Monday, November 8, 2010

Local Intelligence.

The business of the Waste Lands and Survey Departments has been removed, during the past week from the offices where it has hitherto been carried on to the new and more commodious apartments provided in the range of Government Buildings now fast approaching completion.

The interior of the new building, which has been erected from the designs of the Government Architects, consists of an extensive range of large, airy, and well lighted offices on the lower and upper floors, calculated to afford ample room for the Government officials during the next half-a-century, after allowing, for the decided tendency to increase usually displayed by that section of society in most parts of the world.

The exterior of the building is seen to the best advantage from the west side of Christchurch, where it presents an imposing aspect to the approaching visitor. From the southern and eastern side of the town the building, though standing on an apparently elevated site, is scarcely distinguishable among the mass of small houses which obstruct the view. The general effect has been somewhat damaged by the adoption of a different style in the latter built portion of the building; but, taken as a whole, we should doubt whether any province in New Zealand can show its equal. True it is that we believe it has cost near upon £20,000, but then what is the use of money, especially public money, if it is not to bespent; and here, at least, we have something to show for it.
Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 826, 10 October 1860, Page 4

COST OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir,— We would beg of you to correct a mis-statement which appears under the head of 'Local Intelligence' in this day's issue of your paper.

You there state your belief that the Government Buildings here have cost near upon £20,000. The fact is, that the whole of the outlay, including all sums yet to be paid to the contractors for the works and also architects' commission, will be under £13,500. A further sum of £270 may be added for fittings, furniture, carpeting, window blinds, etc.
Your obedient servants,
MOUNTFORT & LUCK,
Architects of the Works. Christchurch, Oct. 10, 1860.
Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 827, 13 October 1860, Page 5

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Canterbury Building Stone



New Zealand Exhibition
Mining, Quarrying, Metallurgy, and Mineral Products
Otago Daily Times, Issue 993, 23 February 1865, Page 5


... Canterbury's resources in building stones are illustrated by nine exhibitors; and the specimens thus brought together constitute the whole of the exhibits from the Province in Class 1. Most of the, stones will be found in the portion of the space allotted to the Province which is not under the gallery.

Mr W. G. Brittan sends several cubes of a dark blue and close-grained stone, from his Halswell Quarries, which are on the west side of Banks Peninsula, and seven miles from Christchurch; it being stated that the stone is extensively used for rubble walling, the New Council Chamber and Wesleyan Church being "principally built of it."

Serviceable looking kerbs are shown by Messrs Chalmers and Hall, from the Crighton Dale Quarry, Lyttelton.

A gray stone, from the Hoon Hay Quarries, is shown by Messrs N. and A. Ellis, in variously-worked cubes, and in a column, turned and partly polished. It is said to have been in very general use in Christchurch for six years and to have stood excellently. The quarries are seven miles from Christchurch, in hilly country, and the stone is abundant, in dykes, 17ft. wide.

A good looking almost white stone, which is said to be very easily worked and to harden with exposure, is exhibited by Messrs. Forgan and Son. It comes from the Limestone Ranges in the Weka Pass, in the northern district of the Province, and 40 miles from Christchurch.

Messrs. Graham and Waybourne, of Lyttelton, are exhibitors of freestone from a quarry at Governor's Bay, at the head of the harbor, and graystone from a quarry on the Sumner Road, near Lyttelton. The latter is used in the Presbyterian Church and the parsonage at Lyttelton; and it is stated to make first-rate kerbing and road metal. It finishes sharply and well, judging from the mouldings worked on some of the cubes.

A whiteish stone, also, from Governor's Bay, is sent by Messrs. Hall Brothers; the specimens, being from two quarries, 50 yards apart, one mile from the beach, and on the property of Mr. P. N. Hodgson. It is used for the dressings, &c., in the Christchurch Town Hall, St. John's Church, and other buildings.

Still a third exhibitor from the head of Governor's Bay.(Mr. J. M'Cosker) sends specimens of "white sandstone," which is got at "the water's edge, about five miles from Lyttelton." It is "extensively used in the new Council Chamber and Wesleyan Church, Christchurch."

The last exhibitor is Mr P. Thompson, owner of the Bridle Path Quarry, Heathcote Valley. Mr Dobson, the engineer of the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, writes—"The stone forms a vertical dyke or roof about 20ft in thickness, which appears to extend in a straight direction for several miles; although, on account of its position, there are but few points at which it could be profitably worked. At Mr Thompson's quarry, the stones rises out of the steep hill side, like a wall, to the height of about 30ft, this extent of face giving unusual facilities for working the quarry, whilst the manner in which the stone thus exposed has resisted for centuries the attacks of the weather, is a test of its durability." The Christchurch Railway Terminus the new Custom House, the College Buildings, and many private residences, are examples of the use of this stone, which is of a warmish, brown color...



