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Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 5 (Supplement)

COMMISSIONER’S REPORT “When the commissioners took charge, the drainage, sanitary, and stormwater systems were shattered. and-inoperative, the water supply system had been destroyed, and the dwellings of the town had been largely evacuated. These conditions. principally in their relation to public health, contained the most urgent problems for the commissioners. "The reconstruction of the sanitary. drainage, and of tlie water supply was given attention first. It was found that the sanitary sewers were just about 100 per cent, broken. "As the municipal services were gradually restored the people began to come back and they began to settle in Napier South faster than sanitary .sewerage connections could be given to them. It was necessary, therefore, that a temporary sealed pan system should be installed. This had to be arranged and carried out side by side with the reconstruction of the sewers. Reconstruction Nearly Completed"The work of relaying the sanitary system is now about completed. The restoration of the water supply system is nearly completed. “The reconstruction of the stormwater system is proceeding and the restoration of the streets in the devastated area with the new electrie reticulation is now claiming attention. “A total of 87 street corners have been splayed to give better visibility to traffic. "It was early realised that Napier’s distinguishing advantages of climate and waterfront could be best utilised and capitalised for town purposes by improvements on the waterfront, and this policy is engaging the attention of the commissioners. .

Low Cost Commented Ou. “Arising out of the street widening there have been some hundreds of claims for compensation with cross-demands by the council for •bettermen i.’ The commissioners adopted the policy of seeking to settle these matters by amicable negotiations and they have succeeded in more than 90 per cent, oE ' the eases. “The engineer of one of the four main centres on hearing of the work that Napier had done under this heading of a total cost of £30,000, said: ‘You have made several chains of new street, widened 98 chains of street, and splayed 87 corners at a less cost than we frequently have to spend to splay a single corner.’ ” Every Precaution Taken One of the leading master builders with contracts in Napier told "The Dominion” that every precaution was being taken by the builders of the New Napier to ensure that their structures would be proof against any earthquake of a severity equal to past experience. Should misfortune bring another disaster these reinforced concrete buildings might crack and shatter, but they would not fall. They were to the old type of construction as were battleships to tramp steamers. “It is a matter of efficient tying and. of providing for weights and stresses witli an ample margin of safety,” he said.” “This building, for instance” — and he pointed to one of the largest ol Napier’s new blocks—“cannot fall down. It is built like a big crate, and could take strain or pressure from any direction. A giant’s hand could roll it over and over on tlie ground? and it would not fall to pieces.' Its foundations, like the foundations of ■ tlie majority of other buildings of its type, are pillars extending to foundations that consist of large con-! Crete and steel pads—a pad to each pil? lar. In their turn the pads are linked underground, one with another, by * means of concrete and steel cross-pieces, 1 Tlie building from foundations to rooq is thus one solid, interwoven whole."