COOK HOSPITAL

Evening Star, Issue 21216, 24 September 1932, Page 8

COOK HOSPITAL

THE EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE £6,000 REQUIRED [Pan United Press Association.] GISBORNE, September 23. A meeting of the Cook Hospital Board was held to-day to consider the report of Mr C. S. Alien, of Wellington, who is tho architect to the Department of Health, on the damage caused by the recent earthquake. The report stated that as a result of the earthquake he considered the expenditure of between £5,000 and £6,000 necessary in connection with the hospital. The main portiop of this sum would be for precautionary measures. Altogether, thirty-five chimneys would need to be replaced, many haying come down in the earthquake, while others were in such a dangerous condition that they had had to bo pulled down since. In No. 3 ward, which is a women’s ward, the west wall was badly cracked throughout its _ length, and there were minor cracks in other parts of the buildings. In regard to No. 3 ward, the open veranda, through not being attached to the roof, had acted as a' battering ram against the walls, being mainly responsible for the damage. The remaining four walls were practically undamaged, but in the event of another earthquake might suffer similar damage to No. 3 ward. Hence the necessity for strengthening these parts of' the building. He recommended that repairs to No. 3 ward be proceeded with immediately. Since the earthquake this ward has been evacuated, as it is at present unsa c > for occupation. Mr Allen also outlined various precautions in connection with the other four wards. Tho board resolved to take immediate steps to repair tho damage in No. 3 ward, unemployed relief labour to be utilised as much as possible. Regarding precautionary measures in the other wards, it was decided to call tenders for tho work as soon as finance could be arranged. The board also decided to send full details of the position to the Health Department and ask for an immediate grant towards the rehabilitation work.