Post Office Stays Empty

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31004, 9 March 1966, Page 3

Post Office Stays Empty

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 8. The Gisborne Post Office had been found unsafe and would remain empty until a more thorough investigation was made, the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) said today.

i He said in a state- . ment this had been ! confirmed by Ministry | engineers who had gone to Gisborne after I Saturday’s earth- ! quakes. I All services in the city were functioning apart from damage to an old water tank at the hospital, he said. Every possible step had been taken to make technical checks as to safety and to assess damage to Government buildings in the ctiy, Mr Allen said. The services of engineers had also been offered to the city for other building checks. "As soon as the news of the earthquake was received, two experienced structural engineers of the Ministry of Works left Wellington to investigate damage to Government building and to advise

on what action should be taken to make sure Government buildings and schools were safe.” Mr Allen said. “The information gained will also be available to city authorities and local bodies. “The services of the structural engineers have been offered to the Mayor for any building checks he might wish to make.” j Mr Allen said the en- | gineers also reported that buildings affected by the 1931 earthquake and strengthened had stood up well in Saturday’s earthquakes. I It was expected that by the ■ end of today more than 600 I insurance claims would have been received, said the assistant secretary of the Earthquake and War Damage Commission, Mr F. Burton. He said that a group of six assessors was already at work investigating claims around the city. “Some of the claims are for quite considerable sums, but we are not in a position to release figures and the final assessment will be released by the Minister,” he said.