THE QUAKE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1931, Page 5

THE QUAKE DISASTER

THE DEATH ROLL

<: SOME OF THE DEAD. Among the (lend at Hastings are Ted Rattray. Mrs Agnes Jonson. Mrs Mary Alice McLeod. Miss Li lean Jenkins.

Brian Hooper, aged 22 years. Thomas Wilson Alexander. Albert Gig. Emanuel Brace. Thomas Gill. Miss Holughan. Miss Cleary. Mr Drummond. Mrs D. Ross Mr Coleman. Roy Graham. Thora Aileen Spence. Miss Grudenoff; Bert Byer. William Pool, Herbert Walker, Perceval Lewis. Miss Olive Cambridge, Mrs Constance Horsley. There is also a number of unidentified bodies.

The killed include two Catholic Church students of Greenmeadows—J. Dogan and Anisy, both of Greymoutb, 3 priests and 4 other, students. ONE HUNDRED KILLED 1000 INJURED. WELLINGTON, February 3. It is estimated that there are one hundred dead in Napier. The Napier casualties are estimated at one thousand. Fourteen hoys were killed in the Napier Technical School. The town of Napier- was still burning at 11.30 o’clock to-night. -.A report from the Telegraph Engineer at Napier was received at 8.42 p.m. as follows:—“The Post Office buildings were gutted by fire. Theexchange building is partially demolisb_ ed- The business area of the town is still on fire. Practically all T of the brick buildings are destroyed. Port Ahuriri office is destroyed. It is impossible to estimate the number of killed and injured. Several nurses were killed when the Nurses’ Home was destroyed. Road communication is opell to the south, hut otte spall of the Westshore Bridge is down, cutting off communication to tile north, Wo are opening a temporary post office at the railway station, and are fitting up spare instruments ready for operation. Line parties are out. The line damage is mostly confined to contacts. We hope to establish, communication to-morroAV. Tremors are still being experienced.’

FURTHER PARTICULARS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The following message has been transmitted from Waipukurau by Press Association agents at Napier and Has. tings.

Known dead in Napier:— Alfred Bonor, about fifty-five years, married, grown up family. Mrs T. Barry, burned to death in St. John’s Cathedral. Val Harrison, jobbing compositor, aged eighteen. Nancy Thorne George, nurse in Public Hospital. Also six or eight other nurses, names unknown, and perhaps twelve patients. Details unknown. Mrs L. T. Bisrson. Mrs C. Bickerstaff (who had a young family). Miss Mita Hughes, Union Steamship Coy.

Mrs Leniham. Fred McArthur, fifty-four, telegraphist, G.P.O. (died from shock on road). Infant named Canham. A number of others killed, but unidentified. Among the injured is Archdeacon Brocklehurst, broken leg. The earthquake crumbled practically evdry bridge and many concrete buildings. A fire swept the whole business area of the town. In the residential area, all chimneys are down and many houses badly damaged. The public hospital was practically flattened out. At the girls’ and boys’ High School no deaths are reported, but at the Technical School one boy, Heath, is probably dead and there may be others. It is unknown how many were injur, ed there, but they are numerous. So far it appears there is plenty ol cattle, sheep, fruit and potatoes avail able within two miles, only requiring organisation. Water is in considerable scarcity ii the town but in the country artesiar wells are running. There are als< a few in town. Sanitation is an important, immed iate problem. The whole population is sleeping i 1 the open in fine weather. Napier casualties are considerable but surprisingly light considering th damage to buildings. , Both newspaper offices were destroy ed completely. Hastings Tribune was also destroyer Communication direct at present i impossible, telegrams being carried t jWaipukurau,

© LATEST PARTICULARS DEATH ROLL INCREASING a—(By Telegraph — l‘cr Press Association)

WAIROA’S REPORT

THREE PERSONS KILLED. WAIROA, February 4. Yesterday’s was the severest shake in history. No chimneys are left standing. Whole buildings were demolished.

All land communication south is cut off and miles of road are obliterated. The town bridge is all but gone. Three fatalities are reported, including Airs J. O’Malley, wife of a local solicitor and a Chinaman named Li n Kee.

Many were injured. The inhabit ants are terrified.

Since the main quake, severe tremors have been almost continuous.

Moiiaka railway tunnel collapsed and the workmen escaped through all cigK teen inch fissure.

Local freezing works ni'e disorganised and forty thousand carcases will rot, unless shipped on a meat boat within two or three days. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage was done within the town. Gisborne is not so bad.

Diomede is proceeding to Waikakopfi to pick up medical relief for Napier.

MEDICAL AID EN ROUTE.

WELLINGTON. February 3

The following medical assistance has been despatched from Auckland: Five doctors and 15 nurses, who are arriving by a naval vessel to-morrow morning. From Wellington, seven doctors and 23 nurses are going; from Gisborne five doctors and three nurses; from Palmerston North, eight doctors and ten nurses; from adjacent towns thirteen doctors and 24* 3 nurses.

A special truck left Wellington at 5 o’clock equipped with a Western Electric Short Wave transmitter, and a Phillips Receiving Set to despatch messages from the area afflicted by the earthquake.

i WELLINGTON, February 3. ’ Half a mile square of Napier has been destroyed. The new Post Office has been destroyed, hut it was by fire that its demolition was completed.

FURTHER REPORT.

WELLINGTON, February 4

The Secretary of the General Post Office has received the following report from tile Chief Postmaster at Napier; At 12,6 n.m. the “Press Association” report the dead are believed to total over forty in Napier alone and probably others are killed. Casualties total hundreds, the injured being sent to hospitals between Waipukurau and Palmerston North by ambulances.

