CITY TRAFFIC OFFICE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 292, 8 September 1942, Page 3

CITY TRAFFIC OFFICE

Demolition Order Cancelled

When the Wellington Fire Brigade moved out of its old Central Fire Station on the corner of Mercer Street and lower Cuba Street live years ago there was a sigh of relief from everyone concerned, as this ancient brick structure bad shown signs of weakness "with each quiver of the earth fur 20 years past. It was then heard witli some amazement that the old lire station was to be used by the city council’s trallie department (then situated upstairs in the Civic Chambers), a very handy situation, truly, but not exactly tlie type of building for public and private otiices. However, the corporation, which is chronically hard up lor ollice accommodation, persisted ip utilizing the building, not only for the tnit'ie department, but for the director of parks, the sanitation section, and clubrooms tor the stall's.

The earthquakes ol June 2-1 and August 2 tested tlie structural stability of every building in the city and the old tire brigrade station received a twist which, on the western side, wrenched the ceilings away from the external walls and cracked the brick walls in certain directions. Jitter it had been visited by the mayor and city engineer its doom was sealed—apparently. The staffs were ordered out, and the footpaths nil round the building were roped off as dangerous to tlie public. It was to be wholly demolished. And again everyone concerned sighed with relief. , Other counsels have prevailed. It has now been decided to fix the old building up for official occupation. It appears that tlie outer walls are not so badly fractured or split, mid that, with tlie exercise of care and skill, tlie building, which dates back to the beginning of the century, can lie patched up lor further service. Parapet and pediment are to be knocked off mid a band ot reinforced concrete is io do its best to hold tlie structure together in the event ol nrllier earl liquakes.