Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/492

 470 THE BUILDING NEWS. JunE 7, 1872. eyer, for troubling you with this is that the letter in question, so far as our design is concerned, conveys from beginning to end an entirely erroneous impres- sion, and is, in many points, a total misrepresentation of facts. We can only credit ‘* A Competitor ” with having obtained his information, at the best, second-hand. and we should advise him another time to give a little per- sonal inspection to a series of designs before he pro- ceeds to criticise them. In the first place a distinct charge is conyeyed that the strict letter of the instrue- tions has not been adhered to by us, an assertion which we most emphatically deny, and one which we challenge any one to prove on an examination of our plans. We have shown but one front instone. We have given the required accommodation in every instance. We get a principal entrance in the main thoroughfare of the town (Market-street), and have no such thing as a passage though the site anywhere; and as to the ques- tion of cost (which is dwelt on so forcibly) our esti- mate is within the prescribed sum, and it has yet to be proved that our design cannot be carried out for the sum. We offer not the least objection to Mr. Paley’s expressed opinion that none of the designs worth any notice whatever can be carried out for the £10,000, especially as Mr. Paley’s own work is generally of a costly character, but we most certainly do object to “A Competitor " placing his judgment against ours, either On a question of cost or any other. The basis of our estimate was fixed on a building for the most part of a precisely similar nature, con- taining a hall of the same dimensions with oflices beneath, which we are,now carrying out, the accepted tender for which was £6,800—the buildings at Chorley having in addition a block of four shops, &c. We have only to add that a feeling of sorrow for the ultimate fate of competition amongst architects was fully equal in our minds to any personal annoyance we may have felt in perusing your correspondent’s letter. If protests such as this are to follow a competition that has been most fairly dealt with throughout, and at last decided by an eminent member of the profession, we despair of ever witnessing a satisfactory solution of the pro- blem of competitions, and should think that to obtain a high-minded architect who will undertake to act as judge in such a case, will soon become a matter of no small difficulty, and a very thankless office in itself. The animus engendered by disappointed expectations is too evident in such letters, and could hardly be more clearly avowed than towards the close of the one in question, where it is suggested that ‘it may afford some satisfaction to the disappointed competitors to learn that it is not probable that any one of the pre- miated designs will be carried into execution.” Such a sentence needs no comment. We are, however, quite unaware of any such likelihood, and can only hope that ‘“ A Competitor ” is as far out in his information in this case as he most certainly is in the rest of his letter.—We are, &c., Lapps & PowE.tu, (The authors of the first premiated design.) 4, Chapel-street, and 5, Great James’-street, Bedford-row, W.C., June 5. ————__4——___ WATER SUPPLY AND SANITARY MATTERS. Camprince.—Mr. J. F. Bateman, C.E., who has been consulted by the syndicate appointed by the University with regard to the diversion of the sewage of the town from the River Cam, has sub- mitted an exhaustive report. He estimates that the proposed diversion may be carried out at an expense of £32,000, the place of the deposit resultant from the diversion being Chesterton Common. MARGATE.—A considerable district of Margate is about to be placed under the new sewage filtering system of M. de Chastelain. The Royal Sea Bath- ing Infirmary, Royal Crescent, and the Clifton Baths will be first dealt with. It is stated that under the new arrangement two large receivers could be placed in the Dane, whither the sewage from all parts of the town will be taken, filtered, and the effluent water then conducted by surface pipes to whatever spot may be thought desirable for emptying into the sea. Tue Freer Sewer.—At their meeting to-day Gixidss) the Metropojitan Board of Works will iscuss a report from the Works Committee recom- mending that, with a view to relieve the Fleet sewer of the excess of storm waters, anew line of sewer be constructed from the present outlet of the Fleet sewer at Blackfriars-bridge to King’s Cross, along a route somewhat parallel to the old sewer, and that on the completion of the necessary drawings and specification public tenders be invited for the works, ‘This intelligence will be satisfactory to the inhabitants of King’s Cross and its vicinity, whose cellars are periodically floodedin stormy weather in consequence of the insufficiency of the existing sewer. Weymovutu.