Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/369

 THE BUILDING NEWS. d47 eee en eee “Blue Bell,” and ‘‘ Angels Watching,” the latter forming part of a monumental group. To these, however, should be added a bas-relief, ‘‘Go and sin no more,” the recumbent monumental figure of Arch- bishop Howley in Canterbury Cathedral, and another to the late Lord Harwicke at Wimpole, in Cam- bridgeshire. Z Tue ForrucominG Exiurmrrrion,—A column and ahalf of the advertisement sheet of Saturday’s Times is devoted to announcements regarding the Exhibi- tion of 1872. “Surely,” remarks the Guardian, ‘all this puffing is hardly needful. The Royal Academy does not require it: and it must cost a vast sum of money. At the same time it accounts for the evi- dently impecunious state of the speculation, and for the fact that as a bait to intending season ticket- takers an invitation to a ‘private’ view, signed by a royal duke, is held forth. Mr. Cole, C.B., ought to be careful lest he kills the parent of so many golden allurements, for the Prince in question is not likely to bear much more of this kind of work, if we may judge from the slight interest in the fine arts be- tokened by his collection as just exhibited at South Kensington. It is almost incredible that any person, with practically unlimited powers of obtaining ob- jects of art, should have cireumnavigated the globe to so little purpose: the display in the South Court having consisted entirely, as faras art was concerned, of presents from Japanese magnates, in which, of course, no personal choice or taste was evinced, and of a hideous and gaudy assemblage of illuminated addresses.” Tax OrpNANCE SunvEY or Lonpon.—The re- port of the progress of the Ordnance Survey for the past year has been issued. It states that the plans of London, on the scale of 60in. to a mile, are now complete. They are drawn on 326 full-sized sheets of paper, and probably form the largest and most complete plan of a city ever produced. Of these plans, 144 sheets have been engraved and published, and the remainder are in progress. The continual increase in the size of London and the alterations constantly made in it are so great as to make it highly desirable that arrangements should be made for an almost constant revision of the plans. This has been represented to the Metropolitan Board of Works, and the Board, in reply, state that there are no funds legally applicable to this service; but they ° fully appreciate the importance of keeping the survey always complete. THE SALT STATUE AT BRADFoRD.—A deputation of the committees who have charge of the erection of the statue of Sir Titus Salt, Bart., at the Leeds- road end of the new Town Hall, Bradford, have re- cently been to London to inspect the model prepared by Mr. J. Adams Acton, sculptor. Sir Titus is repre- sented in an easy sitting attitude in an Hlizabethan or Glastonbury chair, the figure being attired in ordinary costume. The statue will be cut out ofa block of pure Carrara marble, weighing 14 tons, and will cost 1,000 guineas. The pedestal and canopy, designed by Messrs. Lockwood & Mawson, of Brad- ford, will be hewn out of Bolton Wood (Bradford) stone (the same as used in the New Town Hall), and will also cost about 1,000 guineas. The design will Ee a the Gothic style, to harmonise with the ‘Town all. ——— CHIPS. A new stained glass memorial window has just been inserted in the church of §. John, Bathwick, by Clayton & Bell. The subject is taken from the parable of the Ten Virgins. The Bury Improvement Commissioners have just resolyed to purchase, for the sum of £26,000, the Bury market. Some time ago they resolved to purchase the Bury and Radcliffe Waterworks under- taking, and a day or two since they decided upon the purchase of the Haslingden and Rawtenstall Water- works. The Bridgwater School Board have appointed Mr. Hay, of Bath, the architect for the proposed new schools in the eastern portion of the town, and have contracted for the purchase of the site adjoining Wellington Road, near the railway station, for the sum of £400. The execution of the work is to be entrusted to Messrs. Harvey & Son, of Torquay, whose tendermounted to1,87.v£¢ ————~<__—_ MEETINGS FOR THE ENSUING WEEK. TUESDAY.—INSTITUTION oF CIVIL ENGINEERS.— Discussion ‘‘ On Heavy Artillery.” 8 p.m. FRIDAY.—ARCHITECTURAL AssocraTIon.—General Business Mecting. Paper ‘On Coloured Decoration,” by Mr. G, Aitchison, B.A., F.R.LB.A. 7.30 p.m. CiviL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, SocieTy.—‘“ Notes on Hungarian Engi- neering.” By Mr. G. W. Willcocks. 7.30 p. m. NEW PATENTED INVENTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE BUILDING TRADES. 2469. C. PINN, Friars Green, Exeter, ‘ Preventing waste of water,”—Dated 19th September, 1871.—The object of this invention is to obviate the waste of water which is lost by the consumer allowing at times the present system of cocks to remain open, also to effect a saving of time to the consumer by not com- pelling him to be in attendance on the drawing of water, which all spring taps necessitate. There is a demand for this invention as a protection to water companies and others, more particularly now, as the public require a constant supply of water from the main for the benefit of health, instead of storing the water in cisterzs. 