THE QUAKE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1931, Page 5

THE QUAKE DISASTER

kNOTHER big shock. LEVELS NAPIER HILLS. WELLINGTON, February 7. Only four sflocks were recorded at Kelburn in 24 hours till ten o’clock to-day. None was pronounced. NAPIER, February 8. Minor shocks continue here. There was a fairly heavy shake on Saturday at 7 p.m. After a comparatively quiet night, nothing serious being felt between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., several moderately heavy shocks were felt this morning. NAPIER, February 8. To-day, Sunday, February Bth, the most violent shock since the opening quake on Tuesday last shook Napier badly. It occurred iust before two p.'tn. to-day. Further immense falls of earth on this occasion occurred at Bluff Hill an<> at Cape Kidnappers. The Cape was obliterated by the dust that resulted from the enormous falls of earth that occurred there. The sea is rising, and there are heavy breakers dashing up the beach. It may become necessary to remove the camps from the foreshore. Lt is reported that the country immediately behind the Inner Harbour is now slipping into the Inner Harbour. me floor of the Inner Harbour is said to have been raised by at least six feet but this is mere conjecture. A settler from Poraite states that the lulls behind the Inner Harbour lagoon there are showing a tendency to flatten out. The tidal flow at the Inner Harbour entrance, which used to be about s-’-x knots per hour is now practically nonexistent. This is due to the fact that -very little water is finding its way into the lagoon, which is one extending from Greenmeadows to Petane. Whether this condition will continue to exist is another question. It is asserted that that sea in front of Napier has resumed its normal level. FUTHER SHOCKS AT NAPIER. NAPIER, February 8. The weather is still doubtfm. ♦lie set! is now worse, but there lltlvO been tWL fairly severe shakes ctiifittg jrtS'c few hours. * NAPIER, February 7, Before noon a fire broke oilt in Mr Percy Briaco’s house, Napier Terrace. The brigade, with tanks of water on waggons, soon got control and saved any spread of the tire, but the building was destroyed, and others were damaged. A line of trucks kept up a water supply. Several further bodies have been recovered in Emerson Street, but have not vet been identified.

AVAIROA BRIDGE BLOCKED

WAIROA, February 8

There was a fairly sharp quaxe at 10 p.m., at AVairoa. Several sharp earthquake shocks have been experienced to-day, that at about 2 p.m., caused further damage to the traffic bridge, which is now impassable. A ferry service is being instituted. GISBORNE, February 8.

An earthquake shock, the sharpest experienced here since the big quake, was experienced at one forty five p.m. to-day, th’e people rushing out in the street. No damage is reported. The body of Mr J. A. Ross, reported missing, has been recovered at the Grand Hotel.

STRONG FORCES NECESSARY

NEAV PLYMOUTH, February 8

A glowing tribute to the work of the naval men at Napier was paid by Dr T. H. A. Valentine ex-Director-Genera: of Health ,who has just returned to Turaliaki. “It would be disastrous to Napier and the surrounding country if the Navy is withdrawn, as 1 understand is possible in the next few days,” he said. “I sincerely hope some portion of the bluejackets ana marines are retained for police duty until the Borough Council and othei authorities can function. There are certain ghouds who fatten on .disaster This disturbing element has already made itself felt, and for the administration of Napier, strong men are need ed.” Dr Valentine said he believed Commissioner Wohlmann had arranged for thirty-seven additional police officers to go to the district, but believed even - the police chief would recognise this force would not be sufficient if the navy were withdrawn.

MORE NAPIER DEAD

WELLINGTON, February 8.

The following dead previously reported unidentified have been identified.

At Port Ahuriri Morgue : v Reid, George, aged 41, quarryman, who died after injuries in Dr Gilray’s Hospital. He is supposed to have been % single, and was of Napier.

Williamson, Reginald Tailor, Emerson Street, aged 55. Ho leaves a grown-up family.

FURTHER PARTICULARS NAPIER AGAIN SHAKEN —-a (By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

’Jhe following is list, of unklenti

fled dead and also a description.— (I) A female, aged 2d to 3d years; ■<>f slight build; dark brownish hair; greying at the temples; brown eves; small round face ; small round body ; small hands; natural teeth; short nose ring on left middle finger; gold wristlet watch ; wearing a champagne colour <xl dress and stockings, a lawn straw hat, and tangerine ribbon, with black edging; small crocodile shoes (brown.) (-) A 'female, from Nelson Park, died at the casualty station; aged i'ortv-five to fifty years; tall well made, sallow eomlexion ; large nostrils, brown Imir, no teeth ; blue eyes. (3) A female, from the Park racecourse, aged about seventy; short and slight, build; grey hair; thin features; no teeth j il lew hairs oil the chill; blue eyes ; rather large liose; flesh coloured stockings; no ornaments.

