BANKS DESTROYED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1931, Page 16

BANKS DESTROYED

BUT STAFFS SAFE

The banks, like other institutions, all suffered badly in the earthquake, but, although premises were destroyed in most instances, the staffs seem to have escaped anything worse than slight inMr. J. T. Grose, general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand, stated "yesterday afternoon that his Dannevirko manager, who went through to Napier early on Tuesday afternoon, reported at 6 o'clock yesterday morning that all the banks' premises in Napier were destroyed by the earthquake and subsequent fires. The business part of the damage elsewhere was very severe. The town was completely demolished, and the havoc wrought in Hastings was as bad as, if not worse than, in Napier. One or two bank premises were still left in Hastings. The Masterton and New Plymouth managers of the National Bank went through to Napier on Tuesday night, the latter taking a number of nurses with equipment. About 1 p.m. yesterday the head offices of the banks received a telegram, timed 9.12 a.m., and signed by the managers of all the banks at Hastings, stating that the town was in ruins, and practically demolished, any business premises left standing being in an unsafe condition. The banks' staffs were all safe. It was considered that the early opening of temporary premises vrai impossible. At 4.45 p.m. a message was receivea from Napier stating that the staffs of the banks there were all safe and sound with the exception of Mr. W. J. Leversedge, manager of the Bank-of New South Wales, who was suffering from slight concussion due to his being- hit by a piece of brick or stone and who was in Napier Hospital. ' The books and cash of the National Bank at Napier were reported to be safe and the strongroom intact, but in other instances it is feared that books and records are destroyed.