URICKWORK. 929 



is often impaired by the difficulty of securing- appropriate 

 material. When that time does arrive it should be hailed 

 with satisfaction by all well-wishers of art and science, for 

 brickwork is the material of the million, and its popular appre- 

 ciation may be regarded as a sure index of improved public 

 taste. I do not mean to say that brickwork will ever take 

 the place of stone,— indeed such a possibility would be a 

 calamity, — but it is well known that the cost of stonework pre- 

 cludes its use in all but exceptional instances, consequently 

 the choice simply rests between l)rick and cement. 



Tiles. 



I cannot close this paper without speaking about tiles, 

 which naturally come under the heading of brickwork. For 

 flooring purposes they are now largely used, and every day 

 increases their popularity, so that a great extension of their 

 employment may be looked for in the near future. Those 

 who put up permanent l)uildings know that in the long run 

 a tiletl jmvement is cheaper than a wooden tloor, for the 

 former is practically indestructible, whereas the latter is liable 

 to destruction by fungi, insects, or fire, besides being open to 

 many sanitary objections. 



Tiles for roofing purposes are little used in these colonies, 

 yet there can be no question but that they form the most 

 comfortable of all practical roof coverings, as well as the 

 most artistic. Tiles are largely used as roof coverings iji 

 many parts of the world, from the north of Europe to Spain, 

 Italy, Central and South America. Being non-conductors 

 of heat and cold, their utility in a country subject to rajiid 

 changes of temperature cannot be over-estimated, and the 

 wide extension of their use speaks powerfully in favour of 

 the high estimation in which they are held. 



As a practical illustration of the fact, I may mention that 

 a large liouse recently erected under my supervision was 

 covered ])artly with tiles and partly with galvanized corru- 

 gated iron. During a visit of inspection to the building a 

 thermometer was placed under the tiles and another under 

 the iron, whilst the sun was alike on both roofs, and the 

 result was that the space under the tiles registered a 

 temperature of 15° below the space under the iron covering. 

 Slates, like metal, are conductors of heat and cold, and 

 although buildings so covered may be stifling during the heat 

 of day, yet they cool down so rapidly with a lowering external 

 temperature as to be but little protection against cold. 