(4) A female, a Hospital patient; middle-aged; hair going grey; small nose; top plate of teeth false; lower teeth natural; blue eyes; rather broad face; wrist watch and sample of dress taken; two rings left on body—one on third right finger, and one on second left finger. '■s) A male, about 2d years; tall well-built; broad face; .medium nose; natural teeth; hazel eyes; light brown hair; wearing dark tweed trousers; black braces, grey waistcoat; white s hirt, with 'faint brown stripes; black 'working hoots; purple .suspenders; grey socks with black square lines.

(6) A female of about seventy years; medium height; slight build; without teeth; clothes burned. (7) Charred remains of a human bodv.

(8) Charred remains of a human body.

VIOLENT SHOCK LAST NIGHT. VERY LITTLE FURTHER DAMAGE. NAPIER, February 9. There was a violent shock at 9.30 last night and caused further alarm, but there were no further shakes beyond tremors aill daylight. At 8.4.5 a.m. to-day there was still a more violent shake, lasting a minute. It did not cause so much alarm it being daylight. Refugees arts requested to refrain from returning till advised that the town is safe. The fact that the earth is so cracked and broken is evidently dissipating the ehuckSj so that very little further damage is being done except to dangerous buildings and walls etc., which continue to collapse. The casuality list issued on Saturday is a police, record, and contains nothing in reference to any person, whose body has not been recovered. Whilst it is known many more bodies remain to be discovered, no names c-an be given by the police. Nothing has occurred since the original quake to justify sensational statements.

The organisation is working splendidly. There is no fever, no flood or no further fires.

HASTINGS NEAVS

HASTINGS, February 9

“As His Majesty's representative in the Dominion,’’ said Lord Bledisloe, at a combined memorial service held in Cornwall Park, Hastings, “I shall be proud to tell His Majesty, as 1 have already been telling him in cables sent him to-day, that in face of the terrible calamity that has befallen you there is a magnificent spirit of sympathy and co-operation, and throughout the whole community a determination to think of others rather than yourselves. I shall be proud to tell him that they have been put to the- tost and have amply demonstrated those great qualities of quiet courage, resourcefulness, devotion to duty and calculated unselfishness that have always characterised the British race,”

The service was attended by a large number of the public, and was u most touching and fittingly simple one. All the Protestant clergy attended and ■took part. Mass was celebrated by the Hastings Catholics at a temporary altar erected in the grounds oT the Catholic School. There was a large congregation. The chairman of the Hnwkes Buy Education Board has announced that a general assemblage of school children of the various schools at Hastings will he called at nine o’clock on Monday week. AH classes will he held in the open air. A clearance of the debris is being conducted by «,t least eleven gangs. Rapid progress has been made in this direction. 13 The electric light services are practically complete. At 9.48 on Sunday morning the town was violently shaken by a quake, ft was probably equal of intensity to the second quake on Tuesday evening. There were seven quakes during the early hours of this morning, but all oi them were accepted calmly hv the residents who are in a perfectly state. Further shakes, even if violent, can do little harm. The following have been erroneously reported dead :-Mrs Roy McLennan, Havelock North, injured, but is do-

ing well; Airs Tuohy, Pepper St., Hastings, uninjured; Airs J. A. Ross, wife of the proprietor of the Grand Hotel, Hastings; and Airs Ah Wing, uninjured. Tne lo.lowing is added to the official newly reported ILt: —Death, Gordon Grant, Chemist, Hastings. He died of injuries. AIAYOR OF HASTINGS. GRATITUDE FOR ASSISTANCE. HASTINGS, February 9. Councillors Sullivan Al. P. and Andrews, representing the Christchurch City Council and Councillors Kipon and Jolniston representing the Ainsterton Borough Council met the local relief committee. Ah - .1. F. Boacli, Mayor ol Hastings, said 'Mt is pleasing to kjnow that though wo are down, we arc not tor- ! gotten. The credit of Hastings is as sound as a hell. We are without funds, but shall get anything we want.” The Alayor on behalf ol the town expressed heartfelt (thanks for all that had been done and promised. THE ’QUAKE’S DIRECTION. A RELIABLE INFORAI ANT. HASTINGS, (February 9. The direction that the earthquake took in travelling towards Hastings aitd Napier appears to be established by U story heard from a l'eliabie informant living at AtangUtaki. 20 miles south west of Hastings. His wife being away from home, he had finished washing some dishes when the ’quake came and swept them to the floor. When tho vibration of the shock began to cease, lie went to the telephone to ring Hastings Exchange in an attempt to discover how his wife had fared. The voice said number please, and just as lie had given it he heard the sound of the ’quake striking Hastings. He was cut off and he thinks a full minute must have elapsed between the time he felt the ’quake and the time when be was cut off by its striking Hastings.

