plana had since come to hand of a very large work in Montreal, Canada, and anyone looking at those plans would see they were almost identical with Mr. Hauler's, with the exception that the wharves were 100 ft wider, and had six lines of rails, instead of four. This, bore out in a striking manner the advice tendered the Board in the matter of ferro-concrete by its engineer. Although the Board was the first to undertake such works in Australasia, other countries were contracting for similar works, and it was satisfactory to have the evidence of the general adoption of ferroconcrete. The letter was then received.