RECONSTRUCTION WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 15

RECONSTRUCTION WORK.

SAFE BUILDING METHOD.

EXPERT ADVICE SOUGHT. PLIGHT OF SITE OWNERS. FINANCIAL AID ESSENTIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] PALMERSTON NOFTH, Sunday. With the object of securing the safety of buildings at Napier the Citizens' Relief Committee yesterday decided to obtain expert advice concerning the strength of all commercial premises, temporary or otherwise, before allowing them to bo used for business purposes.

The City Council has suspended its building by-laws and is withholding the issue of building permits. Na buildings can be re-erected without the permission the Relief Committee.

The Government architect and the designing engineer of the Public Works Department arrived to-day to go into the question for the best type of construction for new buildings and the Government Geologist is expected shortly to map out the demolished area and mark out the localities to be avoided. Town planning authorities will be asked to approve the layout in conjunction with the local authorities.

Mr. F. W. Furkert, engincer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, informed the committee that all the buildings which were in danger of falling into the streets had been pulled down with the exception of those in the roads leading to Port Ahuriri, where the work of demolition would be commenced as soon as steam shovels arrived.

Asked what steps are being taken to rebuild the demolished business houses at Hastings, the Mayor, Mr. G. H. Roach, stated that the citizens were awaiting assistance from the banks, financial institutions and Government. They were determined to rebuild Hastings better than ever.

A leading business man, Mr. C. H. Slater, said it was highly desirable that the reputable business men of the town should be encouraged rather than that outside interests should come in and purchase the sites of demolished buildings and so establish themselves at the expanse of the local people.

The present trouble was that owners of property were left with heaps of broken bricks on sites which already were mortgaged. That meant that they were absolutely destitute and would require financial aid. Mr. Slater suggested that the Government should advance loans of from £IOOO to £20,000 to individual owners free of interest for 10 or' 15 years. "We do not want anything for nothing," he said, "but in the interest of business and national prosperity something must be done to reinstate us."

Several firms are endeavouring to commence operations in temporary premises and with the continuance of the present rate of progress extensive works should soon be started.

LOSSES BY FIRMS.

DETAILS BEING RECEIVED.

Details of the losses suffered by firms in the earthquake area are being received at the Auckland branches. At present only rough estimates of the losses can be given.

A loss in the vicinity of £40,000 was suffered by Macky, Logan, Limited, the whole of the building and stock being destroyed.

The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company lost three buildings, at Napier, Hastings and Port Ahuriri. It is considered that the firm's loss will exceed £IOO,OOO. Smith and Smith, Limited, which lost plant and stock, estimates its loss at £SOOO.

BUSINESS FACILITIES.

HASTINGS BANKS' PLANS. NAPIER MONEY ORDER OFFICE. [nif telegraph.—SPEClAL reporter.] NAPIER, Sunday. An indication of the efforts being made to restore business facilities in Napier is a notification that a money order department had been opened in the Wairere Bowling Club's pavilion, Kennedy Road. lhe banks in Hastings are planning to reopen in temporary premises by February 16.

The six trading banks at Napier have reached an agreement to build combined offices of a temporary nature. The site will probably be on part of the Catholic Church property at the corner of Munroe and Dickens Streets, where the Daily Telegraph building is to be erected.

VALUABLES EECOVERED.

SILVER FROM A BANK. COINS MELTED INTO MASS. [by wireless:—special reporter.] NAPIER, Saturday. Naval parties at work in the streets of Napier are recovering material of considerable value from some of the ruins. While the search was being carried out at the nurses' home for the body of a nurse believed to have been killed, a party recovered a large quantity of medical and surgical instruments of great value.

Another party t»-day was working in the ruins of the Bank of Now Zealand. Two large tins were discovered, and when opened they were found to contain large pieces of silver. They had actually'contained half-crown pieces, but the heat had been so great when the fire swept through the ruins that the coins had been melted into a mass of silver.