NAPIER DEATH ROLL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1931, Page 5

NAPIER DEATH ROLL

NOT YET AVAILABLE. RECOVERING THE DEAD. WILL TAKE A MONTH. WELLINGTON. February 5. Further reports from tile ‘‘Evening Post’s’’ representatives in the earthquake area received by their newspaper and Press Association, indicate that it will lie a long time before the mil details of the Napier death roll will be available. Names and particulars must wait until certainty is established. Ton dead have already been recovered from the Old Peoples’ Home, whiefi collapsed. Four people were killed bv the. 1 breaking down of the brick cathedral while at morning service. In Doctor .Moore’s Hospital there was a fatality and a girl at the Union Steamship Office was killed at work. It is generally believed there are some ears and occupants beneath the great slips round the Bluff. Single instances of people, many women and children being instantly killed by the collapse of homes are common.

The town is one vast desolation, with the living in search of the dead. It will he a month before all corpses can he recovered.

Energies are mostly being devoted to getting out those who seem to have a chance of surviving.

From the look of their homes it is known there are many people under the buildings, which "dll take days to remove from above them, 1\ MILLIONS DAMAGE. Tt is estimated that two and a-hnlf millions damage has been caused in the city area alone and some people are wondering whether the tackling of the re-building of central Napier is worth while. .Men who saw the war through and were inured to frightful sights, were frankly broken by the dreadful injur.es seen yesterday when removing the dead and injured. Everyone has a tale to tell of miraculous escapes and of pathetic fatal-' ities. One of the most remakable escapes was the Napier South Boys’ High School, where some two hundred boys had just been taken out on the parade ground. When the shake occurred the headmaster, Mr Foster, came running out of the Assembly Hall, literally as it collapsed. A huge piece of masonry appeared to drive him into the earth, but it broke in two, half a ton falling on either side of him. and when tlie dust had cleared lie had merely a bruised leg. In the Tobacco factory at Port Aburiri. where 50 girls were employed, only one was wounded. Tlie shock was folfowed by a fire which with the high wind, spread without check, because tlie town’s water supply was cut off by burst pipes. A single fire engine played son water on the nearest buildings, hut for the most part, the brigade as well as the owners.Mvere powerless. Too much cannot he said of the splendid spirit of the Napier people and the greatest admiration is expressed for the conduct of the women in tile face of the harrowing scenes. ADDITIONAL DEATHS. (Special to “Guardian”.) HASTINGS, February 5. Additional deaths are:— A. Leaning. Henry Brookcr, E. Brown. Bodies are still being found under the debris. HASTINGS DEAD.

WELLINGTON, xNbrunry 5. i Amendments and additions to the list of Hastings dead: Lilian Jenkins, about 20 years. Brian Hooper, 22 years. Eugene Bruce Thomas Gill. Miss Holuhan, Hastings. .Miss Gladys Alma Cleary. Mr Drummond. Airs I). R. Ross. Ray Graham. William Pool. Airs Constance Horseley. Airs F. B. Coles and two little hoys Rodley Lewis, lost. Hmgh AlcDomild. Airs AlcDomild, John A. Boss. Ray Grohard. Thomas William Goodall. DEATH TRAGEDIES. WELLINGTON. February 5. There were some particularly tragic features of the calamity at the technic al school. It was the old technical school which crumbled while not very far away was the new huidling which had stood the earthquake well, but alas children had started the year in the old one. They had started that very day (Tuesday).

“Aly boy began his school year at 9 a.m. and he was dead at IT a.m.,” said a parent.

There was a pitiful scene at night as residents sought slumber on sands between a line of burning buildings and a line of surf.

Tiie late James Doognn, killed at Greenmeadows, was the youngest son of ADs and the late AU H. F. Doogan. Buccleugh Street, Greymouth. U was about 23 year.; of age*, an 1 was to have been professed next AYcdnesdav. F brunry 11th.

Mr Bodey Anisy was a son of Air and Airs J. Anisy, Tainui Street, Greymouth. He also received his pri-

mary education at the Afarist Bros.’ S f 'hool. Greymouth, and gained a boarding scholarship at St. Bede’s College. He was about 22 years of age, and was also to have been professed on Februarv 11th.