BUILDING ACTIVITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18089, 16 May 1933, Page 7

BUILDING ACTIVITY

WORK IN GISBORNE ■pT.fIy.TTT theatre overhaul MANY OTHER. JOBS IN VIEW The Gisborne building trade is active at present, mainly in regard to work arising out of tho earthquakes, while much other work is in view. Strengthening at the Regent Theatre is the main work in the town area for the present. Much is to be done there |jy the trustees of the Hall estate who own the building, and it is estimated that the work will take about three months to complete. For a considerable par t of that time the theatre will be dosed, probably from the end of this month, but programmes scheduled tor the Regent will be shown at the Opera Housb. ~ . In designing the strengthening work required at the theatre, the architects, Messrs. Burr and Mirfield, aimed at converting the building into an earthquake resisting frame that would make it one of the safest buildings in the Dominion. Prior to the last earthquake in September, the theatre had been Strengthened at one end where damage waa-apparent, but ou this occasion more stringent measures are being taken in view of the reminder last September that very severe earth movements were not to be disregarded. , ... , Most of the structural work will be do&e with reinforced concrete columns, which are to be tied at the feet from side to side of the building under the floor. Structural steel is to be used at the entrance and under the gallery, as well as at a few other points in the building. The walls are to be divided into panels to make the framework carry any, stress instead of the walls being called on for this task. Work out of (he public view already has been commenced by tha s contractor, Mr. A. E. Kirk, whose tender for the job came to ajmost £3OOO. Similar strengthening work will be dope on the Bank of New Zealand by Mr. A. Snrman, who is to make a start within a few days as soon as architectural details are completed by Messrs. Burr and Mirfield. The cost of this work will run into several hundred pounds. Reconstruction at the Holy Trinity Church, discussed at length recently by parishioners, is another job for commencement in the early future and an estimate already provided has been just oyer £2OOO. In addition .to these, several other jobs are contemplated, and preparations are being made to put them in hand. In a|l, many thousands of pounds will be spent on building work in Gisborne during the next few months.