ARAMOHO BATHS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 255, 28 October 1939, Page 6

ARAMOHO BATHS

Major Catastrophe Feared. COLLAPSE OF BANK | FOUNDATIONS INSECURE j “Ihere is little likelihood of swim- : mers being able to use the Aramoho School baths during the present swimming season.” said' Mr. E. R. Hodge, arch.tect to the Wanganui Education Board, when intei \ie\ved yesterday regarding the condition of the baths. It had been intended to have the ' season’s opening ceremony two weeks ago, but a wash-out occurred through a burst waste-pipe, necessitating a postponement. Mr. Flodge pointed out that further undermining of the northern bank had developed in the past fortnight, resulting in the foundations ot the baths dropping in some places as much as ; 20ft., and a nasty crack along the side of the bath threatens the complete collapse of that portion of the structure. At present the greater part o! the iron fence, with tiers of seats for spectators, erected by the schooi ' I committee, is in mid-air. Cracks in the walls are in some 1 instances of half-inch dimensions, and there appears to be an entire absence of reintorcing in the concrete. As thr baths were built on a greasy papa back on the south bank of Field's Creek, there was a danger of a major catastrophe should the structure collapse with a “live” weight, which it would be required to bear wnen there was a large crowd of spectators. A iactor which was apparently overlooked when the baths were built with voluntary labour was the weigm to be carried on a rather unstanle foundation. The bains are 75 feet long and 3U feet wide, and the depth of (he water ranges from 3rt. to 7H. 6in. The weignt of water whe.n the baths arc filled would be m the vicinty of 600,0001 b., and this is balanced on the edge of a 3011. drop into the creek. Stating that the school committee had maae application to the Education Board with a view to securing a grant 1 of £2OO, with Government subsidy, Mr. W. G. Price, chairman, said that the committee was faced with a problem which appeared difficult of solution During the past eighteen months lln committee had spent over £lOO in improvements to the baths and the sea*.* mg accommodation, including a nev, iron fence on the northern side. All this would be a c.ead loss, though it might be possible to salvage some ol 'the fencing. Seepage under the baths had apparently been going on for years, ana a 40ft. reinforced concrete wall appeared necessary if tiie ba t hs were to be retained in their present site. Otherwise a new site would have to be found, entailing the expenditure of approximately £7OO for new baths. As an instance of the loss of water occurring when the baths were filled as a test during the week. Mr. Price stated that it had been found that 17.000 gallons escaped between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., at the fate of more tnan 1000 gallons an hour. In mie place it is possible to force water into the batns from a hose held on the outside of one of the cracks. The rush of water escaping from lhe burst outflow pipe carried a large willow tree across the creek, and another large tree was uprooted. Mr. Price said that the problem would be discussed at a committee meeting next. Mcnday night, and probably an appeal would be issued to Aromoho residents with a view to ameliorating the position.