Mae 2.1872. ; THE BUILDING NEWS.
Our Oftice Table,
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Tut East Lonpon Musrum.—The visit of the
Queen to open the East London Museum is not
likely to be an early event, for the works are at a
standstill. The arrival of cases from South Ken-
sington has stopped, and the internal arrangements
are incemplete. The cause, according to the AZetro-
politan, is stated to be that the Government has
stopped the granting of money for the works. Last
week Sir Richard Wallace paid avisit to the museum,
and this week the first portion of the valuable gallery
of pictures and objects of art which he has promised
to contribute to the museum arrived at Bethnal
Green from Paris. Pending their final arrangement
they are to be placed in the North Gallery. The
splendid majolica fountain which was manufactured
by Minton for the Exhibition of 1862, at a cost of
£2,000 is to be erected at the south entrance to the
East London Museum; and the excavation for the
fountain is rapidly proceeding. The ground sur-
rounding the museum is being levelled for the pur-
pose of being ornamentally laid out.
Tae CHarrer House or WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
—On Monday morning the newly-restored Chapter
House of Westminster Abbey was thrown open for
the inspection of the public. The Chapter House
was built in 1250 by Henry III., on the site of the
earlier Chapter House belonging to the Abbey, as
founded by Edward the Confessor. It was on ac-
count of its beauty called “The Incomparable
Chapter House.” In 1865, after the removal of the
records to the Rolls House, on the 800th anniversary
of the foundation of the Chapter and the 600th an-
niversary of the House of Commons, its restoration
was undertaken at the request of the Society of
Antiquaries by Mr. Gladstone, who was then Chan-
eeller of the Exchequer, and Mr. Cowper-Temple,
First Commissioner of Works. The requisite sum was
granted by Parliament, and the work was entrusted
to Mr. Gilbert Scott, who restored the place as nearly
as possible to its original state. The roof has been
entirely rebuilt, and the paintings, which were con-
cealed by bookshelves, are now disclosed. Those at
the east end, over the stalls of the abbot and his four
chief officers, are of the fourteenth century, and re-
present the seraphs round the throne of the Saviour,
and those round the walls were painted in the
fifteenth century by one of the monks of the convent,
named John of Northampton, andrepresent scenes from
the Revelation of S, John, with pictures of birds and
beasts underneath. The figures on each side of the
entrance, representing the Angel and the Virgin
Mary, are ancient; the central figure is modern, but
represents what was formerly there. The tiles in the
floor, covered with curious heraldic emblems, are now
seen for the first time. The tracery of the windows
has been restored after the model of the one which
had been left uninjured on the north-west side. It
still remains for them to be filled with stained glass,
according to the original design.
Ruserre Roavs.—According to the report of the
New York Public Parks Commissioners gravel roads
with rubble foundations are better suited for light
and pleasure traffic, and more agreeable to horses,
than macadamised roads, besides being less difficult
to maintain, and requiring less attention in watering.
The method of constructing these roads, which
appears to be general throughout the New York
parks, is briefly as follows :—On the prepared road-
bed, trimmed with a crown of eight inches at the
centre, and rolled firm, rubble stones are deposited,
not over nine inches in diameter, and generally less.
The layer of rubble stones is surfaced by spreading
-over it fine rubble or quarry chips, to fill the inter-
stices and smooth the surface, and a light roller is
then passed over it to compact it. A light layer of
gravelly earth is then spread over and moistened by
means of water-carts, and rolled down firmly so as
effectually to close all apertures against the admission
of the gravel to be placed on the top. The gravel
is applied in two layers, a slight coat of gravelly
loam being spread after the first is laid down to
cause the whole to bind. ‘The road is then
thoroughly rolled until the surface has become hard
and consolidated
Superstitions or tHe Brivis BuiLper.
Commenting on the unnecessary work given inmany
instances to household servants, the Saturday
Review remarks that “one of the superstitions of
the British builder, if not also of the British house-
holder, is the amount of stonework which is pro-
vided for the express purpose of being hearth-
stoned; it can hardly be said that the result is de-
lightful to the eye, and it involves constant and
troublesome labour. If tiles or coloured bricks were
used, we might have a highly picturesque and
agreeable combination of colours, and the whole
could be cleansed in a few seconds with a mop and |
a bucket of water. Itis, perhaps, too much to expect
that the builders should trouble themselves to reflect
for a moment on the wants and conyenience of the
inhabitants of the dwellings which they construct;
but if the inhabitants would only show themselves
alive to their own interests, the builders would find
it necessary to pay more attention to these matters.
