"MENACE TO PUBLIC."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 16

"MENACE TO PUBLIC."

COMMON TYPE OF SHOP.

WHY FRONTS COLLAPSE.

ARCHITECT'S CRITICISM. BOOK WRITTEN IN 1926. In his little book, "Earthquakes and Building Construction," published in 1926, Mr. C. R. Ford, architect, of Auckland, cites as an awful example of dangerous building a common New Zealand typo of two-storeyed shop. He refers to this building as "ono which, in various forms which differ in degree but not in kind, may bo found in many towns. His description seems to explain completely why buildings of no great height in Napier and Hastings collapsed at once into tho streets, killing and maiming pedestrians. "Sometimes in tho streets of the smaller towns a building is erected between two others which have been built at an earlier date, and the walls ,of which havo been mado of sufficient thickness to act as 'party' walls," says Mr. Ford. "Tho front wall is then 'toothed' into these side wa'ls, or other similar method is adoptod to form what connection is possiblo between tho old and new. New work joined to old in this manner invariably settles slightly, and tho integrity of the joint is destroyed, though it may not bo noticed. "Worst Possible Structure." "Tho result is that wo havo tho worst possiblo structure from tho point of view of earthquake resistance —namely, a timber framework (which in this class of building is almost invariably flimsy and inadequate) faced with a heavy brick front. To make matters worse, this brick front is frequently top-heavy." After referring to a diagram of an actual example such as "may be found in many towns in New Zealand," Mr. Ford goes on: "A mass of brickwork is supported on a beam carried on cast-iron columns, whoso bases rest on inadequate concrete blocks almost flush with the surface of the pavement, and whose heads are very imperfectly and insecurely fixed to tho cross-beam. Tho connections—if such exist—of 4 tho roof and floor to the brick front are suro to be inadequate for their function. "Should Not Be Tolerated." "Quite likely the brickwork is badly built and the mortar probably of lime. Such an erection—it cannot bo called a structure —is a menace to the community and should not be tolerated. That an earthquake of even moderate severity would fracture and overturn it, bury any persons near it, and possibly bring down some portions of the building behind it, needs no reiteration, in view of tho teachings of theory and the records of actual destruction.

"It is very doubtful whether tho wall would bo safe, even if it were well tied in at the floor and roof levels, because of its inherent instability and of the light construction of both roof and floor. Tho whole system of construction of wood-frame interior with masonry exterior walls is inherently wrong under earthquake conditions. Apart from tho question of stability, tho use of wooden building material is inadvisable in city areas, on account of fire risk, for conflagrations duo to damaged chimneys, fractured gas mains, etc., nearly always follow in the train of destructive earthquake shocks."

RUNNING OF TRAINS.

PORT LINE INSPECTED.

PROBLEM OF NORTMERN OUTLET.

[nv wireless. —special reporter.] NAPIER, Saturday.

Trains continued to arrive at Napier to-dav, providing an excellent example of the efficient manner in which rail communication has been re-established. Although a normal time-table is being adhered to as far as possible, the trains are of necessity running behind schedule. Tho track is quite safe with tho repairs that have been made, but in most places l the trains have to travel at reduced speeds and over some stretches they merely crawl.

Tho general manager of the railways, Mr. 11. 11. Sterling, to-day inspected the lino at Port Almriri, in company with Mr. E. Casoy, North Island divisional superintendent. This line is in bad order, slips having occurred at several places, while at other spots the rails have been hopelessly buckled and twisted. An exceptionally bad slip has occurred at Pandora Point. However, no time is to bo lost in attempting to repair tho line. Before the earthquake the wool stores at the port contained thousands of bales of wool, and these aro now mostly lying in the open at tho mercy of the elements. Ono or two lorries have been carting bales from the port to-day to some safe place for storage, but motor transport is limited. Gangs of men will probably start to repair the line on Monday". Mr. F. G. Widdop, chief mechanical engineer, inspected tho main north line (his morning and reported that for long stretches it had been wrecked. Bridges had disappeared or been thrown out of alignment and the engineers consider that it will lie some months before the lino can bo restored. The main road to Wairoa h;is also been blocked, Messrs. Furlcert and Sterling are conferring as to the best means of opening up transport to tho north.