—The Local Government Board has consented to the Weymouth Local Board borrowing £25,000 for drainage works, according to Sir John Coode’s plan, and without sending a Government inspector, as usual. ———_—___ The Opinione publishes a letter of Giustiniano Nicolucci, on the discovery in the Terra di Lavoro of atomb dating from the stone age. The letter goes into details: the writer says that the stone weapons found in this sepulchre are remarkable in point of workmanship, and denote talent and skill on the part of the workman who fashioned them. Aintercommunication, a QUESTIONS. (2577.]—Albert Durer’s Engravings.—How can I distinguish copies from original engrayings by Albert Durer? Is the water-mark of the paper any guide? Three in my possession are marked respectively “A, M.,” “D, Riaw” (?), and “ Vienne.”—Kapra. (2578.]—Chureh Varnish.—I met in a specifica- tion the name of “church varnish,” Could any of your readers inform me if such an article exists, and of its quality? I thought, perhaps, on account of the many church restorations, a certain kind has been used; hence its name, Is it better than copal 2— POLIsH. 2579.]—Size.—Is size a good thing to use for stain- ing churechwork, and is it always used by architects and painters for staining and varnishing? Is it a universal law in the trade that it shall always be used ? —PAINTER, (2580.]—Competition Drawings.—If no design exactly suits in a competition, should there be a fresh one, or should the best design and the one the most according to the instructions given be accepted, and afterwards altered to suit the requirements? Would this be fair for the other competitors 2—H. W. X. [2581.]—Old Bricks.—In the churchyard wall at Horton, Bucks, are some good, sound, well-burnt bricks, of a red colour, and which are remarkable for their size. Some bricks measure 14}in., 14in., 13}in., and 13in. long respectively. They all seem to be 4in. deep and 44in. thick. The usual length is about 13in. The bond is very irregular. Occasionally there is one course of headers and stretchers alternately, while the next course consists of a header and two stretchers alternately ; but this is very rare, the bricks being laid at random to all appearance. I should be glad if some correspondent could inform me of the reason for making such large bricks, about how old they may be, and whether such specimens are often seen,—H. W. P. REPLIES. 2564.]—Practice of the Profession.—TI shall be glad to see an answer to the query of ‘ C. C.”—H. B. [2572.)—Elm in Joinery.—Im default of a better reply, I send what follows. In Tredgold’s ‘t Carpentry ” it is stated that ‘elm is not useful for the general purposes of building, but from its durability in water it makes excellent piles and planking for wet founda- tions. It twists and warps much in drying, and shrinks very much both in length and breadth.” ‘The shrinkage in length is not corroborated by Mr. Couch, for the piece experimented upon was exactly 4ft. long both before and after seasoning. It shrank, however, one forty-fourth part in breadth and thickness, its trans- verse section being llin. x llin, when first planed for experiment. Gwilt says: ‘For the general plirposes of building it is of little value, and it rarely falls to the lot of the architect to be obliged to use it.” In Chambers’s ** Cyclopedia” the wood of the common small-leaved or English elm is said to be prized by joiners for its fine grain. In another work, the timber of the elm is alluded to as being well known as a valuable material for many purposes of the country carpenter, such as cart-building, water-wheels, &c., but no mention is made of any supposed fitness for house- building. As a trifling incident, but somewhat to the point, I might add that I once had a tool-chest made of deal with stout elm ends, and in a few days the elm shrank so much that the tray was firmly jammed in the chest. Although itis not easy to get at exact data, as much depends upon seasoning the particular species, &c., I think the inference is that for good joiner’s work the wood of this magnificent and truly British tree should not be used. The best description, however, being tough, compact, durable, not liable to split, and possess- ing the power of resisting moisture, it is a question if it would not do well for treads toa factory staircase. —Nove. ———— PARLIAMENTARY NOTES. Puntic Hearty Briu.—Sir C. Adderley asked the first Lord ofthe Treasury, on Thursday week, whether the Public Health Bill, jrelating to a subject which the Government pressed on the diligent attention of & commission three years ago, and had twice advised her Majesty to recommend to Parliament for im- mediate legislation, and which was now being post- poned to other Government measures, might not have a morning devoted to its consideration in com- mittee. Mr. Gladstone said he was entirely of opinion with his right hon. friend as to the im- portance of the measure, and he was most anxious to arrive ata time when it could be dealt with in the manner the Government was adopting with regard to the Ballot Bill, and would also adopt with regard to the Scotch Education Bill—that of giving the whole of the valuable time of Parliament, so far as it was not interrupted by other business not of a legislative character, wnich the Government could not alto- gether control. It would be far better to deal with it in that manner than by devoting to it a fragment of time, in which it could not be properly disposed of. BreMINGHAM SEWAGE Bruu.