Page:The Building News and Engineering Journal, Volume 22, 1872.djvu/91

 THE BUILDING NEWS. Jax. 26, 1872. forming the frieze running round the exterior _ of the hall were put together. He also entered into detailed particulars with respect to the production of the terra-cotta, from which it appeared that, in order _ to ensure accuracy, plasterers were employed on the premises, under his direction, to make moulds in plaster of Paris of every piece of terra-cotta re- quired, and these moulds were sent to the manufac- turer in preference to drawings. Mr. T. Rocrr Smrrn congratulated General Scott upon the success which had attended the employ- ment by him on so large a scale of new materials and new methods of construction, and having re- ferred to the generally satisfactory acoustic qualities of the hall, Mr. Grover entered into a long explanation of the construction of the roof, pointing out the various details on, and illustrating his remarks by references to, the diagrams exhibited on the wall. Mr. Purrson having said a few words respecting the heating arrangements, Mr. Warernouse said that in the Albert Hall everybody could sit, and see and hear the performance with perfect comfort. This was the case, he believed, to a degree not to be found in any other building. With regard to the terra-cotta, whatever its defects, it had one great merit, in that it was put into its place without any attempt to chisel it up to a true surface; consequeutly it still retained its vitrified surface, and showed no signs of discoloration. If much use was to be made of terra-cotta, this treat- ment must be insisted upon. Mr. B. Ferrey, F.S.A., in proposing a vote of thanks to Major-Gener.] Scott for his paper, re- marked that the Albert Hall was a great credit to the country and to all who had been concerned in its erection. ' Mr. C. Forster Haywarp, in seconding the vote of thanks, expressed his dissent from Mr. Waterhouse’s _ remarks as to the treatment of terra-cotta. He thought that where it was necessary the use of the chisel was quite as legitimate after the ware had been fired as was the use of the modelling tool on the wet clay. Mr. YrAmes, A.R.A., expressed the pleasure which he and his brother painters had in assisting (by designing figures for the frieze), however humbly, in the production of a work of architecture; and he wished that such co-operation was more frequent. The Crarrman, having put the vote of thanks to the meeting, it was carried amidst great applause. General Scorr, having briefly replied (remarking that Mr. Waterhouse was undoubtedly right as to the treatment of terra-cotta), the meeting terminated. —_»____—_— COMPETITIONS. Worcester Gui~tpHAtL Restoration. — On Tuesday morning a meeting of the .Worcester Survey Buildings and Property Committee was held at the Guildhall. The committee decided in reference to the reconstruction scheme of £9,000 to submit to the architects sending in plans the follow- ing suggestions :—A large hall, about 4,000 super- ficial feet in area; council-room, available also for conferences or small meetings, 1,000 to 1,500 feet ; five rooms for committees, &c., from 200.to 400 feet each; recorder’s court, about 1,200 feet; police- court, about 1,000 feet; four closets, lavatories, &c. For the larger or £18,000 scheme, the above, with instructions for a larger hall than before specified, and additional offices for town clerk (four rooms), clerk to magistrates, treasurer, nuisance inspector, street inspector, hall-keeper, &c. The general arrangement to be left to architects sending in plans. City Surveyor to furnish lithographed ground plans of Guildhall and adjoining buildings. Snow-Mettine ArpAratus.—The City Com- missioners of Sewers have at last come to a decision with respect to the various plans sent in in answer to the competition initiated by that body about four years ago. Premiums of £30 and £20 were offered for the best and second best plans respectively. The first premium has been awarded to Mr. J. I’. Clarke, engineer, of Moorgate-street, for his patent snow-melting apparatus. His plan, although simple, is said to be very effective, and to require no further assistance when in operation than the men and boys already employed in clearing the streets. The plan consists of a series of metal slabs or plates, heated by gas and air jets, and enclosed in a chamber in connection with a sewer or drain. On these heated plates the snow is deposited, and so melted, the water being run thence to the sewer. This was done last year at the approximate cost of from 5d. to 6d. per yard, includ- ing labour. If the Commissioners of Sewers would build melting shafts in each street in the City, a fall of three or four inches of snow could be cleared in two or three hours. All that is required to gain heat is to turn on a valve, the same as is fixed to a supply pipe to any house. As we announced last week under the heading “Chips,” on p. 60, the second premium has been awarded to Mr. J. 8. Farrar, who proposes that the snow should be swept up to the centre of wide streets and the sides of small ones, then to be carted away and thrown into the Thames, vacant spaces, the main sewers, and into heated troughs. — SCHOOLS OF ART. Eprmpurcu.