VICTORIA SQUARE STANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 5

VICTORIA SQUARE STANDS.

• -RUMOURS OF INSECURITY. , ■REFUTED BY MR R., W., ENGLAND, JUN. TO THE’ EDITOR. ’ -S Sir, —I see by your issue of Saturday that a feeling, is entertained: by some that the stand now being erected in Victoria Square is none too safe fox the great number of people which it is intended to accommodate. I trouble you with this letter because, after a look around the structure oh Saturday, I think there is good reason for that feeling. Evidently, every care is Taken to avoid injury to th# timber used. The struts are not cut in, and in most cases have nothing to thrust against, their usefulness • depending solely oh twp •wire nails in each end. Not a bolt could I;see in the whole lot. The inclined •planks, which carry the seats, being too short, are jointed over one of the upright supports, the v only ti e to them ( being : an odd end of hoard, tacked over the joint with wire na-ijs.,. And, worse from the Colombo ,Street end tire joints follow in succession ofer one line of uprights, instead of alternating over second and third posts, as they should have done if. joints were- necessary. I notice, too, that the' upright supports _to the rails which protect the -openings in the stage have a single wire nail near the seat, to take all the thrust that it may be. subjected to. I would not trust my life on that stage unless bolts were put through. aU the braces now depending on wire nails, .and also strong pieces of_ timber or iron bolted ’ over the joints m the inclined planks.— I am, etc., MECHANIC. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As requested by you, and by the courtesy of Mr Dobson, I have inspected the stands in Victoria Square and Hagley Park, with the purpose of satisfying your readers as to the safety of the same. .The-stands are -safe, and need, cause no feat to the most timid. Your readers must: recollect that economy has dictated a few: minor points- in construction that the hypercritical are .justified- in questioning: if the structure were permanent; but com- - mon sense could not expect these niceties in a temporary structure. Less reliance: in nails, and an introduction of holts in the . struts. of the principals , would make : the stands more to my mind, but otherwise; the stands are all that could be desired' for the purpose.—l am, etc., R. W. ENGLAND, JUN., Architect. June 18, ISOI.