Every last banana box — full of memorabilia — has been removed from the Temuka Courthouse Museum, and it is now ready for earthquake strengthening work to begin.
Temuka and Districts Historical Society project co› ordinator Pat Mulvey said the empty courthouse was now in its original condition.
Mr Mulvey said contractors would be on site from August 14.
‘‘But they won’t be here all of the time.’’
He guessed work would take 10 to 12 months.
There was ‘‘no desperate hurry’’.
He said the courthouse had double brick walls which would need a python screw every 450mm — horizontally and vertically — to anchor them together.
Among other work, the existing ceilings would have to come down, and a plywood ceiling would be installed that would reinforce the roof structure to the walls.
However, when replacing it they would be ‘‘replicating the ceiling’s features’’.
There was work to be done outside as well, including reinforcing the external corners, as well as attaching the parapet to the roof structure.
He was pleased to report ‘‘the ornate chimney has been saved’’.
The courthouse was built in 1900 and extensions were added in 1908.
Mr Mulvey said the society still needed more finance for the project, ‘‘but atthis stage we don’t know how much extra we’ll need’’.
They were thankful to the group of three women and their helpers who had spent a month boxing every thing up to be moved.