—Mr. C. Forster moved that the order for the third reading of this Bill be read and discharged, and the Bill be reecom- mitted.—Sir R. Peel said that the stage had been fixed for Thursday, and that this motion irregularly anticipated it. The Speaker ruled that the motion, being for a discharge of the order, was not irregular. Sir R. Peel strenuously protested against the course taken. Lord Henley saidthat the object of reecommittal was merely to make some alterations. On the third reading the right hon. baronet could talk as many hours as he liked, and move the rejection of the Bill. Sir. R. Peel again appealed to the Speaker on the point of order; and the Speaker again ruled that for the purpose of discharge au order might be antici- pated. Mr. T. Collins thought that if the course taken was in order, the Standing Orders ought to be altered as speedily as possible. On the question being put, Sir R. Peel moved the adjournment of the debate until the following day, which was agreed to. ee LEGAL INTELLIGENCE. A Disrrict SurRvEYoRsS’ QvuEstIon. — POWER (APPELLANT) Y. WIGMORE (RESPONDENT).—This Was an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas on the 4th inst., from a decision of Alderman Sir R. W. Carden, and it arose out of the following cireum- stances :—51 arches were built under a public way, which proved the outside of a square for buildings on the site of Newgate Market. ‘The appellant was district surveyor, and he .went 15 or 16 times to in- spect the arches, and to measure them, they being of unequal dimensions, to see whether they were in accordance with the provisions of the statute. He contended that each arch was a ‘separate structure,” and that for each arch he was entitled, under the Metropolitan Buildings Act, to afee of 10s. Sir R. W. Carden decided that only one 10s. fee was pay- able for all the arches, and this was the decision appealed against. Mr. Justice Willes said that if the arches formed a viaduct they would constitute one building only, but in this case they seemed to be intended to be appropriate to various buildings. He was of opinion that the arches appropriated to each building should themselves be considered to be a. “separate structure,” for which a separate fee was payable. How many such buildings there were to be was a question of fact which it would be remitted to the Alderman to ascertain, and he would award the appellant a fee for each separate building. Judgment accordingly. ————— ee STAINED GLASS. SALIsBuRY.—A stained glass window has just been placed in the chancel of 8. Martin’s Church, Salisbury, as a memorial to the late Rey. W. W. Tatum, for 39 years rector of the parish. The sub- ject is the two SS. John. Under the figure of John the Baptist is represented the Baptism of Our Lord, and under the figure of 8. John the Divine, the Last Supper. The window is the work of Messrs. Clayton & Bell. —_—__o—__—_ CHIPS. Mr. Gilbert Scott has been engaged to prepare plans of the new Conservative Hall proposed to be erected on the site of the old houses opposite the Post Office, Stamford, recently purchased by the Conservative Club. An exhibition of old masters is now open at Amsterdam. MM. Six, van Loon, Pallandt, van Weede, van Dyckyveld, have each lent a portion of their valuable collections. The catalogue enumerates nearly 350 chef-d'euvres. On Saturday the foundation stone of a new Wesleyan school was laid at Cheetham. The di- mensions are 65ft. by 40ft. The building will be of brick, and will accommodate 400 children, at a cost of £3,500, including site. New Church of England Schools are being erected in York. ‘The plan is H-shaped. The area occu- pied by the building is over 4,000ft., and the cost £2,000. Accommodation is provided for 500 children. A new (Roman) Catholic Chapel was opened on Sunday at Pathead, Ford, N.B. Itis in the simplest style of Gothic with lancet windows, and three-light windows in the east gable. The foundation stone of anew rectory-house at Oakford was laid on Thursday week. ‘The cost of the works will be £3,000. Mr. Wood, of Lurley, is the contractor. New works for Messrs. Hayward, Tyler & Co, at Crawley Green-road, Luton, have been commenced by the contractors, Messrs. Smart Brothers. The Albert Gold Medal of the Society of Arts has this year been awarded by the Council to Henry Bessemer, Esq., “for the eminent services rendered by him to Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, in developing the manufacture of steel.” The work of restoring the parish church of Kirby- moorside will shortly be commenced, from plan prepared by Mr. G. G. Scott, R.A. An application for permission to borrow £18,000 for sewerage works has bees made to the Metropoli- tan Board of Works by the Fulham District Board.