Building Notes

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 4, 1 December 1916, Page 829

Building Notes

AUCKLAND. The Myers Kindergarten has recently been completed, and was officially opened last month. It is situated in the Myers Park; both the building and the park are the gift of the Hon. A. M. Myers. The cost of building, furnishing and equipment of the kindergarten and school for backward children is £7,000, which together with the cost of the land purchased for the park, and gymnasia equipment, will bring the value of Mr. Myers’ gift to the total of £20,000.

A case of considerable interest to the building and allied trades, says the "Herald,'' came before His Honor, Mr. Justice Hosking at the .Supreme Court recently in the civil jurisdiction, and in which His Honor was ashed to decide a dispute in connection with a building contract owing to the failure of arbitrators to come to a settlement.

The building in respect to which the dispute arose is an apartment house in Lower Symonds Street, the erection of which Frederick Joseph Herring Ellisdon contracted to carry on for Mrs. Rachel Basten for a sum of £3,785. Disputes arose in connection with the contract, and were, in terms of the contract conditions, referred to arbitration.

Between the arbitrators, however, certain contentious points of law arose, and it was resolved to state a case under the terms and provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1908, and to seek for the Court’s decision on the points at issue. The basis of the dispute is that the contractor, Ellisdon, claimed from Mr. Basten the moneys outstanding under the contract, and Mrs. Basten counterclaimed a sum which included, inter alia, penalties for the non-completion of the contract within the time specified in the contract conditions. It was admitted that a large number of “extras” were authorised, entitling the contractor to an extension of time, finch extension was not fixed at the time the “extras” were ordered. The contractor claimed that in consideration of the fact that “extras” had been ordered, and no extension of time allowed, then the clause imposing penalties for the noncompletion of the contract should not be enforced, but should be waived, or in legal terminology, “set at large.” Clause 22 of the contract conditions reads as follows: — “If the contractor shall fail to complete the works shown in the plans and specifications within the time provided by the contract, or within any extension of time allowed by the architect, or by these conditions, the contractor shall pay or allow the employer the sum of £lO per week as liquidated damages during every week in which the work shall remain unfinished beyond the time allowed.” Air. McVeagh appeared for Mrs. Basten, and Dr. H. D. Bamford for the contractor, Ellisdon. The hearing as confined to legal argument, in the course of which it was stated that the sum claimed under the penalty clause by Mrs. Basten was £ll0 —11 weeks at the rate of £lO a week. His Honor said he would take time to consider his verdict. The judgment appears on p. SO9 of this issue. CHRISTCHURCH. It is proposed by the Old Boys Association of Christ’s College to re-erect Air. Elower’s house as a memorial to the Old Boys who had fallen in the war. It is estimated that the building will cost £7,000. A proposal to sell a block of municipal property in Sydenham brought a counter proposition from a City Councillor last month to utilize the section for building workmen’s homes. The Mayor, (Air. H. Holland), said the Works Committee, which recommended the sale of the property, had gone into the question of erecting municipal houses upon it, but had decided that in view of the present price of materials such a course was impossible. Councillor Hayward, chairman of the Works Committee, said the only way the erection of workmen’s dwellings upon the property by the Council would pay would be to erect them in terraces, and people out here Avould not stand terraces. The section was not worth erecting detached cottages upon. The property stood on the books of the Council for £4,000, but the Council would be lucky if it secured £1.500 for it. The place had been locked up a long while, and was at present an eye-sore. If the Council could secure £1,500 for the property, in the interest of the city, it should sell it. An amendment by Council] McCullough that the clause be referred back to the Works Committee was lost, and that committee given authority to sell the property. NELSON. The Nelson Anglican Cathedral, which has been showing the effects of age during the past few years, and which occupies the most historic and picturesque site in the little city, has lately had its appearance considerably changed. In the interests of safety, it has been found necessary, after taking the advice of two architects, to remove the tower and steeple of the building, which is built of wood. The question of providing funds for erecting a new cathedral was put before the recent meeting of the Diocesan Synod, and a Bill providing for the creation of a Chapter and Cathedral Erection Board was passed. Bishop Sadller, in introducing the Bill, said that they had the finest church site in New Zealand, and that whatever building was erected on such a site in future should bo of a permanent character. OTAGO. ; Tenders were called recently by Mr. Stanley , C. Roberts, A.N.Z.1.A., for the erection of a large residence in Oamani stone, rough cast on the outside and finished with granite plaster inside. The structure will be two storied and covered

