RESTORING BUSINESS AREA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1942, Page 4

RESTORING BUSINESS AREA

GOOD PROGRESS BY DEMOLITION GANGS CONTINUED Military Picketing for Another Week FURTHER DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS REVEALED Queen Street is showing- more scars as the result of Wednesday night’s earthquake, as further inspection reveals serious structural damage in buildings. In some cases cracks have opened up in the last day or so with the repeated smaller earthquakes still being’ experienced. New arrangements have been made with the military authorities for the continuance of a limited amount of picketing for another week, while demolition work continues. Although many retailers’ shops are still closed and in some cases other accommodation has been obtained, many business firms are open as usual. Shoppers have to move from side to side of the road to get past roped off areas, 'demolition equipment and other obstructions. Only persons conducting business in Queen Street are permitted in the area. On no account are sightseers allowed in the street. Yesterday and on Saturday afternoon, when the main street was closed to the public, good progress was made with demolition work. A traction engine is now employed in pullingdown dangerous facades and the sappers and others engaged are doing exceptionally good work. ’ The front of the Trust Lands Trust building occupied by Messrs W. H. Saunders, C. D. Shoosmith and Wong Nam has new been demolished. The Queen Street wall of the Post Office has been removed and the work of dismantling the clock, and pulling down the tower is. well on its way. Further demolition has been effected at the building- formerly occupied by Mr J. V. Gordon. Today, it was intended to remove the front of the buildingoccupied by Messrs Gawith, Biss and Wilson and by Gressiers, vzhile portion of the next-door building, tenanted by Messrs Clarkson Bros, and by Mr W. Davies and Messrs Whiteman Bros., Ltd., has also to be dealt with. In Perry Street, the building’s occupied by Messrs Krahagen & Chapman and Mr J. Macfarlane Laing and that accommodating the “Dominion” office are roped off. Structural damage is also apparent to one end of Messrs G. H. Perry & Co’s building. In Chapel Street some damage is evident on Messrs Levin & Co’s, building. Tons of bricks from Messrs Graham & Go’s store fell on to the back workshop used by Mr S. V. Sharman, in Queen Street.