Nothing can be more barbarous and disgraceful, for
example, than the way in which windows are usually
cleaned by men, and still more commonly by women,
at the peril of their lives. Scarcely a month passes
in which there are not one or two accidents, and
usually fatal accidents, on this account. If domestic
servants would unite in a strike against this practice,
they would deserve support. It would require only
the slightest mechanical ingenuity to devise a form
of window-frame which would move on a swivel,
so thatit could be cleaned from the inside.
CxuaAss oF Construction AND PRrActIcE, ARCHI-
qTEcTURAL AssocrATIon.—The thirteenth meeting
of this Class for the present session will take place
on Friday evening next, the 10th inst., when the
subject will be ‘‘Plumbing.” The following are the
questions :—1. Illustrate the method of performing
the leadwork to an ordinary slated roof. 2. Explain
the parts and action of acommon pump, and an
ordinary water-closet apparatus. 3. What is a
“wipe joint,” and how formed? Describe any other
joints used by a plumber. 4. Illustrate and fully
describe the method of covering a slightly pitched
roof with zinc. 5. Give specification for the gas-
fitting to a 14-roomed house; upon what data do
you calculate? Explain the action of meter. 6.
Why is paint used, and how it should be done. 7.
Distinguish between the different kinds of glass and
glazing in general use.
oo
CHIPS.
The natives of Madras haye subscribed 21,000
rupees for the erection of a School of Arts.
The Musical Standard hears that an immediate
enlargement and alteration of the choir of §. Paul's
Cathedral is contemplated. A site has been secured
in Neweate-street for a choristers’ school, which will
shortly be commenced, and will accommodate 40
boys.
Messrs. King’s tender (£7,435) for the erection of
the new Camberwell Vestry Hall has been accepted
by the Vestry. Mr. Power, of Walbrook, is the
architect.
Hatfield Church will be reopened on June 29th,
after restoration.
It is proposed to thoroughly restore Cheshunt
parish church.
Fireworks and music are important items in the
expenditure of the public works department of the
Municipal Government of the City of New York.
Less than nine months’ supply is set down at
15,000 dols. for the fireworks, and 15,364 dols. 42 cents.
for the music.
The Art Union of London, on Tuesday, held its
annual meeting ; Lord Houghton in the chair. The
sum subscribed for the year had been nearly £12,000.
The Foresters’ Monthly Journal states that the
hall and offices recently erected in Wilderness-row,
Clerkenwell, by the London United District, at a
cost of some’ £16,000, will be required for the
purposes of the proposed Mid-London Railway.
The Improvement Oommissioners of Bury have
received an intimation from the Privy Council that
their lordships do not consider it expedient to grant
a charter of incorporation. A limited liability company has been formed at Lowestoft, for the erection of a library and public hall for the town. ‘The capital required will be £1,500. The Maryport Trustees are advertising for loans for the construction of anew dock and works at Maryport. A new bell, cast by Messrs. Warner, has just been presented by the Bishop of Lincoln to 8. Andrew’s Church, Grimsby. ‘The bell weighs 44 ewt., and its diameter from lip to lip is 26in. It is proposed to supplement this by other bells, at an estimated cost of £600. The death is announced of Mr. Peter Bradburn, surveyor, of Farnworth, at the age of 71. The Duke of Buccleuch has given his sanction to the erection of a number of dwelling-houses on the model system at Granton, suitable for the working classes. Wirksworth Church, Derbyshire, will be reopened on Thursday next, having been closed for restoration for some time. The ornamental drinking fountain for the Metro- politan Meat and Poultry Marketis in rapid progress, from the design and under the superintendence of Mr. Francis Butler, the architect, of Marylebone- road. The plans for the central garden are under consideration in committee. 367 _—SS———————————————————— OOOO eee Grade Hews. WAGES MOVEMENT. BERLIN.—The builders and master masons of Berlin published on Monday an announcement stating that, united with the master carpenters, they had on Satur- day discharged their journeymen, in order to oppose the terrorism and social Democratic dictature of the journeymen. This especially had reference to the partial strikes against isolated masters, and the abusive declaration against the masters issued by the workmen, as well as to prevent the arbitrary increase of wages and the other concessions which were demanded. BIRMINGHAM.