Feilding Fire Brigade Station

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7105, 14 March 1933, Page 3

Feilding Fire Brigade Station

RECONSTRUCTION "WORK COMMENCES AN EARTHQUAKE PROOF STRUCTURE Yesterday a start was made with the work of remodelling tho Feilding Fire Brigade Station on plans calculated to make tho structure safe against damago from earthquake. The contractor, Air. W. Wilkinson, of Feilding, nas undertaken to do tho work for tho sum of £650, and his tender at that figure was recently approved by the Feilding Fire Board executive.

Tho rather imposing edifice in brick which has housed Feilding’s fire fighting plant for many years was built in 1911 and although it stood up to those ’quakes of a year or so ago which rocked Feilding rather violently, Public Works engineers decided that the building, which is of two stories, was not of a typo capable of resisting a severe earth tremor. The Hawke’s Bay disaster witnessed the destruction of many brick buildings and this resulted in steps being taken to examine all public structures built of brick. Feilding has two —the Fire Brigade Station and the Technical School building in Fergusson street. Immediately following the big ’quake tho Technical School structure was declared unsafe and was ordered by the Education Department, to be evacuated, since when it has remained

empty—awaiting whatever fate the authorities may eventually decide upon. While suffering no very apparent, damage from those earth tremors of two years ago, the Eeilding Firo Brigade Station was declared by Public engineers to be a likely source of danger to life and limb in the event of a big ’quake. Its high brick walls gave rise to suggestions regarding possibilities of collapse in the event of being subjected to any unusually severe strain. The high back wall gavo the impression of insecurity and a. thorough examination of the interior decided the engineers to recommend that, stops be taken to provide a safer structure for tho housing of essential services. In their report the engineers anticipated a situation arising during a big ’quake whereby the fire fighting equipment would be under a ruined building and consequently unavailable for possiblo urgent work. The Fire Board took the matter up and following consultation and consideration of various proposals, accepted tho plan of the borough engineer, Mr. T. K. Hay, for the remodelling of the structure. This plan was accepted by the Public Works Department and yesterday workmen were engaged in dismantling the upper structure. The whole of the upper portion of the building will be removed to provide for the building of a, bungalow type structure of the storey and a, half style. Jjlt/e

new building will contain the same -accommodation as exists at. present and will bo as secure against severe earth tremors as it is possible to mako a building. While tho alterations are in progress the fire engines will be housed nearby, suitable accommodation having been made available almost opposite to the station in Bowen street.

Mr. Hay will superintend the work on behalf of the Fire Board.