PISE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Y011 will be interested to hear of the establishment of another pisd building organization, this time in South Africa, where Mr. E. T. Baines has formed " The Pisd de Terre Construction Co., Ltd.," of Johannesburg (118 Cullinan Build- ings). He has sent me an excellent little manual on pistl building that he has issued in connexion therewith, it being none the less valuable for its frankly propagandist vein. Though he acknowledges his debt to the Spectator and to my own book on the subject, Mr. Baines has added not a little to the sum of pise lore from his recent investigations and experi- ence:-

" Some pia authorities advise that every course of pisil should be cut back to an angle of 45 degrees before the follow- ing course is added to it, the object being to escape having a vertical joint. The alternative to doing this is to butt one course against the next, which, of course, gives the vertical joint. When doing this remember to cut a 6in x 4in. groove (vertiele) in the end of the course against which you propose

butting, and see that the new section is thoroughly rammed into it. The writer has done building in both ways, and has discussed the matter with Mr. Bremner, the gentleman who built the City Deep offices, and who has been engaged in build- ing for the Rhodesian Government in pise work for some years past. The objection to cutting back a course is the waste of time it involves; the waste of having to do work which you are going to undo immediately. One of the great features of pise work is its quickness. Unless, therefore, some material benefit is to accrue from using the longer method, one would naturally use the simpler and more expeditious. Mr. Bremner's opinion, with which the writer agrees, is that there is no compensating advantage in the cutting back method, and that equally good results are obtained by butting one course against the next. Care must be taken, however, that on the return course the vertical joint of the lower course does not coincide with the vertical joint of the upper course—in other words, care must be taken that the joint in each course is broken.

When shattering is removed from a properly rammed course in which the soil has been of the right moisture and con- sistency, the surface exposed will be found hard and smooth, resembling concrete: shortly afterwards small horizontal cracks on the surface will begin to appear. These will be more noticeable around the holes in the walls caused by the bolts. The cracks are caused by the drying out of the surface through evaporation and are of no consequence.

The rarefication of the air in this country with the conse-

quent accelerated evaporation is the usual cause of most cracks appearing in the top layers of a course. To prevent these, damped sacks (and kept damp) should be laid over a com- pleted section until a further course is to be laid."

The author also advocates the immediate plugging up of the bolt holes with a view to obviating cracking by making the drying-out more even. A photograph is given of a block of offices nearing completion for the City Deep Mining Co. :—

" The erection of the building in pise, which is 62ft. x 27ft. X 12ft., is due to the initiative of Mr. J. M. Leisk, chairman of the company. The work was carried out by Mr. D. Bremner, who came from Rhodesia for the purpose. We may state that the general manager is thoroughly satisfied with the building,

and is of opinion that pisd work will prove valuable on other mining properties."

Of cost Mr. Baines says :— " The average cost of best brickwork here is 76s. per cubic yard. At the time of writing workshops are in course of erection in pisd on a coal property in the Witbank district, where the work is costing 12s. a cubic yard. In a comparison with brickwork minor charges for plastering and tarring would have to be added to the pisd account."

Of plugs:— " Plug 4 x 2 x 9 must be built in with the pisd for securing door and window frames, two plugs for windows and three for doors. The plugs should be soaked in water for several hours before being used, as otherwise when embedded in the pisd they will swell on account of its dampness, thereby tending to a cracking of the wall. Similar plugs can be inserted for skirting or picture rails."

Of pillars:—

"The writer is at present engaged in making circular pillars '(15in. diameter) in rolled iron plate moulding. Most satis- factory results have been obtained.'

Of building procedure:— "Finally, we would like to utter one word of warning, so that those who seek to do pied building may not be disap- pointed. Never set out to erect a house (outbuildings do not matter), however simple, without having a plan properly drawn by someone who understands the principles and require- ments of simple building construction, and without having first made several experimental walls. Further, unless you have a knowledge of carpentering, do not attempt to put up a house without the assistance of someone who has that know- ledge. If you attempt to do so in defiance of these axioms, you are certain to produce an unsatisfactory job, with the result that pisd work will stand condemned in your eyes and in the eyes of your friends for evermore. The same trained know- ledge of building is required to build a house in pisd as is required to build a house in bricks. If you give to pisd the same skilled attention that a decently-built brick house receives, you will find yourself possessed of a house that will be an enduring source of gratification to you."

It is reassuring to know that pisd building in South Africa is being taken up with the thoroughness usually held appro- priate to the better-known forms of construction, and in show- ing what can be done by skilled operatives under careful management Mr. Baines will do the cause of pisd the best possible service.

"Many applications have been received from various sources inquiring for pia work to be undertaken on their behalf. The amount of work offered would appear to justify the existence of some organization capable of bringing pied work up to a con- siderably higher standard than it has hitherto occupied, and the writer has, therefore, in conjunction with others techni- cally interested, formed a private company to undertake and generally to push high-class pisd work in the 'Union."

It should be noted that Mr. Baines is all for quality as against excessive cheapness, the following significant passage occurring in his covering letter :- "Nothing but first-class work will give permanent satisfac- tion in pisd, and to that end I have only had tradesmen (carpenters) instructed in the work. It makes it more expen- sive than using unskilled labour, but it is worth it, and it obviates all chances of trouble with the Unions."

Despite, however, the burden of Trade Union wages, pied can still give brickwork points, and the author sums up as follows :—

"Cheapness.—A third of the cost of brickwork. Durability.—Properly constructed pied is indestructible; it has three times the specific gravity of brickwork. Speed.—Twice the pace of brick-laying."

-I am, Sir, &c., CLouan WnalAms-aus.

22 South Eaton Place, S.W. I.