HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL BUILDINGS

DAMAGE BY EARTHQUAKE POSITION AT MASTERTON AND GREYTOWN. BIG REPAIR JOB INVOLVED. A comprehensive report on earthquake damage to Wairarapa Hospital Board buildings was read at today’s meeting of the board. The report covered the results of an inspection of the buildings by a Public Works engineer.

The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley, said repairs to the Masterton Hospital buildings were likely to involve a tremendous amount of money, but this was mainly due not so much to damage as to the old type of buildings, which had not got reinforced tops. A great deal of the report dealt with bringing the buildings up to a reasonable standard of safety. Provision might have to be made for nurses to go elsewhere. Reporting on behalf of a committee on a conference held in Wellington regarding the damage to the buildings at the Masterton and Grey town hospitals, the Managing-Secretary, Mr Norman Lee, said the report on earthquake damage was made before the second earthquake on August 2 and it was known that further damage had been caused by that earthquake. It was suggested that the main Masterton Hospital wards could be strengthened by reinforcing with concrete bands and that the Nurses’ Old Home should be demolished to ceiling level on the ground floor and the building reroofed at that level. It was pointed out that reconditioning might be more expensive than complete reconstruction and it was a question for consideration, where heavy expenditure was involved, whether new buildings should not be erected. The position at Greytown Hospital was much the same, except that the block in and about the operating theatre should be demolished and. rebuilt. As a temporary measure, it was suggested that wooden piers and beams could be placed in each of the wards to take the weight ot the roof. That would provide a certain amount of security as a temporary measure. While repairs were being carried out it would be necessary to close each ward as it was dealt with. If the Nurses’ Old Home were evacuated accommodation would have to be found for 40 people. The Public Works Department would provide huts to meet the position and it was suggested that a house could be secured to accommodate some of the training staff. The architect, Mr F. C. Daniell, had been asked to give estimates of the cost of the alternative repair proposals. In the case of the Nurses’ Old Home Mr Daniell had suggested that the portion to be demolished could be replaced with a structure of light material. In this case, the architect had been asked to give estimates of the cost of a new nurses’ home and of alterations to the old one, as he had suggested. Mr Adams, Public. Works Department engineer, and Mr Daniell attended the meeting to explain various matters in connection with the proposals. Mr Adams’s report was taken in committee. There was some discussion as to whether the proceedings as a wholt should be taken in committee, but this course was opposed by some members, and the matter was left in open meeting. (Proceeding.)