Provincial Secretary’s Office,
Wellington, October 6th, 1855.

To His Honor the Superintendent,

The publication of the following Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the amount of damage sustained by the City of Wellington and suburbs from the late earthquake, for general information.

By His Honor’s command,

William Fitzherbert,
Provincial Secretary.

REPORT

Of the Commission, appointed by his Honor the Superintendent to inquire into the amount of damage sustained by the City of Wellington and Suburbs, from the Earthquake which occurred on the evening of the 23rd January, 1855 (and if any individual distress was occasioned thereby) also to report on the material and mode of building, best calculated to resist the effects of the Earthquakes peculiar to New Zealand.

The Commissioners, after a careful inspection of this whole of the buildings in Wellington, beg to report, that they estimate the loss sustained from injuries to buildings of every description, (including merchandise and household effects, as near as they can ascertain) at the sum of £15,408. In respect of individual distress the Commissioners have much pleasure in stating, that none whatever has come under their notice, though personal loss, in some cases, they regret to say, has been severe.

As regards what may be considered the most important part of their duties, viz.—the materials and mode of building best calculated to resist the effects of the earthquakes peculiar to New Zealand; the Commissioners would premise by saying, that chimneys have sustained the most damage, the greater part of them (about three-fifths of the total number) had their tops thrown down, or so dislocated as to require taking down, about one-fifth were entirely down, and about one-fifth remained uninjured.

Those chimneys which were the most massive, built inside the buildings, and carried through the ridges, stood the best, the lower portion of them being in most cases uninjured. The Commissioners are therefore of opinion that the safest plan is to build chimneys inside, and carry them up through the ridges, at the same time building-in the angle of each jamb, a piece of 4½ x 4 in. red pine, with the chimney bar and two side 4½ x 3 in. cross-pieces secured to it; the angle pieces being also firmly fixed to the joists, above and below; the jambs ought to be 14 in. work, and the back 9 in.; the shafts may then be carried up to 18 in., or 24 in. above the ridges of the roofs, and ought to be cased up to their junction with them, with scantling and boards; the chimney breasts ought to be built up square.

Double chimneys stand better than single ones, there larger base, weight, and solidity, assist very materially to retain a wooden building in its place. Chimneys built in the angles of rooms are also recommended.

Outside chimneys are least to be relied on if placed against a gable, their narrow base, tapering form, and non-protected state on one side, added to the oscillation on the other, makes their downfall a matter of certainty; if the shafts were built in the centre of their bases, and carried up clear of the woodwork, their chance of retaining their perpendicular would be much enhanced.

Chimneys with circular shafts are recommended from the strength the circular form confers on brickwork, they may be further strengthened by circular iron straps girthing the shaft and attached to the boxing of the chimney.

In reference to buildings in general the Commissioners have not been solely guided by the fact, that they are required to withstand the effects of an Earthquake, but have also taken into consideration that they should be built in such a manner and with such materials, as will lessen the danger from fire, and retard the progress of decay.

Had Earthquakes been their only study, buildings entirely constructed of wood would have been recommended, for sound and well-constructed wooden houses receive no damage from earthquakes, but timber being very combustible, and subject to rapid decay, it becomes a matter of urgent importance to a City like Wellington, daily increasing in size, and the buildings one detached now being united in block, or in street line, to be provided with building materials of such a nature as will combine 3 properties, viz.—strength, durability, and incombustibility,—stone or brick naturally present themselves as the most likely to resist decay or fire, but the