PUBLIC TRUST BUILDING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16895, 21 November 1922, Page 11

PUBLIC TRUST BUILDING.

NEW SYSTEM INTRODUCED. A novel method of distributing the ; concrete required in the erection of the j new* Public Trust building in Oxford ! Terrace has been introduced by the eon- ! tractors, who, bv means o! tlie new i system will he able to handle double | t lie quantity of concrete that could he j handled by the use of harrows. Under j the new method which is living used j for the first time in the South Island. | the cuiicroli* flows from the mixer direct ] into a bucket whh h can In* elevated to , whatever height is required. The i bucket then connects with a chute, and ! iiv an automatic action the shutter in j no bottom of the buoket is opened and I the concrete flows along the chute to J the portion of the building where the ■ work is being carried out. F'or the purposes of the new system : an Oregon pine pole, 8-lilt in height. I has been erected. It consists of two ] pieces, one 7 3ft in length —tho longest j that was obtainable—-and the other l'Jft in length, w hich is spliced on top j of the longer piece. The building itself 1 will be approximately 6bft above the !, wide margin of difference in order j that the concrete disi ribution may be 1 carried on during the complete period oi erection. The elevator is worked by an electric motor and when the bucket is full the approximate weight of each lift will lie three-quarters of a ton. Yesterday ! afternoon, when the plant was passed , h\ the Buildings Inspector, the height ..t w hich the concrete was emptied into ■ chute was adjusted at approximately off ft above the pavement, aprl the total length of the chute was 1 17ft. The advantage of the system is that it results in a time, and in the case of large buildings will mean a considerable reduction in the cost. ft can also be user! as a hoist for materials, enabling bricks, mortar and other materials to be raised to the height required more quickly and with less labour than by other systems. 'The contractors for the building are j Messrs P. (irnhnm and Sons, and the ; foreman it l charge of the work i Mr A ! Warren, who is enthusiastic regard ; : ng the possibilities of the new system. 1* is expected that the building w ill ho ! ompleted and ready for occupation bv ! Easter- 1 u 24.