2471. J.SHAnuks, Barrhead, Renfrew, N. B., “Bath fittings.”’-—Dated 20th September, 1871.—The improved fittings comprise a main cast-iron piece formed with certain flanged orifices or short pipe branches, and with two vertical passages, one of which is the overflow passage, and communicates with the other or main passages at the top. Atthe bottom there isa flanged branch or orifice at the side for the attachment of a branch pipe leading to the usual outlet or opening in the bottom of the bath; and just below this side orifice the casting is flanged for bolting to a correspondingly flanged lower casting, in which is formed the com- mencement of the discharge passage, and also a branch leading into that passage from the overflow passage above. The discharge valye employed is a rubber ball attached to and worked by a rod passing up the main passages of the main casting ; and the seat of this valve is aflat brass ring with a rounded inner edge, and which is placed in a rebate or check formed for it between the two castings, and is securely held by the bolting of the castings together. 2510. W. E. GepGer, London, “Lighting and heating apparatus.’—A communication.—Dated 23rd September, 1871.—This invention consists in a small apparatus composed of a tube of copper or other metal, enclosing a wick placed in contact with the com- bustible matter held ina receiver of any shape. To this tube is jointed another, enclosing pumicestone or other mineral substance, through which the gas passes, accumulating in a small chamber formed at the upper partof the tube, and issuing therefrom by small holes proyided for that purpose. 2519. J. PrnDER, Middlesex, ‘Securing windows, &e.”"—Dated 23rd September, 1871.—This relates to a spring or other bolt arranged under the lower sash plate to take into the lever and hold it secure ; also to bolt with notches and aclaw to take against plates fitted in the upper and lower sashes. A portion of the bolt stem is heart-shaped, to work in a corresponding hole in a face plate. 2521. C. Murarorti, Middlesex, ‘“‘ Substitute for wood.”—Dated 23rd September, 1871.—The said in- vention relates to acompound or composition formed by mixing rock alum, glue, and sawdust in boiling water. The said compound may be used in all cases where wood might be employed with advantage. Articles made of it may be polished, coloured, var- nished, and gilded with the greatest ease. It may be made very hard and moulded,and also worked by hand like wax. 2552. KF. Lacry, Birmingham, “ Ventilating rooms.”— Dated 28th September, 1871.—The invention consists substantially in providing two metal tubes of suitable diameter, which are placed in perpendicular or nearly perpendicular direction, and which said metal tubes are connected at their lower parts by a cross tube. Ata proper height in one of the said upright tubes is placed a gasjet, which when the apparatus is desired to be used is lighted, so that the air contained in this tube (which is the outlet tube) may be rarified ; and a vacuum being thus created there will be a con- stant suction or indrawing of the surrounding air into the other of the said tubes, which is the inlet tube. 2553. .G. DAvery, London, ‘“Marezzo marble, &c.”— Dated 28th September, 1871.—Manufacturing artificial marble from cements veined by means of fibres dipped in colours, and inlaying, ornamenting, and colouring cements. 2572. Hi. Turner, Sheffield, York, ‘‘ Plastered ceilings and cornices.”—Dated 29th September, 1871. —Inlieu of the ordinary wooden laths nailed to the joists, a series of wires connected to the walls, joists, and struts by means of a number of galvanised iron needles with eyes are used, through which the wires are passed. 2578. M. Witson, London, *‘ Stench-traps.”—Dated 29th September, 1871.—This improved stench-trap con- sists of a short length of flexible tube suspended or fixed at one end within the trap casing or in a drain or pipe. This flexible tube has a tendency to coil or twist so as to close the passage, but opens for passing any liquid therethrough, eae Grade Hels, WAGES MOVEMENT. Arrpriec.—On Friday night a deputation from the operative tinsmiths, plumbers, and brassfounders of Airdrie and Coatbridge met, with a deputation from the masters, in the Royal Hotel, Airdrie. The masters offered to reduce the hours to 54 weekly, commencing on Ist July instead of 6th May. The men offered to accept the reduction on the 3rd June. This the masters declined, and the men therefore came out on strike on Saturday. ” ALTRINCHAM.—The strike of painters at Altrinc- ham and Bowdon has come to anend, the masters haying acceded to the demands of the men for an ad- vance of wages from 64d. to 7d. hour, and a reduction of the hours of labour from 58 to 544 per week. Barrow.—The painters who recently struck work for increased wages and a reduction inthe hours of labour haye resumed operations. The masters have granted the demands of the men, who in future will be paid at the rate of 63d. per hour, and will work 54 hours per week. ‘The men formerly received 20s. BIRMINGHAM.