MAKING STREETS SAFE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 262, 4 August 1942, Page 4

MAKING STREETS SAFE

Aftermath Of Quake DEMOLITION WORK STARTS Wellington Buildings Measures to make the streets of Wellington safe for the public by the demolition of all sections of buildings threatening danger were the first work to be put in hand following upon the earthquake which occurred in the first hour of Sunday morning. By last night substantial progress had been made with the erection of scaffolding preparatory to the removal of threatening brickwork' and masonry on buildings in Manners Street, which meanwhile had been closed, to all vehicular traffic. No building would be allowed to stand which remained a danger to the public or which was repaired in a manner which did not remove the danger, stated the mayor, Mr. Hislop. Though premises remained opVn, business was practically suspended yesterday in the worst damaged section of Manners Street between Cornhill and Willis Streets. No access was allowed for vehicular traffic to this area from Herbert, Farish and Lombard Streets. Scaffolding jvas being run up as fast as possible yesterday, and tubular steel supports, with their bases set well out on to the roadway, were being used to prop up a very dangerous corner of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel pending demolition. The importance of the public keeping outside the roped-off areas was emphasized by the city engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke. These measures, he added, indicated potential danger, for if another earthquake came there would be grave risk to those inside these areas. Fright For Onlookers. .Shortly after 9 a.m. yesterday when sightseers were beginning to appear in the most dangerous part of Manners Street, there were loud warning cries, followed toy a crash. People on the street below Perrett’s corner building rushed clear as bricks flew over the edge of the veranda on to the road. They were dislodged as a large chimney on the building was brought down in a particularly hazardous demolition job, and it partially penetrated the roof. More walls cracked and threatening danger were discovered as closer examinations w r ere made yesterday, and the number of business premises found to be in this state has been mounting. Numerous buildings in the city, naturally along the busiest section of Willis Street, were roped off because of dangerous ‘’overhang or cracked parapets. With a huge block of masonry balanced where it had broken away in a gaping crack and stood live stories above them, about a dozen workmen in certain business premises in Willis Street yesterday felt very uneasy. This apprehension of danger was accentuated by the sight of hundreds of people pausing on the edge of the opposite kerb during the morning and gazing steadily at the hazard high above them. Ultimately the tension became too great and the men ceased work temporarily till safety measures could be taken. Damage to Towers. Following upon his exceptionally busy Sunday, the city enginedr, Mr. K. E. Luke, carried out further inspections with his staff yesterday morning, and conferred with contractors on the spot. Contracts were arranged on a tentative basis and a start was made with the erection of scaffolding for the purpose of removing dangerous parapets and front wall sections, and shoring and ‘buttressing up buildings in Manners Street, or for holding masonfy in position with wire “horses" pending demolition. There were so many buildings requiring attention that they could not all be dealt with at once, nor could the scaffolding be erected for all. It is considered that towers on two large buildings in Willis Street and directly overlooking the thoroughfare, will have to come down.

The tower of St. Patrick’s College, in Cambridge Terraeo, was severely cracked by the June earthquake, and this damage has now been accentuated. Failing the practicability of strengthening the tower by putting pillars up to it from the foundations, it is considered that at least 20 feet of the top will have to bo cut away. Not even a window was broken at the Wellington Boys’ College, which stands on firmer ground, and the 'damage at the Wellington Technical College was negligible. Chimneys which were rebuilt as recently as Saturday in the residential area were brought down again in Sunday morning’s quake. Contracts Arranged. c “The first job is to make the streets safe for the public," said the mayor, Mr. Hislop, yesterday. “Contracts have been let and work starled on Begg’s building, the Regent Hotel, and the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel in Manners Street. These buildings are creating the greatest hazard in this street, though there are several other buildings badly damaged. Tram traffic in Manners Street lias been stopped, but tlie -work started today on the three buildings mentioned will lie sufficiently far forward to make it. safe as from tomorrow to use the southern tram track. This route into to»u will accordingly bo reopened tomorrow. "General vehicular traffic in Manners Street will not be permitted except where it is necessary for tlie purpose of picking up or setting down supplies for business premises in the street. Pedestrian traffic having business in Hie street will lie permitted to proceed on tlie southern pavement under traffic direction. All tills traffics, however, will be restricted to a minimum. General pedestrian traffic will, again under traffic control, be allowed through from Cuba Street to Farisli Street, whence it will be diverted into Wakefield Street. “It is anticipated,” Mr. Hislop said, “that, in a few da'ys Hie necessary scaffolding work in order to make the buildings safe against actual collapse will be sufficiently far advanced to reopen Manners Street under modified control." Restoration Work. “Speaking generally,” tlie mayor continued, “all Hie danger points have Lhjoii roped off. In this regard, I particularly want people to nay careful attention to these roped-off areas and keep outside them. The owners of tlie various buildings are making their own arrangements for repair work, and it is necessary to see that what is required in Hie public safety is done. Full reports on Hie steps tlie owners are taking will lie available as soon as tlie necessary survey by tlie city engineer's department is completed. “It lias lieen particularly noticeable that those who did not heed Hie special request made by Hie city corpora-

