THE BUILDING REGULATIONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 26 November 1880, Page 2

THE BUILDING REGULATIONS.

The following letter from the Acting Engineer was read at last night's meeting of the Borough Council, and referred to the Works Committee to confer with the Acting Engineer : This is considerably in excess of the rule which has hitherto obtained in regard to buildings of this class, the general opinion being that ashlar masonry of Oamaru stone is little, if any, inferior in point of strength to brick work of equal dimension. I think a distinction should be made between ashlar and rubble walls, and that the clause might be made to read '' every such wall, if in brick or Oamaru stone ashlar, must be carried up to the full thickness specified in the schedule ; and if of stone rubble masonry, must be at least of one-third greater thickness than that specified in the schedule."

As I am advised that insistence on compliance with this clause would be oppressive and unnecessary, I would beg an instruction from the' Council how to act in regard to it. I have the honor to direct your attention to clause 6 of Bye-law XIII., which, inter alia, provides that every external and party wall erected within the Borough "must, if in brick, be carried up the full thickness specified in the schedule given ; and, if in stone, must be at least of one third greater thickness than that specified in the schedule."

Taken in connection with the schedule, this would mean that-the walls of an ordinary two-storey building of Oamaru stone ashlar would require, if less than 25 feet in height, to be carried up 20 inches and 16 inches wide respectively for first and second storey, and if over 25 feet in height, the widths required would be 24 inches and 17$ inches respectively, and £.O on in the same proportion for other heights.