UNIQUE STRUCTURE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21038, 14 February 1940, Page 9

UNIQUE STRUCTURE

DOME ON POST OFFICE USE OF GLASS LENSES INTRICATE CONSTRUCTION Unique in New Zealand and probably the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the central dome on the new Chief Post Office in Hamilton is now under construction. As far as is known it is the second largest in the British Empire, being 40 feet in diameter but having a rise of only four feet. The system of construction embodies the use of 1660 eight-inch glass lenses set on welded steel and bound with concrete. In its completed form the dome can best be described as like an inverted saucer, as it simply rests on a ring beam and is not attached to the rest of the building. Domes of this type have been used with great success in Great Britain and on the Continent, the largest in existence being 60 feet in diameter. Its ability to give an even distribution of light and to withstand expansion and contraction are features of this dome. Quite apart from the utility aspect, however, is the fact that the dome will enhance the appearance of the main public portion of the building, and will certainly be the most striking feature of the whole post office. Process of Construction In the construction curved timbers were first erected, over which layers of plaster were worked and then allowed to dry to form a mould for the dome. The steel work was then put in place and welded, after which the 1660 lenses, each of which is 2gin thick, were set in concentric circles and the spaces between them are now being filled with high-grade concrete. This last process has to be done most carefully as the concrete and glass function as one piece. Particular care has had to be taken with the lenses, which are made of annealed glass (a material capable of standing high pressures), which is very brittle. Lenses showing the* slightest chip were rejected, as any fracture, no matter how slight, is capable of spreading and weakening the whole structure. When the laying of the lenses is completed the dome will be left for three weeks to set completely, and then the mould will be stripped from the underside in sections. After the interior side of the lenses has been cleaned the concreting will be ready for finishing by the painter. Five Tons of Glass Nearly five tons of glass are being used in the dome, the total weight of which is 23£ tons. Each lens weighs 71b 6oz. To prevent any possibility of water getting in behind the lenses shellac is being applied to hold them in position on the moulding. In its finished state the dome will have the advantage of requiring very little maintenance as compared with the leadlight type, while the cleaning of the upper surface will be a simple matter, as a man, provided he is wearing rubber-soled shoes, will be able to walk over the dome. Progress on Building

Work on the post office as a whole is well advanced and all the wooden flooring has been laid. General interior work is under way, most of the plastering having been completed, while panelling is being erected in some parts of the building. The two lift wells are complete and most of the machinery for the lifts is ready for installation. The swinging of heavy doors fitted with combination locks is almost all that is required to complete the strong rooms in the basement. For the sake of safety the strong rooms are fitted with double welded-steel grids which permit sufficient air for the vaults. Housed in the boiler room is an air-conditioning plant which heats or cools, filters, and brings to the correct humidity, air which is discharged through outlets in the main public space. The main work in connection with the discharge of used air is also completed. Australian Wood Flooring In the mail room the 11 in Australian tallow wood flooring has been laid, the surface of this timber (which is used in the brake shoes of locomotives) being almost slippery and so most suitable for the moving of heavy baskets. Sound-proof walls have been erected in the public telephone booths and in the phonegram room where telegrams will be received over the telephone. Electric wiring is proceeding steadily in all parts of the building, provision for this and inter-department) equipment being supplied for the two upper floors by a duct which has been built round all four sides. A pneumatic dispatch system which is to connect several departments is being laid out. All the stairways have been finished apart from the terrazzo and other surfacings, while staff rooms, including library and social rooms, are well forward. The building is being erected to the plans prepared by Messrs Edgecombe and White, and supervised by them. Mr W. B. Young, of Hamilton, is the contractor. The post office is to cost in the vicinity of £70,000.

The first smoke of the day! Can you beat it? Lots of chaps light up directly they tumble out of bed in the morning; others smoke while having their cold tub, but most wait till after breakfast. Mark Twain said the only times he wasn’t smoking was when he was eating and when he was sleeping! Old smokers often have a whiff when they wake in the night—say it “ sends them off again.” Tobacco? Of course, tastes differ, but if a census of brands could be taken it would probably be found that the most popular of all—right through New Zealand—are the “ toasted ” ones Go where you will you'll find them on sale—yes, even in the backblocks! Sweet, mellow, cool and comforting Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold merit their immense popularity. It’s toasting, by eliminating the nicotine, that make them safe for the smoker! They’re so popular they're being imitated. But imitation toasted is no good. Ask for the brands enumerated.