—The new rules for the carpenters, joiners, plasterers, and labourers have been settled by Mr. Rupert Kettle, and agreed to. They came into force on Wednesday, and remain binding till next May, and notice to alter them must be given not later than December 16. BLACKBURN.—The strike has been settled. Masters and men had a conference, at which they agreed to meet each other half way. CAMBRIDGE.—The building operatives of Cam- bridge, to the number of over 300, gave effect on Wednesday morning to their resolutions by answering the roll-call on Parker’s Piece, and a strike has now actually commenced. The gathering took place at six o'clock, and everything passed off quietly. The men met again at ten, when a procession was formed, and the men paraded the town. There are no indica- tions of the masters giving way. DuBuiin.—The labourers in the building trade, Dublin, to the number of 150, have struck for higher wages. The increase sought for is from 12s. to 16s. per week. ‘The entire number of men affected is about 600, but the employers of 450 haye met the views of the workmen. DuMFRIES,—Some time ago the journeymen masons of Dumfries requested their employers to grant that the day’s work should be nine hours, to commence on Ist May. Last week, the masters agreed to grant the nine hours system from the Ist August, and to increase the wages 3d. per hour. The men refused to accept of the nine hours at 1st August, and intimated that unless their terms were acceded to, they would strike on Ist May. There are a considerable number of men on strike from another cause. EpinpurGH.—The Edinburgh French polishers held a meeting in Burden’s Hotel, last week, at which there was a full attendance. It was unanimously agreed to extend the strike to several of the other larger firms in towns, if those firms did not imme- diately grant the same pay for 51 hours as had been previously received for 57 hours; and that if these were not granted by Saturday, the 27th inst., the workers to those firms should come out on strike also. A motion was discussed :—‘t That we form a league for the purpose of aiding strikes.” An amendment, how- eyer, was carried by the casting vote of the chairman : —‘ That we take no action in the meantime, but give all polishers a chance to join our society.” Gosty Hiiu.—The brickmakers and labourers of the Rowley and Hales Owen district held a meeting last week, at Gosty Hill, to consider the advisability of asking for an advance of wages and a reduction of hours as follows:—4d. a day rise to the labourers, 6d. a thousand to the brickmakers and piece-workers, and odd stuff makers in proportion; to commence work at six o’clock in the morning, and to leave off at five o’clock at night and two o'clock on Saturday. It was resolved that all who had not given in their notice should give notice on Saturday last. HUDDERSFIELD.—A short time ago the joiners and carpenters of Huddersfield demanded an advance of 4s. a week and a reduction of 2} hours in the week’s work. The employers refused, and a Court of Arbitration, composed of workmen and employers, was appointed to consider the request. After considerable discussion the matter has been amicably settled by a compromise —the men are to have 1s. advance instead of 4s., and the reduction of hours that they demanded. The new arrangement takes effect from the 1st instant. Ipswicn.—The men engaged in the building trade at Ipswich held a meeting yesterday (Thursday) week, when it was resolved to strike in two shops, with a view of forcing the employers to concede the nine hours’ limit. SHEFFIELD. — The workmen employed in the Sheffield building trades on Wednesday morning struck work. They ask for fifty hours per week all the year round in every branch, and that the carpenters’ and joiners’ wages shall be 74d. per hour throughout the year. The employers offer fifty-three hours and 7}d. The carpenters and joiners of Rotherham also struck work the same day fora similar advance and shorter time than they work at present. SrouRBRIDGE. — The strike in the Stourbridge building trade has been of very short duration. A meeting of bricklayers was held at the New Inn, En- ville-street, Stourbridge, on Monday evening, in re- ference to the application the men had made for an advance of wages, and it appeared that none of the masters had expressed themselyes willing to pay the advance. It was resolved that for the present the men should resume work at the old rates. Tne BARNSLEY MASONS AND THE SATURDAY HALF-HoLIpDAY.—Some time ago the operative masons of Barnsley gave notice to their employers of their in- tention to enforce the Saturday half-holiday from the
