REPAIR BILL

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 6

REPAIR BILL

GISBORNE HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED AT OVER £5,000 ARCHITECT’S REPORT (Per United Press Association.) Gisborne, September 23. A special meeting of the Cook Hospital Board was held to-day to consider the report of Mr C. S. Allen, of Wellington, who is the architect to the Department, of Health, on the damage caused by the recent earthquake. The report stated that, as the result of the earthquake, he considered the expenditure of between £5OOO and £6OOO was riecessary in connection with the hospital. The main portion of this sum would be for precautionary measures. Altogether 35 chimneys would need to be replaced, many having come down in the earthquake, and others were in such a dangerous condition that they had been pulled down since. In Number three ward, which was the women’s ward, the west wall was badly cracked throughout its length and there were minor cracks in other parts of the building. In regard to Number three ward the open verandah, though not being attached to the roof, had acted as a battering ram against the walls, being mainly responsible for the damage. The remaining four wards were practically undamaged but, in the event of another earthquake, might suffer similar damage to Number three ward, hence the necessity for strengthening these parts of the building. He recommended that the repairs to Number three ward should be proceeded with immediately. Since the earthquake this ward has been evacuated as it is at present unsafe for occupation. Mr Allen also outlined various precautions in connection with the other four wards. The board resolved to take immediate steps to replace the damage in Number three ward, unemployed relief labour to be utilized as much as possible. Regarding the precautionary measures in the other wards it was decided to call tenders for the work as soon as the finance could be arranged. The board also decided to send full details of the position to the Health Department and to ask for an immediate grant toward rehabilitation work.