A BIG SHIFT.

Waipa Post, Volume XIX, Issue 1103, 9 June 1921, Page 4

A BIG SHIFT.

BUILDING ON THE MOTE. AN INTERESTING SIGHT. When a shop building 40 feet wide vanishes from the frontage of a town's main street, it leaves a gap that one cannot help noticing. Such an occurrence is now in full swing in respect of a large wooden building dra Street owned by Mr T. Spear and till recently tenanted by shopkeepers. It covers a floor space of 40ft. by 24ft. has a stud height of about 14ft. contains about six rooms, absorbs probably 14,000 square feet of timber, and weighs more tons than one would like to guess at. It is to be •back about 50 feet to make room for a new building on the frontage. The moving party began operations , about a week ago, Mr George Jack, of Hamilton, who specialises in this work, having the contract. A full week was occupied '. in preparatory work, jacking the huge structure from its foundations, laying four running platforms beneath,, and placing hardwood rollers thereon. Then the big pull began yesterday morning, and a substantial gap was soon made in the street line. The pull was done by a - ' hand winch and a stout wire rope; and with occasional stoppages for adjustments it is now merely a question of gathering up the rear rollers and placing them at the front till the journey is ended. Job will probably be finished early next week. The removal of this building was recently objected to by the Borough Council.