BUILDING IN WAIPUKURAU

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 78, 24 December 1937, Page 8

BUILDING IN WAIPUKURAU

Our Own Correspondent.

WORK TO BEGIN ON THIRD NEW BUILDING

From

WAIPUKURAU, Last Night. The surest sign of Waipukurau 's progress is to be found in the number of large concrete struetures which are appcaring in the town. The building being erected for the Central Hawke's Bay Electric Power Board in Russell street is exp^-Ttd to be ready well; ahead of schedule, and the- new National Bank premises at the interseetion of Ruataniwha and Northumberland streets is nearing_ completio.il, Work is to be begun early in the New Year on the two-storey structure which is to be erected on a site adjoinijing1 the bank building for de Pelichet, Mc* Leod and Co., Ltd. The maui road overbridge near Waipukurau is also completed, except for the approaches. The eontractor for the Power Board 'a Building, expeets to have the structure ready for occupation by the end oi' February. The exterior is taking shape, although the plastering and roofing liave yet to be finished. Green and cream have been chosen as the colours for the outside of the building, and glass bricks seven inches square will be used in the panels in the tower. de Pelichet, McLeod and Co's new building is expected to bo ready for occupation next April. Tenders for the erection of the building were called l\i day by the arehitects, Messrs Davies, and Phillips, of Hastings. The building will be two storeys in height. The stock firm for whieh it is being erected will oceupy the grouud floor and ofiices in che upper storey will be let. The overbridge on the main road near Waipukurau, whieh when placed in use will eliminate a dangerous railway crossing, is already practieally enmpleted, although the eud of February was the date agreed upon for its completion in the contract. All the scsfTolding has now been dismantled, and the actual bridge is completed, but the approaches (a separate contract) will take several weeks to complete. Oi tTe 12 or so men engaged on thf bridge, only two labourers remain. A shortage of steel held up the work for a time and a shortage of skilled labour, especially carpenters, was also41 eiteountered. One car accident, it will be recalled. occurred during the erection of the bridge, when a motorist who crashed i?ito the scaffolding had a remarkable efcape. There was also an occasion when a wedding party from Waipawa was held up while 'a lorry was unloaded and arrived too late for the ceremony. Jn one respect the bridge is believed to be unique. Being in the middle or an S-bend, the roadway of the bridge has been "canted" about 18 inches to give the necesaary banking.