tion after the Napier earthquake for removal of overhanglUa cornices and unnecessary top-hamper have been unions the biggest sufferers, the mayor said. *‘lt lias been suggested that the corporation should have compelled these people to take the steps adopted by so many others, and I wish to reiterate that the corporation has no such power and could only ask people to adopt the safe course. Removing Top Hamper.

Men were employed yesterday in removing the pedimeutal ornaments from the parapet of the ol'd tramways power--house in Wakefield Street, more recently used-as a bus garage and roller skating rink. Because of the danger of falling bricks, the area of roadway immediately in front ofc* the building was roped off. . The ugliest crack seen in a Cuba Street building is that showing on the northern wall of L. T. Watkins, Ltd. s printing house on the corner ot Cuba and liigestro Streets. This crack in the brickwork etxends almost straight downward from tlie back of the parapet for a distance of about 16 or 17 feet. The footpath below in Cuba Street has been roped off. The Watkins building is one of four stories. For many years it was occupied 'by Veitch and Allen, as a drapery and millinery emporium. Barker Street, off Cambridge Terrace, may be recognized from the fact that It Is at present lined with heaps of bricks, mostly from demolished chimneys damaged in the June earthquake. Sunday’s shake did not spare this little by-pass street. It actually only boasts two brick-built houses, one a semi-detached two-storied building, the other, unlucky No. 13, opposite, a house in its own right.. No. 13 felt Sunday’s shake to such an extent that it threw out about four or five feet of its western wall on to the lowly roof of No. 15, which has had to be vacated because of the obvious danger which has threatened since the last experience. Not only was the top of the side wall jettisoned on Sunday morning, but the cracks in the front of the building 'developed. A large interior window, Oft. x sft., in the public office of the Wellington East Post Office, was shattered by the earthquake. No. IS3, Cuba Street, where part of 'a side wall of brick has been displaced, has been placed under'the category of dangerous buildings, and part of the footpath in front has been roped off as a warning to the public. Another Cuba Street building which has suffered minor damage is the Royal Oak Hotel, which has for the past year been undergoing reconstruction. There are cracks extending down from the parapet on the corner of Dixon and Cuba Streets.

An inspection was made of all exhibits at the Dominion Museum yesterday, but no damage was discovered. The carillon had not been examined yesterday, but a thorough survey will be undertaken today. Wellington’s high towers and chimney stacks appear to have won through the ordeal of .Sunday’s earthquake. So far no damage has been reported as far as the steeples of St. John’s. St. Peter’s and St. Andrew’s Churches are concerned. The destructor’s high chimney stack—the highest in Wellington—and that of the Municipal Milk Department’s station, in Tory Street, appear to be intact. Demolition Work Only Yesterday. Because of the added damage sustained by hundreds of houses the repairing of chimneys was not undertaken yesterday, AU the hands available were put on demolition work. When this demolition work will be overtaken cannot be definitely stated, as up till 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon there were some 450 of such cases to be attended to. There is always a danger that damaged chimneys will bo overthrown with sufficient violence for the brickwork to penetrate roofs, and so endanger lives, and so the city engineer decreed that this work was of first importance. The repairing of the chimneys must come later. A residence in Moana Road, Kelburn, lias suffered severely in both recent earthquakes. The June 24 shock resulted in considerable damage. The front of the house, a timber one, was extensively splintered, and the concrete front path was shattered and raised in waves for a distance of 10 feet. There was almost a clean sweep of crockery and crystal, and the three chimneys were demolished. Sunday’s quake again made a clean sweep of the crockery, while a bookcase fell across a bed, burying the occupant under books. The one chimney which had been restored withstood the shock, but the concrete wall of the garage was cracked through. Fire watching services may, it is stated, be discontinued by direction of building organizers in those buildings where structural damage has occurred to such au extent that the entire building is unsafe, or where the fire watchers’ quarters are dangerously situated.

Where building organizers discontinue tlie fire watching, they are required to notify the Fire Protection Organizer in writing immediately. Endeavours will be made to secure safer quarters for watchers, in neighbouring buildings. Normal traffic Ims been resumed on Hie Wairarapa railway line, which was blocked by earthquake damage on tlie Eketahun'a-Mastorton section. It was clear at 12.35 p.m. yesterday.