Hastings figures are unknown. The streets are all ploughed up and full of debris.

The following further casualty has been advised —“At tea kiosk, P. Devine fractured his right arm and left femur."

\ ERNOR-GENERAL’S ACTION

LIST OF DOCTORS AND NURSES

WELLINGTON, February 4

immediately the news of the disaster was received, the Governor-Gener-al Lord Bledisloe, instructed the Health Department to send to Napier an adequate staff of doctors and nurses. Arrangements were put in tram forthwith and as a result before tiic day expired the following medical and nursing staff were on the way to give assistance. From Wellington : —2O doctors and 55 nurses. From Palmerston North: —Nine doctors and 24 nurses.

From Auckland:—Six doctors and fifteen nurses.

From New Plymouth:—Three doctors and six nurses. From Taumarunui: —Six nurses. Front Gisborne :—Five docors. Total 43 doctors; 106 nurses.

The figures are not complete, ns a number of doctors and nurses left from ! Wanganui, and other assistance was sent from places nearer Napier. LORRY SMASHED. HITS TRAIN AT TRENTHAM. WELLINGTON, February 4It is reported that a P. and Tlorry laden: with supplies for the earthquake area, was smashed at Trentham this morning in a collision with a train. No details available. LORRY SMASH. WELLINGTON, February 4. Re the Trentham lorry smash, the lorry was proceeding to the relief cainj) at, Trentham. to load supplies foi the stricken area and was struck by a goods train coming to Wellington at. 2 a.m. The driver of the lorry, A. 'I • Newman of Brooklyn, had a marvellous escape. After being attended to by | Doctor Tweed for head injuries, lie was ! able to proceed home. Neither train nor lorry was going fast. The front of the lorry was badly damaged.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S MOVEMENTS.

WELLINGTON, February 4

On receiving the news of the disastrous earthquake 'I Heir Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, who had proposed to spend a lew , days at the Franz Josef glacier, decided to return at once to Wellington and will arrive here on Friday morning.

CONDOLENCES.

KING’S MESSAGE.

WELLINGTON, February 4

The Governor-General has received the following message ifrom the King and Queen:—“We are much concerned to hear of the iVrtliqiiako in the North island, involving the loss of life and damage to property. Please convey our sympathy to those whose relatives and friends have pei-.siieu, ami whose homes have been wrecked. I should like further information, especially regarding the injured."

SECRETARY OF STATE. WELLINGTON. February 4

From the Secretary of State for Dominion affairs: —“Your telegram of 3rd February with news of the. earthquake wtts received with profound regret and on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom I hasten to express our deepest sympathy with the Dominion and those who are suffering. We have read with the greatest concern reports of loss of life and the damage sustained. Please keep us informed as fully as possible,’

FROM LORD JELLICOI3. WELLINGTON, February 4

Front the Admiral of the Fleet Lord Jellieoe:—“Please express my deepest sympathy with the relatives of those who have lost their lives and with ihe injured and sufferers in the earthquake.” AMATEUR RADIO MEN. DO GOOD WORK. WELLINGTON. February 4. “Amateur transmitters, working on a short wave, are rendering splendid service," said a well known radio enthusiast this morning. They hate filled the breach in a wonderful manner. He particularly mentioned S. Perkins of 2 G.K. Lyall Bay, assisted by Liddell 21LJ-, working in an official capacity with James Mills of Hastings.

Details of the quake damage at Gisborne and also at Hastings and Napier were transmitted by “2 C.F.l*. Gisborne, Cliff Hands a radio dealer, ai d picked up by Leslie Jones of Wediugto a Incidentally he meiitio i«*d that 2 planes flew from Hastings to Gisborne.

A DOCTOR’S REPORT.

WELLINGTON, February 4

Dr, Dougins Muir, who Hew to Napier yesterday to render assistance and returned by plane this morning, after working all night, reports: - “You cannot exaggerate the position at Napier. It is indeed terrible. Plenty of medical help is now available.

Alanutuka settlers report fresh water and sand is gushing from deep fissures of the old river bed. A steamer with three doctors and a large party of nurses left Gisborne early this morning for Napier,

A fairly shrarp quake was experienced here at 12.35 a .in.

RECORDED AT KEW

LONDON, February 3. The New Zealand earthquake was recorded at Kew and Cairo,

The news was published in London in the early morning and there were many anxious inquiries at the High Commissioners office. where official information was not available.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

RUSHING IN ASSISTANCE

WELLINGTON. February 4

During last night the Health Department, in co-operation with the Defence Department, sent by motor lorry a tent field hospital with 200 beds and medical stores with a staff of twenty hospital orderlies.

of medico 1 and surgical stores, including vaccines have been going forward all the time. Multitudes of voluntary helpers have offered their services.

"Wellington Automobile Association undertook to organise, motor transport to convey relief workers to Napier and Hastings. The first batch of doctors and nurses were conveyed by General and Dominion Motors.

Doctors Lynch (pathologist) and Gillies (orthopedic surgeon) left hist evening with a very considerable stock of medical and surgical supplies, including splints for fracture cases. The Director General of Health. Dr. Watt, accompanied by several medical officers left for Napier to-day. Before leaving be said it would obviously be necessary fn remove any of the sufferers to hospitals in other districts, whore the sufferers could be given the best attention. Inquiries are being made at all hospitals in

convenient localities, as to the number of patients they can provide for. tins is a necessary preliminary to the evacuation from Fawkes Bay. Two of Wellington City free ambulances went to the area last night: also one from Palmerston North, and a motor car went with X-ray equipment.