—The annual meeting of the Edin- burgh School of Art was held on the 18th inst. According to the report, the number of students who have attended the school in the year 1870-71 is 640 —viz., 424 in the male school and 216 in the female school. Compared with the previous year of 1869-70, there has been a decrease of 11 students in the male school, but an increase of 14 students in the female school, showing an increase upon the whole school of threestudents. The prizes gained by the Central School from the Science and Art Department haye been for the year :—Male School—two gold medals, one silver medal, three bronze medals, three (ueen’s prizes, fourteen third grade prizes, twenty-two second grade prizes. Female School—eight third grade prizes, eleven second grade prizes. The high position of the school in its general results is also sustained by a con- tinuance to the teachers of an award of prizes from the Science and Art Department, Mr. Hodder, the head-master of the male school, and Miss Ashworth, the mistress of the female school, having each received again this year, as they have previously honour- ably gained for a series of years, an award under the minute of the Council of Education, dated Jan. 3, 1868. The number of works produced in the school has been:—In the male school, 1380; in the female school, 818—together, 2,198 works. NorrrnenAm.—The annual meeting of the Not- tingham School of Art was held on the 16th inst., under the presidency of the Mayor. Mr. Cole had been announced to distribute the prizes, but was un- able to attend. An important communication from him on the desirability of establishing a Science and Art Museum in Nottingham, and offering facilities for that object, was read. After an address from the Mayor, Mr. Rawle, the head master, spoke at some length. ‘The prize list is a most extensive and honourable one, and the distribution of the awards must have occupied aconsiderable portion of the even- ing. From the report it appears that in the annual Government Examination, held last May, the Not- tingham school again headed the list, making the fourth consecutive year that Nottingham has gained the highest number of prizes among all provincial schools. In May last, the school took a much higher place, having not only beat all provincial schools, but all the London schools, taking two more prizes than were taken at the National Art Training Schools, South Kensington Museum. In the prize bonus awards to art masters this year Nottingham has taken the highest prize amongst all provincial schools. The first two prizes were taken by London schools ; then the next eight were in the following order :— Nottingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, West London, Birmingham, Salisbury, Sheffield, and Glasgow. During the four years that bonuses have been given to head masters, it will show how evenly Notting- ham has done its work when it is perceived that in that time the master of the Nottingham school has taken £170 in prizes, or £20 more than any other school in the kingdon, including the London schools. SrourBRipGE.—The annnal meeting of the Stour- bridge School of Art was held on Wednesday week. Mr. W. H. King, secretary te the committee, read the following report as to the state of the school. The number of students attending the school is maintained. The income from all sources is £167 Os. 10d., and the expenditure £165 9s. 10d. leaving a small surplus of £1 11s. The expenditure includes £31 6s. 8d., rent of school. An application made to the Department of Science and Art for a grant towards the purchase of the schools is now under consideration. There is accommodation for an increased number of students, and it is hoped that those who acquire the necessarily slight knowledge of art imparted in the elementary schools will be induced to attend the School of Art, where they will receive instruction in the higher grades from an art master holding high class certificates, and have the advantage of working from the best examples of every kind, and sending up works for national com- petition. The co-operation of managers and teachers of elementary schools in making their schools feeders to the School of Art being given, the result will be a more widely-spread application of art to manufac- turers. The committee is indebted to the Department for the loan from time to time of paintings in oil and water-colours. The report of the master, Mr. Bowen, stated that the progress of the students was very satisfactory, as was proved by the Government awards in respect to the various works then exhibited. 