120

respectively joined to them at right an-
gles, and consequently had their long
bases parallel to the line of movement,
remained, comparatively speaking—uninjured; a proof of the correctness of the
views just advanced.

The figures of solids annexed, show that
bodies lifted from their horizontal posi-
tion to an angle of 22 degrees, if 4 feet high,
are thrown 1 ft. 9 in. out of perpendicular, if 8 ft. high, 3 ft. 6 in., if 12 ft. high,
5 ft. 3 in., and if 16 ft. high, 7 ft.

Another illustration of the correctness
of this theory, was seen in a brickfield,
where rows of bricks were drying in
parallel rows, within two feet of each
other, when those four feet high were
thrown down, while those two feet
high remained standing. The rows were
at right angles to the line of direction of
the shake. Respecting the horizontal
form of a building, a square or parallel-
ogram is suitable; and for the elevation
of public buildings, for a high one story
building, the pyramidal or Gothic is re-
commended; and where a two story
building is desirable, the same style with
a clere story; but for a low one story
building, the Grecian proportions will be
found to answer. Where heavy fire
proof stores, or a solid brick building is
required, the mode in which the gaol is
built is recommended; the whole of the
brickwork of this building, is with the
exception of a trifling crack, uninjured; the
massive stone base, the stone quoins,
and the window stone dressings, are not
injured in the slightest degree; the stone
entablature was injured and was taken
down; this portion of the stone work was
top heavy, some of the stones nearly on
the balance, and others of them had no
iron rod passing through them at all;
whereas, if two iron rods had passed
through the two ends of each stone, the
result would have been very different.

The first brick buildings erected in
Wellington, were in general entirely
built of brick; the mortar generally used
being of a very inferior description.
Clay being the principle ingredient
used, and in the specimens examined by
the Commissioners, all traces of a cement-
ing nature had entirely disappeared, and
where in constant contact, as the founda-
tions, with wet and damp; this substitute
for mortar was found to have changed to
a dirty yellow substance of a soft and
yielding nature, merely affording a bed-
ding to the bricks, whereas if it had been
made of proper material, it would gra-
dually have hardened till time had changed
it to stone; but this process is exceed-
ingly slow, and if a good hydraulic
lime could be found in this country, (and
it is said to exist in the north) it would
be invaluable.—Roman and other ce-
ments are cheaper in London, their stone
or shell lime is in Wellington, and no-
thing but the high price of English ce-
ment here, prevents it from entirely su-
perseding the ordinary lime now in use.

The use of clay in the preparation of
mortar ought to be entirely discarded, as
it eats away all virtue from the lime, and
is well known to possess no properties of
a cementing nature. The buildings al-
luded to above were constructed of brick
alone, wood not being used to strengthen
them. In the earthquake of 1848, many
of these erections suffered severe damage,
since that heavy two storied stores were
constructed, by erecting a wooden frame
and casing it with brick, there being in
general four inch of brick outside the
frame and nine inch built inside the
studs: these stores have again suffered
and the timbers, red pine and matai built
in the brick work, are found to be de-
cayed, but totara forming the ground
plate, always wet, is perfectly sound: as
may be seen in Capt. Rhodes brick bond-
ing Store.

From this it follows that the timbers
from decay and original lightness were
not strong enough to retain the brick-
work, when the side of the building was
seven or eight feet out of the perpendicu-
lar. An inclined mass of brickwork
like the side of Messrs. Bethune and
Hunter’s store, weighing about 26 tons,
exclusive of the heavy goods, shifting to
the inclined side, was quite sufficient to
partly tear itself away from the angles of
the building.

Now if a one storied building were
cased with 14 inch brickwork, with here
and there holdfasts driven into the studs,
and turned down over the brickwork;
and if the timbers of the framing were all
totara: the studs and braces nine inch by
four inch, and the plates nine inch by
six inch, there would be little to appre-
hend from decay or earthquakes. Mr.
Stoke’s printing-office, though only brick
nogged in a totara frame, exhibits not
the slightest symptoms of decay or dam-
age, and it is not weatherboarded. Where
a two storied fire proof store is required,
it has occurred to the Commissioners,
that a building of the following descrip-
tion would be found to answer:—