COLLAPSE OF WALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1938, Page 4

COLLAPSE OF WALL

WORKMEN INJURED. CONDITION NOT SERIOUS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 17. Four workmen were injured through being thrown to the ground when a 16ft brick wall collapsed on the site of a new building which is being constructed for Bycrofts Ltd. in Chancery Street shortly after 4 o’clock this afternoofn. The injured men were Clark Ferguson Pirrett, bricklayer, aged 28, married. of Mount Eden, who received head injuries and shock; Percy Pennell. aged 34. single, of Upper Queen Street, shock and abrasions; Charles Strong, Nelson Street, shock and abrasions; George Bending, Dcvonport, shock and abrasions. The site of the new building, which is being constructed by the Fletcher Construction Company, Ltd., adjoins the property previously occupied by D. S. C. Cousins, Ltd., which was recently destrqyed by fire. Under the new bylaws there must be no intervening space between buildings. On the property there were two brick walls about four inches apart and a number of bricklayers were engaged in filling in this gap when the accident occurred. Water seeping in behind the wall had caused the structure to weaken and this was apparently overlooked by the men who were standing on top of the old wall. Short scaffolding also was used to strengthen the wall, but the combined weight of the men caused it to crumble and collapse. With the wall giving way from under their feet, the men attempted to leap clear, but they lost their balance and fell among a pile of masonry.

The four injured men were taken to the Auckland Hospital. After treatment in the casualty ward Messrs Strong and Bending were able to return to their homes, but Messrs Pirrett and Pennell were admitted. Their condition tonight was reported to be not serious. ,