SAFE BUILDING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 11

SAFE BUILDING.

TO RESIST EARTHQUAKES. ARCHITECT'S OBSERVATIONS IN STRICKEN AREAS. [TSS FBEBS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, July 8. Impressed with the splendid spirit of the refugees in the stricken earthquake area and the need for more study of the designing and construction of buildings in order to make them capable ui resisting earth tremors, Mr C. B. Ford, a prominent Auckland architect, has returned to the city after ten days' tour of the Murchison, Nelson, and Westport districts. Mr Ford was one of the committee consisting of Dr. C. E. Adams, Government Seismologist, Mr A. e>. Mitchell, engineer, of \Yejiington, and Mr Butcher, architect and town planner, set up by the Institute of Architects with the approval of the Minister for Scientific and Industrial Hesearch to examine buildings damaged by the earthquake and make recommendations as to future construction, having particular regard to the possibilities of a repetition of the trouble. ' Speaking generally, buildings that were damaged suffered either because of faultv designing or bad construction," explained Mr Ford, in an interview this morning. ''ln other words, the designing and construction of the buildings were good enougk for ordinary conditions, but failed when put to the test of earthquake shocks. The damage is greater generally than appears on the surface. Generalisations are difficult to make. For instance, buildings were standing undamaged on one side cf a street and buildings no better constructed on the opposite side had suffered considerably. In one street five wooden houses built exactlv alike had their chimneys down with one exception. The explanation of this and many other inconsistencies is probably the complex nature of the earthquake shocks. The only generalisation that can be made with safety is that sound building construction, even with only slight recognition of the possibility of natural disturbances, has m every case paid the owners." Replying to a question as to the unsuitability or otherwise of brick work for construction in earthquake areas, Mr Ford said that many brick buildings were found standing quite unharmed. Investigations showed in every case that where buildings were properly designed and built, brick was quite "a sound material in earthquake country, providing the designing was intelligent and the construction sound. The use of lime and mortar was certainly responsible for many damaged buildings and chimneys. Small shops suffered badly because of top-heavy brick facades built on slender piers and the walls themselves not being adequately tied back to the work behind. The risk arising out of the earthquake was that, the actual shocks being over, architects and builders would relapse into their old ways.

Discussing measures necessary to make buildings safe in the resistance of earth tremors, Mr Ford said that to make &mall public buildings and places of residence so safe that no one need have the slightest fear in the case of earthquakes was a matter much more of understanding the problem involved and designing accordingly than it was one of cost. The added cost involved to make buildings safe was negligible. In the case of high buildings the cost might run to a small additional percentage of the total cost. Ho understood that the insurance companies did not view earthquake insurance with favour owing to the obvious risks; but building owners had the matter in their own hands. Buildings properly designed to withstand earthquakes were the best possible insurance. Loss of life and property was absolutely unnecessary if adequate safeguards were taken.

DAMAGE AT MURCHISON.

CHRISTCHUBCH PARTY'S INSPECTION.

Mr and Mrs John Montgomery and Mr G. E. Mannering have just returned from a trip to Murchison. The journey was made by road and part of the route had to be traversed on foot. They found evidence of damage by earthquake and slips all round the district traversed, but as most of the hillsides are still virgin bush the damage to farms was limited to the areas of flat land on which debris was deposited. The damage, however, was very considerable, and in some cases horses, cattle, and implements suffered destruction by the landslides.

"It is hard to estimate the damage," said Mr Montgomery, "but on two farms that were examined close to Murchison £SOOO would not cover the monetary loss. Everything has been covered by an appalling mass of mud, timber, and stones." The party could not travel inland, for the roads were blocked, but great landslides could be observed in every direction.

"Murchison itself looks very much shattered," added Mr Montgomery. "Chimnevs, tanks, and verandahs lie strewn about, but except two structures, which collapsed like houses made of cards, the buildings seemed capable of repair. A few settlers were busy repairing chimneys only to have them knocked down again, but it was noticeable that some original chimneys still stood, showing that defective building was responsible for many chimneys falling. "Fortunately the weather was fine, hut it was bitterly cold in the shade. The trip back was made via Tophouse, which provides an excellent route to the West Coast from Blenheim, and is quicker and shorter than via Nelson." CHIMNEYS DOWN AT INANGAHUA (PBESS ASSOCIATIG* TCLEOai.lt.) REEFTON, July 8. Another severe earthquake shook Reefton to-day at 12.10 p.m. No damage is reported in Reefton. At lnangahua Junction all chimneys were again shaken down, and the shock was aga : n severe between Lyell and Inangahua Junction, the tremors and noises in that locality continuing for two hours after the main shock. £BOO FROM SOUTH TARANAKI. '?axss association txl*orak.) HAWERA, July 8. The earthquake relief fund subscription lists opened by the Hawera ' Star," the Mayor of Hawera, and the Waimate West County Council total £BOO. The lists are still open. HARBOUR BOARD GIVES £2OO. The Lvtteiton Harbour Boerd, at it* meeting vesterdav. decided to g ve £'AO to the Mayor s Fund for tie relief of earthquake sufferer*.