Blocks for Building

Much interest is being shown of late in the construction at Wainui Beach township of the first house to be built locally of modern-style concrete blocks--a system which has found great favour in other parts of the country, and which has many advantages, notably in speed of construction, reduced fire risk, and lower maintenance costs.

Photographs on this page were taken at the Geo. W. Aitken Concrete Works in Gladstone Road, where an American Fleming block-making machine was recently installed. It can turn out 100 completed blocks per hour.

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An operator working the Fleming machine

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View from rear of machine, showing hopper & conveyor

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A completed block being. removed from the machine

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A type of block for which Aitken's hold patent

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The finished product being loaded for delivery

Photographs on this page show concrete-block house in course of erection by Mr B. I. Currie.

Cost is estimated to be about 5 per cent higher than for a timber house of similar size, but lower maintenance costs could soon offset this. Fire insurance is about one half of that for timber house.

The use of concrete blocks for houses is extensive in some districts in N.Z. Usually both outside and inside walls are plastered, but pleasing effects can be secured with coloured wash, especially on interior walls.

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The house at Wainui Beach in process of construction

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An interior View

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A workman laying the blocks

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Tile fireplace surround is also among products now made locally at Aitkens'