2 ee ARCHITECTURAL & ARCHZZOLOGICAL SOCIETIES. BrrMinenaAm AND Mrpanp Instirute, ARCHAO- LoGIcAL Srcrion.—The annual meeting of this society was held on Thursday week. The report and balance-sheet were read, and a paper on Aston Church read by Mr. Everitt. Mr. Everitt, in the early part of his paper, gave some historical particu- lars. The church was dedicated to 8. Peter and 8. Paul. The nave and chancel, the oldest portions of the edifice, were in a transition style from the Early to the Decorated period of English architecture. The north and south aisles were similar to each other and of a littlelater date. The nave had a clerestory of Late Perpendicular work, and the tower and spire were of this period. The east and west windows had been so altered that only the sills and jambs were original, There was in the south aisle an altar dedicated to Our Lady, the piscina for the use of which still remained. The north aisle was the chapel of S. Mary Magdalene. The roofs and nave, chancel and aisles were modern, and to mention that they had plaster ceilings of the year 1790 would be quite sufficient. Leaning against the south side of the chancel was the head of the churchyard cross, a most interesting fragment of Early architecture. The especial interest of Aston church centred in its monumental remains, there being examples of the various styles in use from the fourteenth to the present century, and there were few churches in which such a perfect consecutive series could be found. After a lengthy description of the monu- ments, Mr. Everitt said it was clear that Aston had a most interesting series of monumental remains, including the effigied tomb of the Middle Ages, vala- able as records of costume and of the art of early days, the Elizabethan and Stuart times, and the Classic incongruities of weeping cherubs and urns and sarcophagi of the present century. After referring to a large number of very interesting and amusing items in the churchwardens’ accounts, Mr. Everitt expressed a hope that the present generation would leave its mark upon the church by erasing the 1790 work of tasteless hands. Epimveuren ArcurrecruraL Assocration.—The usual fortnightly meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday week, Mr. Hippolyte J. Blanc, president, in the chair. Mr. Thomas Ross read a paper submitting several important suggestions for the future advancement of the society. Among other matters, he commented upon the desirability of establishing a system of annual prize competitions for the junior members, and at the same time ad- verted to the benefits to be derived from properly— organised classes for sketching and designing. The subjects referred to in Mr. Ross's paper were freely discussed and supported by several of the members present, and the thanks of the meeting were accorded to him. It was thereafter intimated that a consider— able sum had this session been voted for library purposes, by which it is expected the value of this department will be very materially increased. eo ARCH OLOGICAL. Mursron.—Mr. George Payne gives the following: account of the discovery of some interesting Roman remains in his possession, which have been brought to light during the last few weeks at East Hall, near Murston. The relies, by their character, plainly indicate an interment; they comprise two bronze fibulz and vessels of a variety of type and colour, including a large cinerary urn of black pottery, containing calcined human bones; several patter of black and Samian ware (one specimen of the latter was ornamented with the favourite leaf pattern) ; four large bottle-shaped vessels of common red pottery; a number of small urns of black and yellow ware; and one red patera, containing a very minute cup of black pottery and two green earthen— ware beads. Lerra.—During the past week the workmen in the employment of Messrs. M‘Donald & Grant, contractors for the new bridge across the harbour at Leith, have discovered, while excavating thirty feet below the upper part of the old stone pier on the east side of the harbour, a few ancient coins and an. old brass relic of peculiar form, about three and a-half inches long, and weighing a little more than an ounce. Through the centre there is a square hole, and at each end there is the figure of a man’s head. It is not known when the pier was built. The coins and relics will be sent to the Antiquarian Museum.