194 THE farmers' handbook. 



Internally the covering would be of fibro-cement 4 feet high, and wood 

 veneer sheeting above, with ceilings of the same material, and the whole 

 finished as panelled work, with fillets covering the joints of the sheets. This 

 material is strong when fixed,, and can be finished in either paint or varnish, 

 and makes a good class of work at a reasonably low cost. 



For such rooms as the bathroom, larder, kitchen, laundry, and storeroom 

 fibro-cement sheeting would be fixed internally the full height of walls. 



The roof may also be covered with slates of this material, which are now 

 extensively used, and are proving satisfactory, but the galvanized-iron roof is 

 the most lasting, and, therefore, in back-country districts, where repair work 

 requires to be avoided as much as possible, the iron roof is recommended. 



By coating it with one of ■ the roof-coating paints, and providing good 

 ventilation and boarding under the battens, it is a cool roof. Of course, a 

 good pitch must be given to the roof. 



Ventilation of the rooms can be provided for by inserting gratings on the 

 outer face of the walls at tie floor level, and about 6 inches under the ceilings, 

 also on the inner face in each room at about 4 inches under the ceilings. 

 Larger openings must be made in the foundation walls, having strong wire- 

 netting on frames, affording not only provision for ventilation, but (as a 

 further precaution against the white ant) also for the admission of light. 

 The foundations under the whole building should be lime-washed, and the 

 ground surface left properly cleaned up. A door opening should be provided 

 at the most convenient position for gaining admission under the building to 

 inspect when desired. 



Progress of the Building. 



The first part to be erected might be that indicated on the plan by open lines, 

 viz.: — The sitting-room (v\hich may be used as a best bedroom), the dining- 

 room, kitchen, larder, No. 1 bedroom, and back verandah, which provides 

 space 13 feet x 10 feet 6 inches for sleeping out purposes, and the verandah 

 continued round the back. The probable (pre-war) cost of this section would 

 be about £650. This afterwards covers in the laundry, porch, and store-room, 

 which would be the second portion to be erected, as indicated by blocked-in 

 lines, and finally the extra bedrooms, permanent bath-room, and enclosed 

 court-yard, as shown by hatched lines, which would complete the residence. 



The probable cost of this work before the war would be £1,050 to £1,350, 

 according to the materials used and the locality, the lower figure being the 

 probable cost for the work being done with the lighter materials specified, 

 and near the railway at about 250 miles from Sydney. 



For the first section of the house, three 1,000 gallon tanks would probably 

 be sufficient, but, as soon as possible, there should be provided an underground 

 tank, with either a hand or a windmill pump to raise the water to an elevated 

 tank to supply all requirements. 



The whole drainage should be conducted into a small septic tank set about 

 2 chains from the house, and delivering the effluent into the vegetable garden 

 or other cultivation. These tanks can now be had in various sizes from the 

 State Monier Concrete Works ready to set in position and connect to the 

 drain pipes. 



The Roof Plan, 



A plan of the roof, showing the lines of construction, as when the building 

 would he completed, is also supplied. If a section only of the building is 

 required, the roof should be hipped at the point to be continued, so that the 

 materials can be used again in the extension. 



