A HOSPITAL PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 23, 27 January 1934, Page 22

A HOSPITAL PROBLEM

Considerable concern has becii felt by. the Waikato Hospital authorities owing to the -weakening of the foundations of the main- hospital buildings, and the consequent movement in the alignment.of the walls, states a Hamilton correspondent. An investigation showed that tho trouble was caused by the heat emanating, from the steam pipes running throughout tho length of the buildings under-tho floor. Tho heat has caused an absorption of the moisture in the clay on which the foundations rest, and the clay ha's been pulverised into dust. An extensive area of tljo hill on which the hospital is situated has shrunk in consequence of the heat. Many of the foundation pillars were found to bo floating, and the floors and walls of tho main hospital buildings wore in danger of collapsing. To counteract the effect of tho shrinkago workmen have been employed for nearly a year in laying new brick and concrete foundations. The work has been done in cramped. conditions in a narrow tunnel in temperatures ranging up to 132 degrees. Twenty-minute spells were worked and 30,000 bricks and many cubic yards of concrete were laid.'Tho work has been done under the supervision- of the board's architect, Mr. J. H. Edgecumbe, who states that the task has been completed as far as. he can judge. ' Mr. Edgecumbe. states that he believes, the measures taken will prove satisfactory.