—The question of increased pay was discussed by the Board of Arbitration on Monday, and ultimately was left to Mr. Rupert Kettle, the umpire, who decided that, considering the position of the town of Birmingham and the advance of the wages of skilled labourers, an advance of 10 per cent. should be granted. He, therefore, fixed the pay of carpenters and joiners and plasterers at 7d. per hour up to September, and for the rest of the year 74d. The labourers he decided should be paid 44d. per hour throughout the year. BLACKBURN,—Owing to the restrictions placed upon the employment of children in brickfields by an Act of last session, ‘‘ carriers-off” haye become scarce at Blackburn, andthe result has beena demand by them of an increase of 2d. per 1,000 bricks. The brickmakers have asked the masters for the extra 2d; and the latter haying refused to pay it, the men haye struck work. CAMBRIDGE,—The master builders of Cambridge have offered to give the men (carpenters and brick- layers) 5d. per hour, and labourers 34d, per hour, the hours that the men are to work to be settled by the men and employers. The operatives will not, we understand, consent to these terms, and a strike seems inevitable. Carpirr.—The building work, which has been standing still for some three weeks, has recommenced with great spirit. The strike terminated on Friday last, when the master painters offered some modifica- tion of the hour system, which was accepted by the men; and the master masons agreed to the nine hours’ system. The strike operated prejudicially to other trades, who were thrown out of work in conse- quence of the strike. DuMFRIES.—The Dumfries masons are on strike, in consequence of the employment of slaters in pointing the fronts of houses. Lonpon.—On Thursday week a public meeting of carpenters and joiners was held at Wilcox’s Assembly Rooms, Westminster-bridge-road, for the purpose of adopting measures in furtherance of this moyement, which is at present agitating the building trades. Mr. Sadler, having been voted to the chair, stated that several meetings had been recently held of delegates from all the principal building firms in London for the purpose of considering the best means to be adopted to bring the movement toa successful issue. These meetings had been attended by about 140 delegates, who represented some 5,000 carpenters aad joiners in the London district. The result of their deliberations had been the adoption of a memorial which had been pre- sented to the master builders, asking that the hours of labour be reduced from ten to nine hours per day, and that the wages be increased to the extent of 1d. perhour. The result of that would be that, making allowance for the Saturday half-holiday, the hours of labour would be 51 hours per week, and the wages would be £1 18s. 3d, per week. Mr. Sinclair moved a resolution approving of the course the delegates had adopted; and as an encouragement for them to persevere stated that over forty provincial towns had adopted a similar course ; that in some instances the terms had been con- ceded, while in others they were under consideration. He also stated that at a meeting of master builders held in Manchester last January a resolution was adopted expressive of a wish to reduce the hours of labour to 54 per week, which, taking off the Saturday half holiday, would give the 51 hours they asked for, and which he felt confident they would get if they were united and earnest in their efforts to obtain it. The resolution having been seconded was unanimously adopted, and, after some further discussion on the subject, a vote of thanks to the chairman’terminated the proceedings. Mancuesrer.—A general meeting ef the builders’ clerks of Manchester and neighbourhood was held last week. Jt was unanimously resolved that the following memorial for shortening the hours of labour be pre- sented to the Master Builders’ Association :—“ Your memorialists most respectfully bring this before you with confidence, knowing the kindly feeling at present existing between employer and employed. That we have good grounds to complain of the long hours now made in the builders’ offices of this city aud neighbour- hood we think you will allow. On comparlng our hours with those of the clerks in engineers’, mer- chants’, and other offices, we find that we are engaged from three to four hours per day longer, and at books and calculations that for technicalities and intricacies are not to be surpassed in any other profession. We are also employed longer hours than any of the trades- men or labourers connected with the building trade, andat a sedentary occupation which it is well-known is anything but conducive to health. We beg, there- fore, that our hours may now be from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with the usual interval for dinner, so that we may have greater facilities for mental and physical improvement. We feel assured that your interests will not suffer, as, from the inereased energy which must follow such a concession, we shall be better able to perform our several duties, and the good feeling ex- isting will be greatly strengthened.” The memorial was received on Thursday week by the Master