NEW COURTHOUSE IN CITY

Southland Times, Issue 23827, 26 May 1939, Page 6

NEW COURTHOUSE IN CITY

WORK BEGUN ABOVE FLOOR LEVEL MORE MEN TO BE ENGAGED LATER After a long period of comparative quiescence, work on the new courthouse for Invercargill is proceeding briskly, and the foundation work is now taking shape. The base of the structure is made of Coromandel stone, and parts of this are surmounted by artificial stone made in Invercargill. This stone, which is being used for the first time in the new Post Office and the courthouse, is made of concrete of fine texture and coloured cement, and is being used on the front of the building only. Next to the artificial stone in parts of the front of the building will be cement on which the lines of the artificial stone will be continued. The floor of the building has been completed and work is now in progress on the superstructure, where reinforcing steel has been set for more concrete work. One of the reasons for the delay in the progress of the courthouse was the difficulty in obtaining delivery of steel girders from overseas, and although this difficulty has been largely overcome there, is still a slight shortage of steel. However, there is a good deal of work to be done before this shortage will be acutely felt. A great deal of construction work has been done below the ground level where a basement 10 feet deep has been built. This part of the courthouse also contains a strongroom and a modem air-conditioning plant. Although the building is to be made of concrete, and will be practically fireproof, it will nevertheless carry an adequate fire alarm system. At present about 11 men are engaged on the job and more will be taken on as the work progresses.