ARCH COLLAPSES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 151, 30 June 1928, Page 10

ARCH COLLAPSES

RESULT OF HEAVY,WIND SHOW BUILDING DAMAGED The back arch of the centre unit of the Wellington Show building, which is iii the course of construction at the John street site, was blown clown by the wind last night. Tho piece of work which was demolished was a concrete section about CO feet in length,----22 feet in height, and 14in in thickness. It 'weighed about 20 tons, and was reinforced with steel. The section, which was built with two others on the level of the top floor of the now building, occupied the centre position, and comprised three arches. The section had been completed, and was stayed in its-place awaiting erection of the roof principals. The force of the wind was so great that the entire section broke' off at its base, and fell outwards, damaging in its fall n large quantity of floor timber which was stacked close by. It. is reported thatl the wind in the vicinity of the works last night was exceptionally heavy, and that pieces of timber were caught up and whirled in tho air. This morning, a gang of men was employed in breaking up the concrete which had fallen iv large pieces, and clearing away the debris. It was fortunate that the material fell outside the building, otherwise the damage dono would have been-much more severe. Speaking to.a 'Post" reporter today, Mr. It. 11. Nimmo, chairman of the Wellington Show Association, said that the accident was a great disappointment to members of the association, who sympathised with the contractor. It was estimated that the damage would run into four figures. It seemed to him almost incredible that the wind should have attained such a velocity as to cause the damage. It was impossible to estimate what delay there would be in the completion of the Show building. Mr.-. Nimmo said he sympathised with the builder, who, had been pushing ahead with the work at the utmost speed, and who desired to complete it at the earliest possible date. Steps had already been taken to reconstruct the work. Portions of temporary work at the building were also damaged by the wind, but these have been repaired. .