SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17916, 21 October 1932, Page 5

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS

EARTHQUAKE REPAIRS WORK AT COOK HOSPITAL RELIEF LABOR FT 11. IS ED \ cry satisfactory progress is being made with the restoration id earthquake damage to No. •'( ward at the Cook Hospital, and Dm I'oundntion work has now linen laid in readiness for the erection of the steelwork, while the fractured roof of the verandah has been removed. Electric power cables have, been attached to the board's mains for the operation oi the welding plant, Ihis necessitating flu* installation of a larger transformer to cope .with the output. A doorway lias boon fitted on the southern side of war'd •’> in preparation for the construction of the vamp exit. All debris has been removed, rind Die buildings an«l surroundings are being kept, as tid:v as possible. The, concrete stack ntlaclied to the boilerhouse has linen demolished, and foundation.-. are being laid tor Die erect ion of a si eel cb’nancy. In view of the precarious slate o 1: the stack it was considered necessary to work

'.trough last v.eok-emk A temporary rack of galvanised mm is now iuticion ing sal is fact ori Iy.

An average of .’lO men have been employed on the work, to date, and all have been absorbed from those registered as unemployed. Payment at award rates lias luien made to the men, and the Unoni.ployment Board’s subsidy is being received in respect ol nil these payments. In a report to the (look Hospital Board at its monthly meeting yesterday afternoon, the .managing seerctarv, Air. G. A. Harries, stated that before leaving Gisborne Mr. 0. >S. Allan, technical adviser to the Health Department, had finalised plans and specifications for the repairs to and strengthening of No. •> ward, and a contract with Messrs. .1. «!. Niven and Company 'o supply and erect all steelwork at. a price of L'ml i»s had been entered into. All drawings of Dm works in progress had .men prepared bv the staff of the Public Works Department, and the hoard, was indebted ,o them for I*3is assistance. Mr. I). Alacnab was supervising all demolition and construction work, and .Mr. •!. T. Morgan was in charge of work other -,haii that provided for in the cent rnet with Messrs. .). .1. Niven ami Company. On October 5, eoutinued Mr. Hurries, Messrs, Turner and At a if, engineer and areiulest respectively to Die Public Works Department. Wellington, inspected tlie hospital block, isolation ward, nurses’ home, and Memorial Home, at the request of the Department of Health. ’I heir repost won Id be submitted Dmmgli the department. As a result (d their spec.tion it was arranged with Messrs, a. .1. Niven and Company that a slight alteration should be made in Dm steelwork, tlm alteration reducing the ronirnct price by under LI. 11 was .1 urDmr recommended that to give added strength the steel Dm rods passing under the ward be set in reiniorecd concrete. This extra provision would i-'i.-t approximately L>.> lor ward .*. Mr. Harries mentioned that the ropnirs were being financed out of onlinnrv maintenance 'expenditure, the board's present "nr-Ticral position permitting this to be done. The board was awaiting a reply from the Health Departmon Ito its appeal for a special ~mint from Government or other Hinds p, cover Due cost of the repairs and alterations.