Explosion Damage To New Hospital

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30054, 12 February 1963, Page 12

Explosion Damage To New Hospital

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 11. An excessive explosive charge set off by a sub-contractor’s workman at the National Women’s Hospital on January 31 had extensively damaged plaster walls and set back construction for some weeks, said Mr T. H. C. Caughey, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, tonight. Mr Caughey said the exact extent of the damage was not yet known. “This is most annoying and will certainly delay the hospital,” he said.

Mr C. F. E. Hindmarsh, chairman of the buildings committee, said he had inspected the damage and had found cracks in the walls on all seven floors of the building. “I sincerely hope that these cracks are confined to the plaster and will not be too serious,” he said. The matter had been referred to the board’s solicitors.

A report from the board’s architects received by the board tonight said that damage would run to hundreds of pounds.

The report said that although it was possible that some structural damage had resulted, there was no evidence of this so far, but this should not be necessarily regarded as conclusive.

The cracking of partition walls would involve a good deal of work.

The whole of the plaster work on some walls might have to be removed and the walls entirely replastered.