Repairs To Old Gaol Building At Greymouth

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 October 1949, Page 4

Repairs To Old Gaol Building At Greymouth

The State departments concerned 'are apparently not over-optimistic regarding the . early completion of the new Greymouth police station, although a contract has- already been let for its construction and a start has been made with the work of clearing the alite. This week, work was commenced on putting a new roof on the “lock-up” block at the old station, indicating that it is likely to be used for some time yet. The old buildings are in an advanced state of disrepair and the work of renewing the roof the lock-up was .'urgent, in that'it was impossible to jk£ep dry under the roof in wet weather. The original iron roof has rusted away almost entirely in-places and the roof leaked badly. The new roof being put on by the Ministry of Works ; isl a substantial job. The badly rusted iron roofing is being removed and. is being replaced by sarking and malthoid, making at least a water-proof cover over them, if not improving the dilapidated appearance of the old buildings. It has been pointed out that, while undoubtedly urgent at the present time, the work is involving expenditure which could have been avoided if the priority the situation demanded had been accorded the building of a new police .station and lock-up at Greymouth. For many years, the state of the existing buildings haa been the subject of jokes in national newspapers, but it has been no joke to the staff compelled to work in such conditions.

Perhaps, however, it is some comfort, to some people at least, to know that prisoners can now be kept dry, if not exactly comfortable, until such time as Greymouth has. its longawaited new police station.