EARTHQUAKE RISK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 147, 19 March 1934, Page 10

EARTHQUAKE RISK

Safety of the Town Hall COUNCIL TAKES ACTION After the e/dinary meeting of the City Council last week certain matters were dealt with in committee. Among these wtifi a decision regarding taking precautions against earthquake damage as far as the Town Hall building is concerned. This was to the effect that the city engineer (Air. G. A. Hart) prepare an estimate of the cost and conditions under which tenders may be called for the removal of part or v the whole of the Town Hall tower, the main entrance portico, and the superfluous balustrading round the parapet of the structure. Some two years ago, after the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, the safety of the Town Hall was considered by the council, and reports were called for. The city engineer considered there was a grave risk in the existence of the tower, as it now stands, and as a result of inspections the building was found to have been subjected to some strain. Cracks had developed in various parts of the structure. Later plans were submitted by Messrs. W. M. Page, -S. M. Fearn, and V. P. Haughton, architects, for the lowering of'the tower in one instance, and for its almost total demolition in another; for the elimination of the existing portico, and the redesigning of the front entrance to accord with the alterations. One scheme was to do away with the clock altogether; the other was to retain it, but at a much lower level than at present. According to the city engineer, scheme A. which was to do away with the clock would cost £5723, and the second, scheme B, which provided for its re-establishment at a lower level. £6113. The engineer recommended scheme B. as, while it provided for the retention of the clock, it also specified that the balustrading all round the Town Hall should be removed. The City Council concurred in Mr. Hart’s judgment, but as no money was available for such a major work, it was decided it could not then be prosecuted. Now that a new financial year is in sight provision will doubtless be made for the work on the estimates.