EARTHQUAKES AND BRICK BUILDINGS.

Patea Mail, 8 May 1882, Page 2

EARTHQUAKES AND BRICK BUILDINGS.

Mr G. Robertson writes to the Post “ I have also had some experience of earth V quakes in Italy and Sicily, where houses are almost unknown, and have { never heard of - accidents from buildings giving way. In Naples, . Messina, and . other large cities some Of the structures are.six.or seven storeys,higb, andalthough ' a panic naturally seizes everyone when I the, fumble ofUtbe “ terremote ”is heard, yef’’nobody‘actually fears the destruction of dwellings. I remember about seven years ago an earthquake “ wave ” seemed to traverse of Italy, but with the exception of the total destruction of the village of Orciano,. owing to the ground opening, no other serious damage was done, though some ’ of' the shocks were quite severe. : By last Suez ; mail I received news that.Several'severe earthy quakes had been felt in February last | along the. Adriatia.Coast, hut no accidents were reported; J I have been told. ;by-per-sons who have resided in iquique and Lima, that most of the loss of life which takes? place in South America during ah' earthquake is principally caused, by faulty architecture- "Probably brick buildings are dangerous, for although bricks 'are largely used.in Italian structures, yet stone and cement form the principal' part? of • walls, which are never (except in the case of partitions) less than 18 inches the least. I fail to see why Wellington, if stone can be had, should hot boast Of handsome build* ings as well as other cities.