SAFETY OF BRICK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 32, 7 February 1931, Page 12

SAFETY OF BRICK

QUESTION OF WORKMANSHIP

Oho result of the earthquake has been, to cause nervousness among people living in brick houses, and the fact that a brick building is not necessarily inoro dangerdus in the event of an earthquake than a building constructed from other materials' was made clear to a "Post" reporter to-day by Mr. C. A. Lawrence, a well-known architect. ' Atr. Lawrence pointed out' that not all the' brick buildings in Napier and Hastings had come down. , The Union Banks at both Hastings and Wairoa, and Sargood, Son, and Ewen's warehouse in Napier were >three brick buildings which were still standing, and' thero were doubtless more.' These buildings might have suffered minor damage, but tho same could be said of some of the forro-concrete structures, many of which, although still standing, would probably have to be destroyed and rebuilt. It was all a question of faithful workmanship and the use of good materials. A brick building, lip to two or three stories in height; and erected upon solid foundations, providing there wero no overhanging embellishments, could be considered perfectly safe. Some of the bricks were as clean as ■ the day they were put in, showing that proper mortar had not been used in the construction.1 No one could expect a brick building put together with sand and water to stand the test of an earthquake.