OLD COUNCIL BUILDING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 66, 17 February 1931, Page 9

OLD COUNCIL BUILDING.

REPORT TO BE OBTAINED. Steps for the evacuation of the old building forming the front portion of the council chambers, pending a thorough examination, were decided upon by the Palmerston North City Council last evening. Reporting on the general condition .of the old portion of the council offices, the City engineer stated : “Following the recent earthquakes of tile 3rd and 13th inst., several cracks have appeared in the walls of the building, as follow: —Front wall, two cracks in front parapet extending down to tho windows. Dividing wail between drawing office and engineer’s room, crack over door extending lor about 3ft. Electrical inspector’s room, fracture at ceiling line on two walls. Passage and Mayor’s room, decided fracture between old and new buildings. Tho building apparently suffered more severely during tho shake on Friday last, since when tho cracks which had previously developed appear slightly wider. I would suggest that a special committee of the council bo set up to make an inspection along with thr assistance of a local contractor and decide what steps should be taken. Friday’s shako caused a fracture in one of tho horizontal struts of tho water tower at the abattoirs. I Jiavo had repairs put in hand by one of our local contractors.” “The old part of tho building is considered to be somewhat precarious,” said tho Mayor. “I would suggest that tho staff bo removed from the front of tho building to tho shops in the library building. The town clerk and tho typistes will have tp be accommodated somewhere in tho main office.” Or. Mansford asked what means of leaving the main office at the rear were availaulo in the event of an emergency. The town clerk intimated that there was an exit to tho right-of-way. “I agree that it is unfair to expect the staff to remain in a building where there is any suspicion of danger,” commented Cr. Eliott. “They should bo moved.” He moved that tho services of a Government architect be secured to report on the stability of tho structure. Tho position to bo faced would then be known. Cr. Hodgens seconded the motion and suggested that an emergency door be put in the side of tho main office, giving access straight on to the adjoining church property. Or. Tremaine considered that a Government building inspector would be too busy for weeks or months to find time to report to the council on the stability of its old brick building. He thought that they might wait too long. Probably an efficient clerk of works could make an immediate report, even if it was not conclusive. (Jr. Mansford .considered that the responsibility of making a report was a heavy one to place on the shoulders of a private individual and should be left to a Government official who was accustomed to assuming responsibilities of that nature. Cr. Fitzherbert: It seems to bo essentially an architect’s job. We should obtain the services of a Government man, even if we have to wait. The council carried the motion proposed by Cr. Eliott, and decided to move tho portion of the staff from the old portion of tho buildings to tho library building; and also to make provision for an emergency door leading from the main office.