WEAKNESSES IN BUILDING

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1929, Page 11

WEAKNESSES IN BUILDING

DANGER FROM EARTHQUAKE FEAR FOR BOROUGH CHAMBERS. ENGINEER TO SUBMIT REPORT. A severe earth shock may at any time cause the front waff of the sub-station and borough chambers to bulge and fall into Liardet Street. The position is regarded as so serious that the Borough Council Jias authorised its engineer to prepare an urgent report on remedial measures.

A memorandum on the subject was submitted to the council last night by the engineer (Mr. C. Clarke) at the request of the town clerk. Mr. Bellringer had pointed out to Mr. Clarke that his predecessor (Mr. Cook) had some years ago expressed the opinion that parts of the sub-station building, particularly the part on the Liardet Street frontage, were quite unsafe owing to insufficient reinforcement, etc. He expressed the view that a severe earthquake’would probably bring about a total collapse.

In conversation with the engineer, Mr. Bellringer said he found Mr. Clarke held the same opinion. In view of this, lie had asked the engineer to submit a report to the council suggesting how the building could be made cafe. Mr. Clarke said he had for some time been of the opinion that the front part of the old building would not be safe in the event of a serious earthquake. The frontage on this part of the building was .of considerable overhanging weight, and had a span of 76 feet without any adequate tie on the centre of the length. From recent experiences of the class of work originally put into the building, it was not advisable to rely on the strength of the two end walls as a support to the heavy Liardet Street front.

It would be necessary to tie the Liardet Street front back to the more substantial concrete portion of the building, but until he had had more time to examine the building and determine the best method of doing this, he could not give an estimate of the cost, or details of the work necessary. “I ask you to dispense with the practice of referring this matter to the electric light committee,” said the Mayor (Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths). “We should request the engineer to report upon it as a matter of urgency.” Or. F. Amoore: It ha« been proved that the work was faulty.

The Mayor; Yes. It only bears out Mr. Cook’fi statement that it was necessary to have the work done. Steps should lie taken immediately to obtain a report from the engineer, without waiting for the committee to meet. The report can go before the committee when it is repaired. Mr. Clarke: Even the ceiling joists of this room (the council chamber) are not tied into the concrete.

The Mayor said the anchor bolts were not carrying the weight they should. It was very fortunate indeed that the last big earthquake did not have a twist in it. If it had there would have been serious damage and, perhaps, personal injury. At the suggestion of Cr. Stainton the finance committee was asked to report on the question of the council insuring all its concrete buildings under an earthquake risk.