with a tile roof. The same architect has in hand the boarding house at Pukeuri which is now nearing completion, and also Mr. W. G. Grave's two-storied "English" residence in Aln Street, Oamaru, which is now ready for occupation. Mr. John Allan is the builder. Mr. Roberts has also in course of erection a large bungalow in rough cast with tile roof in Severn Street for Jas. Rodman, Esq. The gables are finished with shingles well belled and the portico roof is supported on heavy pressed brick piers. The contractor is Mr. John Allan. Also a bungalow on the North road, Oamaru for C. P. Roberts, Esq., the verandah being finished with pergola effect, the contractor is Mr. F. Crawshaw. Mr. D. G. Mowat, A.N.Z.1.A., of Dunedin, has let a contract to Messrs Fletcher Bros., builders of Dunedin for extensive alterations and additions to existing premises in Moray Place for Messrs Mucky, Logan Caldwell, Ltd., Warehousemen. When completed it will make a fine commodious building, and with its central situation, it will be admirably suited for a warehouse. Mr. Leslie I). Coombs, A.R.1.8.A., reports that Messrs A. E. Shank & Co.'s tender has been accepted for the erection of a motor car garage at Pine Hill for Mr. W. Breen. Mr. Geo. Gibbs' tender has been accepted for additions to a residence at Maori Hill. The cheese factory reported previously is now complete.

Mr. Walden reports extensive additions and alterations to St. Margarets' College in brick and stone with plaster and figured red pine finish. Contractor, G. Simpson & Co.; price, £5,500. A motor garage and offices at-Milton, built of brick with steel casements and steel ceilings; contractor, L. Warren; price, £1,400. Alterations and additions to residence Littlebourne, finished throughout in figured red pine, plastered walls and ceilings; special feature made of kitchen, accommodation being provided for breakfast alcove opening into kitchen. Contractor, A. McKay. The following is the Labour Department's report for the district:Bricklaying: steady; only one or two journeymen have been temporarily unemployed. Carpentry and joinery was very slack during early part of period, but has improved latterly, and there are now no tradesmen out of employment.

Painting: A general improvement is observed, and as far as can be ascertained there are no tradesmen unemployed. Plastering: steady; all competent tradesmen are in employment. Plumbing and gasfitting: quiet, but as far as can be ascertained there is no unemployment. Stonemasonry: steady.

A Competition has just been held in Dunedin for a Band Rotunda, Shelter Sheds, etc., for the City Council, on the old pavilion site at St. Clair. The Assessor, Mr. I'. Y. Wales, gave his decision and report last month on the figures submitted by Mr. Wales being checked with the names, it was found that Messrs Salmond and Vanes had secured first nrize; Messrs Macfie and Hood were second, and Mr. L. D. Coombs was third. There were eleven competitors, nearly

all being local architects. The council is prepared to spend some £2,000 on the buildings enumerated, but the work has yet to be finally sanctioned by the council. WELLINGTON. The directors of the Wellington Meat Export Company have decided to proceed with the erection of the new freezing works at Kakariki, Marton. The original plan has been modified to some extent, with the object of completing the works in time for the 1917 season. Extensions may be made later as they are required. Some preliminary work in connection with the original scheme has already been done. Tenders have been called by Mr. Claude Jones, Architect, for a new branch bank building in Cuba Street, Wellington, for the National Bank. The new office will be of three stories, and will be constructed of reinforced concrete and brick. The banking chambers will be situated over the ground floor, and will be lighted by a glazed octagonal dome, whilst the counters and screens will be of rosewood. The building will have a frontage to Vivian street of seventy feet, and to Cuba street of fifty feet.

One of the largest Meat Freezing Works in New Zealand is now being erected on the Wanganui River to designs of Messrs Panton & Sons, Architects, Timaru. The company is to be known as the Imlay Freezing Works of the New Zealand Refrigerating Co., formerly the Christchurch Meat Co., and the works are reported to be one of the most complete yet erected in the Dominion. The block of buildings covers 7i acres of land, in addition to which there is a considerable space for paddocks and stock, etc. The works are built of brick, concrete and steel, and the roofs of the buildings are covered with "Poilite" Asbestos Tiles, the whole being as nearly fire-proof as possible.