STILL UNDER REPAIR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 104, 27 January 1943, Page 6

STILL UNDER REPAIR

Wellington Civic Block A dishevelled and turn-about Town Hall now meets I lie gaze of the visitor to tbe XX'ellingtoti civic buildings in l.ower Cuba Street. This in view of the damage tlie structure has sustained by earthquake. Tlie original trouble did not commence with tlie earthquakes of last year, its it is known that the etfeci of tlie Hawke's Bay and Murchison eaiThqtiakes were t.oilt lelt in Wellington, aud definite damage was done. Aller tlie Hawkes Bay eai’tlitiuake the citv council decided, ou expert advice, to dismantle tile clock tower, demolish tin* ui'iiamciitul finish of the parapets, and ivinforce the latter These nrecautionarv measures pro.mbiv saved Hie building from worse damage than that sustained in June and August last year These earthquakes were ban enough, particularly in their effect on the walls in tlie northern half ol the siruc lure, which are now receiving attent.ion At present tlie connexion walls between tlie Concert Chamber and lhe main Town Hall, at both ends of tlie northernmost light well, have been entirely demolished, and from it position near tin* main inne’’ doors to tile big elmmber, one may gitmpsi through a maze oi scallolding. tlie ap proach stairway to tlie stage ol tlie I on cert Chamber, exposing tlie jagged edges of brick walls 2S feet in thickness, wliiel* look strong enough to withstand alnios' auv shake in lhe Rossi-Forel scale. ’Tlie late Mr. John Hunter, one ol tin contractors for the Town Hall construelion, was pertui’lied when lold that Hicouncil had decided to demolish tlie clock tower, as lie felt certain Hie strength ol that part of the structure would make such a precaution unnecessary. However it was established that Hie great weight of the lower was a contributing laclor tn tlie damage sustained bv lite wrenching under earthquake stress of tlie -entfal portion o’’ the building. One proof ol that was tlie (•racking of tlie main concrete stairway during lite Murchison shako, as well a« other damage tn less conspicuoiis places ill tlie emit re ol 111*' block.

11l tlie main hall work in eoiinexlol. with lip' fractured piers is progressing In (his case part of the brickwork ol tiles, vertical piers Ims been (-hipped iiwa.v. and heavy steel reinforceiniml is being plaeed in the recess, readv fora solid eiieaseiiieii' of concrete. It is hoped that this operation when completed in tlie case ol a I tlie .-iffi'cted piers will give tlie luill strength ami resilience Io withstand any reasonably severe earthquake.