New Zealand Exhibition 1865
Honorary certificates have been awarded by the Juries to the following persons:-

Catalogue No: 404
Name: Forgan and Son
Address: Canterbury
awarded for: Building stone from the Limestone Ranges, Weka Pass

Otago Daily Times , Issue 1080, 6 June 1865, Page 8

Forgan.- On October 26, at his residence, Timaru, Thomas Forgan, senr., aged 82 years.
Timaru Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 1576, 15 November 1876, Page 2

Born 4 February 1794
died 26 October 1876 aged 82 years



OBITUARY.
MR JAMES FEATHER. Another early settler A Canterbury was removed by death yesterday morning in the person of Mr James Feather, who after some twelve months' illness, expired at his residence, Addington, at the age of seventy-four years. Mr Feather was born hi the town of Ovenden, Yorkshire, and came to Lyttelton on May 9, 1860, in the ship Gananogue. Shortly after his arrival he was engaged by the late Mr F. Thompson to work the Hoon Hay quarries, from which the stone of which the Provincial Council Chamber was constructed was procured. Some of the stone was sent to the London Exhibition of 1861. Mr Feather remained in the position of manager until Mr Thompson disposed of the quarries. After this he entered into partnership with the late Mr J. Forgan, and with him opened the Halswell quarries, and afterwards was interested in other quarries on the Hoon Hay portion of the Port Hills, near the present Victoria Park. After a year or two the Halswell quarry passed into the hands of the original Lincoln Road Tramway Company, which laid a line with wooden rails from the foot of the hills to bring the stone into town. To prevent this the Road Board erected a toll-bar on the Lincoln Road just opposite where the present show grounds stand, but after the authorities had been set at defiance by the Tram Company a few times, and the bar destroyed once or twice, it was removed. Mr Feather then worked the Dyer's Pass quarries for a few years, and afterwards bought the property on which the present Star Hotel at Addington stands, and opened Feather's Hotel there, carrying on the business until 1877, when he retired, and has not been actively engaged in business since. Since that time he had acquired a good deal of property in the Loburn district, and upon this his sons are now settled. He was always a staunch supporter of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and for many years he was a member of the committee of that society. From the time that the Canterbury Saleyards Company was formed until his death he had been one of its directors, and had always taken a lively interest in its welfare, attending the yards regularly until twelve months ago, and most of the improvements which have been made there have been carried out under his supervision. As a mark of respect the flags at the yards yesterday were at half-mast. He was also for many years a member of the Riccarton Road Board. Mr Feather leaves three sons and three daughters, one of his sons-in-law being Mr J. W. Wright, auctioneer for Messrs George King and Co.
Star, Issue 6242, 28 July 1898, Page 1

Provincial Council Chambers



We take from the Lyttelton Times the following description of the new Council Chamber in course of construction at Christchurch:
- "The works in connection with this building have been commenced in earnest. The following is a slight description of the intended edifice, with some of the principal dimensions. The style is the Early English. The length of the interior will be 55 feet, and the width 44 feet. The chamber will be entered by a lobby from the south; the length of this lobby will be 13 feet by 7 feet in width. The Speaker's room and the Clerk's room, each 13 feet by 12, are to be situated on the right and left of the lobby respectively, which is to be approached by a flight of steps from the footpath from the bridge. The reporters' gallery is to be at the south end of the Chamber, occupying its entire width, and will be supported on porphyry pillars from Mr Ellis' quarry at Hoon Hay. The main entrance to the Chamber is to be on the west side of the building; the deeply-recessed doorway will be reached by a low flight of steps, the recess itself being paved with encaustic tiles. The door-way will open into a vestibule 28 feet long, and 16 feet wide. In the centre of the vestibule, on the right hand side, will be the doors leading to the chamber, and on the left those conducting to the Stranger's Gallery. Further on in the vestibule, but more to the east, a communication will be made with the present building. In the eastern wall of the vestibule will be a doorway opening into the Government Gardens. The total height of the building will be 24ft; total width, 36ft; total length, 94ft. Under the Speaker's Room and the Clerk's Room, the boilers will be placed for the hot water apparatus employed in heating the chamber. The principal portion of the work upon which the workmen are at present engaged is the excavation of the soil for the reception of the boilers. The building will be constructed of bluish gray rubble with gray porphyry dressings and quoins. The interior dressings and jambs are to be of sandstone, the inside of the chamber up to the window-sills will be lined with encaustic tiles from a porphyry plinth; above this, with sandstone ashlar. The roof will be pointed, ridge and furrow, and covered with slates.



The contractors for the undertaking are Messrs Forgan and Sons, the design being furnished by Mr Mountfort, of the firm of Messrs Bury and Mountfort; Mr F. Lockyear acting as clerk of the works. The total cost of the Chamber will be about £7000, and it is expected to be finished in the month of January next."

Otago Daily Times, Issue 806, 19 July 1864, Page 4



Our new Council-chamber is fast rising, and will certainly be something for Canterbury to be proud of. The dimensions are something like 65 feet by 35 feet; the style, pointed and freely treated; the two-light windows on either side are deeply recessed behind an arcade, to which shafts, of a stone resembling Purbeck marble, will give an excellent effect. The timber roof, or rather ceiling, may be described as "ridge and furrow," in the form of a well pronounced pointed arch. It is to be divided by ribs into bays at each window, over which the ridges and furrows terminate in section, the principal ribbing arches being carried on columned corbels. There is much of novelty in the design of this roof; and one thing is certain, it will imperatively demand colour; and here will be the difficulty; it would really be worth while to send to England for an artist who would do it well; for to mar such a piece of work by any paltry makeshifts, for the sake of temporary effect, would be a thousand pities. A range of buildings, to be used as refreshment or retiring-rooms, is also going forward. Mr. Mountfort is the architect, and may be congratulated on such a success as I venture to say this building will be. The same artist has also in hand the buildings for the Supreme Court, which will be erected on a block of land adjacent to the present Government Buildings, and which will eventually continue the facade along the river.
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 150, 12 December 1864, Page 6