DAMAGED SUBSTATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 40, 15 January 1935, Page 2

DAMAGED SUBSTATION.

REPORT TO BOARD. PROPOSALS FOR STRENGTHENING. A report that an examination of the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board’s substation at Bunnytliorpe had revealed considerable damage to the building from successive earthquakes was made to the monthly meeting of that body yesterday afternoon. Reporting on the matter, the chief engineer (Mr W. A. Waters) stated that by tunnelling: under the substation it' had been determined that one corner had sagged due to the effects of seismic movement. An architectural firm, he said, had reported as follows: — “Our recent inspection discloses that the building has received severe punishment and we consider some measures should be taken to ensure the safetv of the building. There is no doubt that the existing internal steel reinforcing erected by the board’s engineer has prevented serious damage in the very severe earthquake of March 5 last. Our structural engineer has evolved a scheme of extra external bracing to supplement the existing bracing. .. . This scheme has been designed with a view to carrying out the work with the least interruption to the power service during construction work.” ‘‘We cannot afford to let the building fall down,” commented Mr M. A. Eliott. “It is a vital link in our system, * * The engineer said earthquakes had shattered all the brickwork, which had been badly rattled. Tliere -were over forty cracks in it. The building had swayed eighteen inches in one earthquake. “We cannot afford to take any risks with it,” said Mr Eliott, who recommended that the strengthening work be undertaken immediately. After a brief discussion, however, the board decided in the meantime to obtain another architectural opinion.