Swanston, Andrew, Builder and Contractor, 207 Gloucester Street, Christchurch. Mr. Swanston is one of the most prominent contractors in New Zealand, and has successfully carried out many important works in various parts of the colony; such as the Birdling's Flat-Little River railway, additions to the Sunnyside Asylum, the Mataura waterrace, the Bank of New Zealand, Mataura, eight railway stations on the Wellington-Woodville line, the Congregational Church, Wellington, the Westport-Cardiff Coal Company's works, the Opawa traffic bridge, the page 296 Fendalton bridge, and many other important works in and around Christchurch. Early in 1902 he completed the new Public Library and the East Belt bridge. About the middle of the year 1900 Mr. Swanston undertook the difficult task of the removal of the Roman Catholic Pro-Cathedral from Barbadoes Street to Ferry Road. The removal was the biggest thing of its kind ever attempted in New Zealand. The building was cleared of everything movable inside, the slates on the roof were stripped off, and removed; and after that it weighed about 250 tons, and had a floor space of 9288 square feet. Doubts were expressed by many practical men as to the possibility of the task, and some even went to Bishop Grimes and warned him that the attempt could result only in failure. But his Lordship had been in America, where the removal of large brick buildings, and even brick chimneys, is not uncommon. Besides, he had faith in the architects. Messrs Collins and Harman, and in the contractor, Mr. Swanston. The method adopted was to lay sleepers, 6 inches by 6 inches, 5 feet apart, and over the sleepers to lay joists 6 inches by 6 inches, so that the building might be drawn along these. As a first step the building was raised 18 inches, and for this nearly all the screw-jacks in Christchurch were requisitioned, and were placed about 10 feet apart under all sides of the building. Then the sleepers and joists were laid. Under the plates of the building, and firmly attached to them, there were eight skids of kauri 12 inches by 6 inches, bolted to the building all round. The church was thus converted into a kind of monster sleigh. Soap and tallow were freely applied to the top sides of the joists and the under sides of the skids, and this mixture formed a surface as slippery as ice. Three traction engines were then attached to the building in four places, with wire ropes. When all was ready the interest was intense. The prophets of evil were mere; the Bishop and many of his clergy looked on in confidence; the contractor and his men, the architects, and a good assortment of the public were present. After a careful examination of everything, the word was given; the traction engines started, and the large weighty mass moved smoothly, and apparently easily over the wooden way. What must have been an anxious moment for the contractor and the architects, no matter how confident they were in their experience and skill., had come and passed, and their efforts were successful. The building, with a new iron roof and concrete foundations, was afterwards made fit for religious services pending the completion of the new Cathedral, and after that it will be used as a schoolroom. Mr. Swanston does an extensive business in haulage and wood cutting, his traction engines and portable saws and other appliances being thoroughly up to date. He is a native of Berwickshire, Scotland, where he learned his trade. In 1874 he arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship “Canterbury,” and worked at his trade until 1878, when he started in business as a contractor in Christchurch. Mr. Swanston has been eminently successful, as the result of honestly applied intelligence and thoroughness of workmanship.