Wellington Philosophical Society. 497 



2Jin. screws passing through holes bored in the slabs. These 

 holes are so made that the heads of the screws are sunk below 

 the surface of the slab, and are then covered over with the 

 patent concrete material used as a plaster. (If these slabs are 

 used on the outside and the inside of the studs, leaving an air- 

 space between, and also on the floors and ceilings, a perfect 

 fireproof structure is obtained, the timber framework being 

 completely protected from fire by the slabs.) 

 (4.) The natural colour of these slabs is somewhat lighter than Bath 

 or Oamaru stone. They can be supplied, however, of any 

 colour, and the most elaborate ornamentation can be moulded 

 on them. 

 (5.) Besides being wind- and weather-proof to a more perfect extent 

 than either wooden, stone, or brick buildings, and being also 

 earthquake- and fire-proof, these houses have the advantage 

 that, should damage from any cause be done to a wall, no 

 effect is produced on the slabs above or in the neighbourhood. 

 Each slab is supported quite independently of every other 

 slab. Damage is, however, very unlikely, as the slabs are 

 strong and tough. 

 Mr. 0. T. Richardson pointed out that the old hospital, which was 

 now removed, was built somewhat after the plan advocated by Mr. 

 Donaldson — namely, with what was called brick " nogging," a kind of 

 framework built in with brick. Upon the fact being brought before the 

 City Council they had provided that any one could build in the city after 

 the same style. 



Mr. JSIatusch : That only applies to No. 2 Building District, not to 

 No. 1. 



Mr. Brandon said that the City Councillors were not all architects or 

 builders, and they had to frame their by-laws in a negative form. Of the 

 two great dangers which they had to face, fire seemed more imminent 

 than earthquakes, so they prohibited the erection of wooden buildings in 

 the more populous parts of the city. They did not consider that it was 

 necessary to detail the several points to be observed in the construction 

 of buildings, so they left that part to the owners and architects. If the 

 Council had endeavoured to frame by-laws to guide people in erecting 

 structures warranted to resist earthquakes they would probably have laid 

 themselves open to a great deal more criticism than they are now sub- 

 jected to. As to the Post-oifice and Government Printing-office, the 

 Government did not consider themselves bound in any way by the City 

 by-laws, and would have gone on in their own sweet way in spite of the 

 most earthquake-resisting regulations. Mr. Kirk had thrown some 

 doubt on the raising of the ground at Te Aro on the occasion of the 

 earthquake of 1855 ; but he believed he was right in saying that on the 

 eastern coast of the province the beach was undoubtedly raised some 

 12ft., enabling settlers to ride round the coast where they had formerly 

 been obliged to climb over hills, while Te Aro flat was elevated 4ft. or 5ft. 

 In conclusion, he could only regret that, according to Mr. BIcKay's 

 account, we had still 9,500ft. to slip down. 



The President was sorry that there were not more persons present 

 •who were acquainted with the technical part of the subject. Of course, 

 his only knowledge of the subject was that of an ordinary layman. As 

 to the elevation of Te Aro, it would be excessively uncomfortable for the 

 residents if they had to go down again, even 4ft., and there was nothing 

 that he knew of to show that the land w-ould not go down in the next 

 earthquake in the same way as it rose thirty-three years ago. He was 

 very glad that last week's shake occurred at Amuri : if it had happened 

 in Wellington it would have knocked down about half the buildings in 

 the city. Professor Hutton had consoled the people of Christchurch 

 with the assurance that the centre of the late shakes was so distant as to 



