PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN GISBORNE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3375, 15 November 1911, Page 5

PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN GISBORNE.

REPORT BY COUNCIL’S INSPECTOR WHAT IS REQUIRED'. The condition of the Public buildings in Gisborne' was reported upon by the Borough Council’s Building Inspector last evening. The report was as follows: —As iequested by the Council I conferred with the chairman of the Pi re Board, and :.n company with Superintendent Thompson made a thorough inspection of the churches, schools and places of amusement in the borough with reference to fire escapes and means of exit. The following are satisfactory : Churches, "Mission Hall, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches, Church of Christ, Seventh Day Adventist,. Te llau Church. Milltown Church, Grey St. Hall, and Salvation Army Barracks ; places of amusement, Smith and Robinson’s and Alhambra billiard saloons, Robb’s Hall, W 'iorav’s Hall (brick)., P.B. Rowing shed an.l Gisborne Club rowing shed ; schools all* satisfactory. ' Hollowing is a list of various places requiring 'immediate attention : —Catholic Church : All doors open inwardly. The gallery staircase is only two feet wide, and has about five windows in same with only half the head available. This staircase is the only exit from the gallery. Church of England: Here there seems to be plenty of doors, but. on Sunday last it took twelve minutes ter empty, tlie front lobby I think being the trouble. Wesleyan Church: Both front doors open inwardly; these on Sunday last were the only means of exits the back doors being blocked bv a stage erected inside. Masonic Hall -.‘The only escape from the top floor is the staircase. I suggest ropes at the windows. Y.M.C.A. Rooms: Only exits are the staircase and out of' the front windows on to Rosie’s roof. Here a platform should be erected from the windows to the outer edge of verandah roof as any one jumping out of a window is likely to go through the verandah roof. Cosmopolitan Club: All is satisfactory with the exception of a ladies' room on the back corner of the building; to jump out of either of the two windows one would fall straight*-through a skylight which is fixed in a small lean-to. A platform carried to the edge of such lean-to would suffice. Technical School (upstairs): There are two rooms and the only escape is the staircase. A few ropes at the windows are necessary. Lysnar s Hall: Upstairs there are seven large rooms, one used for stowing and cleaning grass seed, one as a gymnasium and the other as a dancing room. _ All are served by one staircase 4ft. wide. Tbe grass seed room we need not worry about. In the gymnasiuxn all the windows are covered with wire netting, making it 1 impossible for anyone to get out of them. In any case the windows are very difficult to open, and the buildings outside would only make a The dance room is even worse. There is a rope hanging at one of the windows, and it is tied up in a large knot useless. At the end of this room thero is a- dopr opening out on to a. roof, but it is barred up; even if it could he opened there is a drop of about 6ft. The stainvav is very dangerous, having no handrail to prevent one from falling ever the side. This hall is frequently used and requires seeing to at once. Garrison Hall: Fire exits satisfactory, but at the Rose Show held last week lime lights were being used on the stageand in a very careless way too. Such as this will require watching should it he used again. There are still two or three places to be inspected, and these I intend to do when inspecting residences.

Or, Bright said that these places wanted attention at once. Tf they caught fire when some public entertainment or meeting was on there would he a. nanio at once. - It was decided to instruct the _lnspector to have the alterations carried out.