THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

WAIMATE DONATION.

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

WAEVIATE, July 6. The sum of £125 has been sent forward as a preliminary donation to the earthquake relief from the fund inaugurated by the Mayor of Waimate. CLEAN UP IN PROGRESS. WESTPORT, July 7. . The prompt action of the Prime Minister in wiring £5300 as a preliminary grant towards the relief of the distress at Seddonville is much appreciated. Mr Laurenson (Harbour' Engineer) has gangs of men at work cleaning out the houses at Seddonville, which are in a fearful state with mud a foot thick and everything inside the houses in a most bedraggled state. Many of the residents are billeted out in other mining townships, and at Westport. Mr Simpson, of Karamea, wires stating that-the beach is a splendid landing ground for planes, apd that it could handle fifty Southern Crosses, adding that it ittis just one of those misfortunes that happen in “the best of regulated families” that Caprtain (Buifellj's Spjafie' | s!tjpck£ some shingle,*, the ibnly object ong tjie\ beach tnat could have damaged it. I w V: ■ J ) '■ ■’ •’u rV QUAKES CONTINUE. i2V i: GREYMQUTH; -July .8: There were a series of minor eartli•‘qiiakeS' experienced" in. Groymouth'.during the week-end. A fairly pronounced shock tookiplace: at .6.10-pnnv on Saturday, followed hy < a similar seismic disturbance at 11.50 p.m; There were slight tremors at 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Sunday, and a fairly acute shock at 11.45 a.m. Another quake of about the same degree of violence occurred at 37 minutes past midrugnt.

WESTPORT SHOCKS. WESTPORT, July 6. There was a big and sustained earthquake at 6.5 this evening. FURTHER WESTPORT QUAKES. HAMPER RESTORATION WORK. . • , WESTPORT, July 7. During tlie night and at 11.45 this morning, two big sustained quakes werei experienced. . .. ' The ; day has-been very’ wet, J and hampering in the restoration Of chimneys and other damage 'done, which work has .been going on for seven days a week, many people doing the work themselves, whilst carpenters, bricklayers, and others have also been

departure of plane delayed. * r GREYMdUTtiT" Juy' '8: The ...departure of Captain Burell’s .Mo.th plane has beep postponed indefinitely on' account of ' unfavourable climatic conditions. .... . ■ ." •;; .' i ' w „’ . WELLINGTON,. July 6. .Yesterday’s earthquake street collection totals over £BOO. This’amount will be supplemented' by collections at Petone and Lower Hutt, next Friday. EARTHQUAKE damage. ; REPORT UPON WESTPORT. WELLINGTON, July 6, Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., has received the following communication from the Prime Minister:—“With reference to your telegram of the 2nd inst, drawing attention to the request of some business houses at Westport that a Departmental building expert be sent to .that place to report on buildings damaged, and likely to be ordered to he demolished,* I wish to point out that the buildings in each of these localities are governed by the borough by-laws.’ The administrative functions of the boroughs hi respect to buildings are governed by the reports of’the Borough Engineers in these places who are quite competent to decide and advise the Coriiicil .on the, points you refer to. The'Edblic .Works', Department have 'in these districts, officers who are experienced in buildings, .but their functions in any matter of this kind would have to be purely advisory, as the responsibility of deciding the questions raised must, it seems to me, remain with the local authorities. I am sure any of the Public Works officers will be prepared to assist the Borough Engineer in arriving at any decision.”