LATEST CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1923, Page 2

LATEST CABLE NEWS

TOKIO TO-DAY.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. TOIvIO, October 15. One of the most tragic phases of the disaster in Tokio was the death of 38,000 people in the grounds of the Military Clothing Depot in the Honjo district. AA’hen a- lire swept the stricken city, thousands sought refuge in the open spaces about the military depot, bur the flames and the heat over whelmed them. Corpses wore I heil feet high. The authorities immediately took steps to cremate the bodies, and !■* their ashes added the dead ot other devastated regions, so the remains of mere than 100.0 CO people were collected m these grounds.

Before a heap of ashes of victims, erected in the Buddhist shrine, thousands daily come to pay their respect at the shrine, and to make offerings to the dead, whilst the bereaved take away little boxes of ashes in memory of their lost ones.

On Sunday last a party of Australians front the relief steamer Austral Mount, paid their respects, sprinkling a littl 0 incense on the shrine, and making ohsi’istmccs before the image of Buddha. The Buddhist priests a-ked the Australians to accept a little image of Buddha, in token of their appreciation of the Australian efforts for relict. AA’lien the fire swept Yoshiwnra, mote than 1000 girls sought refuge in a pond, but the heat caused the water to boil, and the girls were literally boiled to death.

Dead a:,, still being recovered in the devastated parts of Tokio. A 20-mi!es drive through the ruined sterets of Tokio disclosed the completeness with which the Japanese are grapling with the problem of reconstruction. Everywhere may be seen new timber and galvanised iron for temporary shacks. Four days after the earthquake. timber ships left l’ugct Sound, America and the Japanese immediately rushed all the available timber from Ile.kkaido. Timber has been pouring into the country ever since. AAithin a fortnight the Ginza shopping and other districts will resume operations.

Meantime, plans tor rebuilding the city are proceeding with feverish haste Data regarding meteorology, geology, and other matters Ims boon collected over a number of years, and months Hgo a plan of the reorganisation of Tokio was prepared. This is now being adapted to the present circumstances. Dr. Heard, a famous American expert in municipal administration, i- .((Rising the Japanese oil the question of a new and greater Tokio. The whole system of municipal administration, which was obsolete, will be revised in the light of modoni methods. An important question also is who is going to pay for the reconstruction, and tire the insurance companies going to pay any earthquake and fire losses? The Government will probably _ 1> !I >' most of the reconstruction cost, ii possible raising all the money by domestic loans; but the insurance companies will be refusing to pay losses, and this is a very serious matter. The notice: “Business its usual!’’ is posted in the Imperial Hotel. This is an indication of a return to normal activities in some quarters of the city which escaped the 7ii ore serious ('fleets of the disastei. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs bus intimated Hint no further relief supplies are required, but Japan is very grateful for the assistance already given.