Post Office Damaged

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 1

Post Office Damaged

GVetr Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, March 6. No decision regarding the future of the Post Office building in Gisborne will be available for some time, possibly weeks.

This is the opinion of two Ministry of Works engineers who inspected the building during the moving out of records and equipment yesterday after damage caused in the earthquake.

“There is not enough damage to be able to bring in the bulldozers tomorrow, but it is too bad to allow its continued use,” said Mr S. Abey, assistant chief structural engineer of the Ministry of Works, Wellington. He said tests would have to be carried out on the remaining brickwork to assess its strength, and tests would possibly have to be carried out on the foundations of the building.

Arrangements have been made for almost all post office services to be carried out in other parts of the city but, the Chief Postmaster, Mr M. B. Hunter, said today that it had not been found possible to make arrangements for private box holders. In the meantime, box mail deliveries will be made by postmen. The Gisborne Harbour Board two-storey office building in Reads quay was condemned today after officials inspected and found cracks in the top storey. The Harbourmaster (Mr 1. H. Mcßae), said tonight that no alternative accommodation had yet been found for board staff but as soon as this was done employees would help move out equipment.