EARTHQUAKE-PROOF BUILDINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1923, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE-PROOF BUILDINGS.

THE NEAT ZEALAND TYPE. WELLINGTON, Sept. 11. Xe« Zealand is developing a. type of earthquake proof building which has apparently survived even the severe stresses of the Tokio upheaval. Air Proust?. the well-known architect, who visited San Francisco shortly alter the gloat earthquake states that a number of eminent engineers on that occasion reported on tho best type of modern building that would resist an earthquake and the circumstances that would invariably attend it. including fire.

Their repott was conclusive in recommending steel frames encased in concrete with concrete floors. On that principle buildings have been erected, such as the Public Trust Office, the New Zealand Insurance Company building, the ‘’Star” office and Smith and Smith’s at Auckland, the ( unard buildings, the State Fire office, Bryant and May's and .loliii Chambers and Sons’ buildings at Wellington, and the Wellington Woollen Company's building at Christchurch. ‘•’l’lie-e buildings.” remarked Mr Prouse, 'hue erected on the same standard of shock resistance as the reinforced concrete structures of London. That is, they are able to resist lour times the stiain that is normally siiccrimposed on them. A friend ol mine twitted, me on Saturday about steel frame buildings being not able to withstood the severe earthquake shock, hut I notice in the paper that only half the building,s in Tokio are demolished. lam fully convinced that the steel frame structures are among these that have not been demolished. “The type of building I have mentioned is such that I believe would not he disturbed by any power of shock, short of dynamite.