DAMAGE TO BUSINESS BUILDINGS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 261, 3 August 1942, Page 6

DAMAGE TO BUSINESS BUILDINGS

Statement By Mayor PRAISE FOR WORK OF E.P.S. “Considerable damage has been done, though not to the slime extent in the residential areas as on the last occasion, but thte earthquake has done a greater amount of damage to buildings in the business area. A considerable number of large and smaller commercial buildings have been seriously damaged, and much work will be required to reinstate them,” said the mayor, Mr. Hislop. “It is not possible at this stage to give any reliable estimate of the extent of the damage, except to say that it is considerable. AVe already have a very large number of reports in, but all will require further investigation, and we will not know the true position till a detailed survey has been made., “It has been necessary in the meantime to close Manners Street to all general traffic, including the trams, due to the dangerous condition of a number of buildings in that street. It is boiled that sufficient work can be done tomorrow for the trams to start running through again, but this will not be permitted till the street is definitely regarded as safe. Ordinary traffic will be held up for a longer period. I want to express my appreciation to the E.P.S. .personnel for turning out once again and doing their job so well. “Almost immediately after the

earthquake the E.P.S. district wardens began communicating with the control-room at’ headquarters, and within a short time unite in all areas were out patrolling and inspecting the damage. It was difficult to get a clear appreciation of the position till daylight came, but very good work was done in the interval. The accommodation unit was immediately in operation, and a rest-room opened for any eases which might need attention. “After daylight, when the position could be more carefully checked, full reports 'began and continued to arrive. Arrangements were made to rope off any dangerous areas, and for preliminary work to be done in certain places where it was considered immediately necessary.

“A full cheeteup was made during the day, and tomorrow we will start on the’ demolition of chimneys and parts of buildings advised as being dangerous, together with the necessary buttressing as a temporary measure of certain places. As from tomorrow the teams that have been employed on chimney reconstruction work will be taken off this in order .to carry out, with the least possible delay, immediate demolitions, after which they will return to reconstruction work. "It is urgently desired that all property-owners who have suffered damage and want their' premises reinstated, and many of Whom rang the city engineer’s department, should without fail go to the ■ engineer’s office tomorrow and sign the necessary authority for the work- to proceed. This will save much time and trouble.”