THE SHAKE AND ITS LESSONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 13 July 1929, Page 13

THE SHAKE AND ITS LESSONS

(To the Editor) Sir, —Out of a perfectly clear sky and in a moment of seemingly profound peace the greatest disaster in earthquakes to date smote this province of Nelson. It was for us a. perfectly unprecedented experience. Dating from the 17th of June we to all intents and purposes (ns regards architecture) live in a new land. Our prior experience does not count at all. It is of no value except to solemnly warn us to discontinue, and at once, the type of building we have so far deemed it sale to erect, and which was safe as far as our knowledge then went. Now, I notice that cart loads of bricks arc being unloaded on the section adjoining our post office. 1 understand that a quarter of a million are coining forward. Are we to understand from this that the additions to the local post office are to be carired out in brick and as planned before the shake? Surely before any additions are undertaken, the present structure should he very closely examined, and the additions should be of such design and of such material as would be recommended by the most capable building experts the country can produce in the light of the recent occurrence. Personally, I believe it would be much safer to build (lie additions in reinforced concrete, and the whole of the present building he reconstructed in that material as time and money will permit. Wo do not want to court disaster. We have received a warning not to he ignored. The lives not only of the public but of the officials are involved, and in time of (rouble such as this tlie post office is the most important and the most indispensable institution in the whole community. Murchison’s experience proves the truth of this. Had that building been constructed of brick instead of wood there is little doubt hut that it would have been utterly destroyed, adding greatly to the difficulties and dismay of that very terrible and tragic time. We may not like it from an aesthetic point of view, hut if wo are wise all public buildings of the future will have to lie ns plain ami as unadorned as possible with heavy overhead copings and lofty weighty masonry and tali towers—more ornamental than useful—cut nut altogether. 1 am, etc., “OBSERVER.”