QUAKE DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1942, Page 2

QUAKE DAMAGE

REPAIR OF MASTERTON BUILDINGS ENGINEERS' RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED. SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. Comprehensive reports concerning earthquake damage to buildings in Masterton were presented to the Masterton Borough Council at a special meeting held last night? The reports were presented by Messrs A. G. Harris (engineer) and I). J. Burns (architect) of the Public Works Department, who acted as honorary building surveyors following on the earthquake of June 24 and by the Borough Engineer, Mr C. K. Mabson. The position was defined as to the steps to be taken to bring buildings up to the necessary standard of safety. Temporary repairs only would be possible meantime, it was stated, owing to war conditions. Mr Harris was in attendance at the meeting to give councillors the benefit of his experience in rebuilding after the Napier and Hastings earthquake in 1931. It was stated that the services of the Public Works engineer would continue to be placed at the disposal of the council. BIG EXPENSE INVOLVED. The Borough Engineer, Mr C. R. Mabson, in his report, stated that it would be fully realised that it was quite impracticable to carry out any of the major reconstruction work at present and possibly not until after the war, so that temporary permits would have to be issued permitting such work (often contrary to the by-law) as would enable the firm or business concerned to carry on until men and materials were available. It would be necessary for the council to adopt the recommendations in the report of the surveyors if the remaining brick buildings in the borough were to be brought up to the standard required to give adequate protection to the public using them in the event of further serious shakes. Councillors must realise that to give effect to the recommendations, which were deemed absolutely essential, would involve a considerable amount of expenditure on the part of property-owners concerned and this might in some cases necessitate some form of financial assistance from Government or other sources. POOR QUALITY MORTAR. In the course of their report, Messrs A. G. Harris and D. J. Burns, stated that the mortar in buildings throughout the Wairarapa district was in almost every case of abnormally poor quality and much of the damage to brick structures could be ascribed directly to this basic lack of quality. The recommendations put forward in detail set out what it was considered should be done to the buildings not only to repair present; damage, but to impart to them earth-quake-resistant qualities as nearly as possible to the standard of the New Zealand Model By-Laws. At the same time, it was realised that the presentday shortage of labour and materials might render it impossible Io put those recommendations fully into effect for some considerable time and that in many cases it would be necessary to resort to temporary measures. Those temporary measures should aim at restoring the building to' its original strength and the removal of all immediate hazard to the building itself, to adjacent properties and to persons. The reports on some buildings called for substantial reconstruction in cases where the building had suffered little or no damage and it might be thought at first sight that such a recommendation was somewhat radical. It should be appreciated that a brick building with poor mortar was a perpetual earthquake hazard and even though it did not shed its bricks in the recent earthquake, it remained as a potentially dangerous structure. Where mortar was reasonably strong and approached the strength of the bricks, it was practicable to give substantial earthquake resisting qualities to. a building, particularly a low building, by the insertion of strong continuous concrete band courses at suitable positions. Where the mortar was poor, however, there were usually only two alternatives, either complete demolition of the building or the reconstruction thereof in some suitable material, or the insertion not only of continuous band courses but of reinforced concrete columns cast into chases in the walls—virtually amounting to the construction of a concrete frame, lacing or tying the building together and dividing the brick work into framed parcels so that it was not liable to fall out and even if it did so, the main structure of the building would still be supported. RECENT REGULATIONS. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, said regulations recently gazetted gave a local body power to deal with what might be a potential danger in the future. That would enable them to deal with parapets that had not been damaged in the recent earthquake, The council adopted the reports presented and expressed its appreciation to those responsible for the comprehensive nature of the reports and its thanks to the engineers on behalf of the community for the work they had done. Councillor H. E. Gardner said it was the duty of the council to see that the suggestions were carried out as soon as possible, as human life came first at all times. Councillor W. Kemp said it would prove a very expensive report to the citizens of Masterton. “It may be cheaper in the long run,” said the Mayor. Councillor Kemp said the Borough Engineer had done good work in recent years in the supervision of building construction in Masterton. The councillor added that he was not competent to criticise the reports laid before the council and the latter had to take the opinion expressed by the experts. He thought that about-25 per cent of the chimneys would not be rebuilt. He wanted to see all bricks that were not wanted put out of sight as quickly as possible. The 'council | had ample power to let the citizens I know that they wanted a safe town. PROPOSED PROCEDURE. It was stated by the Mayor that the j first procedure would be to send a

copy of the engineers’ report to every property-owner concerned. When the work required would be done would necessarily depend on the labour and material available. The engineer would later select the most urgent buildings for repair and would then serve notice accordingly. The Borough Engineer was empowered to have the necessary work embodied in the engineers’ report carried out as time and labour permitted. Mi- Jordan outlined the steps taken by the Municipal Conference, following the Napier earthquake, in making representations to the Government to provide adequate insurance, protection on a national basis, against earthquakes or other calamities. These representations were first made in 1935, but were still under consideration by the Treasury. It was exceedingly disappointing to find themselves faced with a calamity which might very well have been provided for if those in authority would do something. The Municipal Association had done its utmost to keep the matter before the responsible authorities. Mr Mabson said the aim was to secure uniformity of building standards throughout, the district. In reply to a point raised by Councillor Gardner, the Mayor said time for payment of chimney repairs would be considered if application were made. He had every reason to believe the council would give applicants favourable consideration.