C H RISTCHUR CH LE ADS. CHRISTCHURCH. February 7. The Christchurch City Council Relief Fund totalled £40,298 at noon. In addition over £4OOO has been raised by other funds. GISBORNE, February 7. The Poverty Bay relief fund totals £2407. KING AND QUEEN’S DONATION. LONDON. February 8. Sir T. Wi Iford has been notified from Sandringham that the King is sending £SOO and the Queen £250 for the New Zealand sufferers. NapIER mortality. NAPIER, February 8. Tho deaths officially reported from Napier now number 103, including eight not yet identified. *ill bodies’ have not yet been recovered. A further official casualty list is as follows. Section CD—Alt-Lean, Alary Hannah, aged 53, spinster, and also five unidentified bodies. All bodies have not yet been recovered. RE-BUILDING. NAPIER, February T. On the site of the present ruin a new Napier will be built. Flint is the view of officials behind the organisation which has been set up to cope with the preliminary stages of the restoration.

As a result of an inspection made yesterday it was loutul that a ie-siu-vey of the whole of the sewerage area will he necessary .The levels in Napiei flat have undergone a considerable change and a long time will elapse before the system can be re-established.

All able-bodied men are being retained in the town to assist in rehabilitation, and will not ho allowed to leave the town unless they are in possession of a special permit.

MANY IR RECOVER ABLE. NAPIER, February 8

Further fatalities fully identified include Leo Kvle, a Barman, single, thirty-five years, of Napier, Further unidentified bodies found are four in collections of ashes. One of these may possibly he identified, hut the others never will be.

The police anticipate further recoveries of bodies. This is apparent by their actions, but they are reticent.

It is suggested that the debris at the foot of Bluff Hill, which is reached from the sea to a hundred feet tip the clilf face, he allowed to remain as a natural grave *lor those who may be buried there, and that a new road be constructed round the foot, ol the slip, which will take months to remove. The immense slip, however, has certainyl made the cliff lace imu-li safer, subject to a lew dangerous oints being removed. BANKS’ NEW PREMISES. NAPIER. February f\

The six banks here have reached an agreement to build combined offices of a temporary nature. The site to he chosen will probably be part of the Catholic Church property at the corner of Munroe and Dickens Streets, where the • Daily Telegraph” building is to he erected.

PREMIER’S FUND. WELLINGTON. February 9. The Premier's fund now totals L‘d,333 18s (kl.

NAPIER PAPERS.

SECURE AUCKLAND “SUN”. Al ACHINES.

AUCKLAND, February 8

The “Napier Daily Telegraph” Company has secured a printing illumine, and also a number of linotypes that formerly were in use by the ‘‘Auckland Sun.” These are now going to Napier by lorry, and it is Imped that by Thursday the “Daily Telegraph,” or something near its lormer proportions, will take the place ol the miniature news-sheet that is now being issued each day. An offer has also been made bv the

“Daily Telegraph” Company to the owners of the “Hnwkos Bay Herald” to print their paper as well, until sileh time as the latLer are able to assemble a new plant of their own. TOUCH OF MATURE. AI AIvES ALL HASTINGS KIN. HASTINGS, February 8. From little boys and girls to aged men and women, every one is doing something to help. It lias been a great leveller and a great influence in bringing out all that is friendly in mail’s nature. Yotlr neighbour's lawn is yo lirs to camp oil, a ltd your billy of hot Witter is Ills, lt is touching beyoiid all words to live tiei-e, atid to see and hear about the wholesale ahd studiously thotlgiiful kill’d Hess oi those that live in other places and Wel'o strangers yesterday. Those that are helping can rest assured that their help is wanted, and that it is appreciated to the very uttermost. Not an hour passes in the town without one comAA sar it ens G lie ,pK t ing to know of some Iresli instance of thoughtful kindness, or without hearing people that belong here speaking with no little touch of tenderness o 4 the kindness that the whole Dominion hag so promptly and is so copiously showing.

HEALTH REPORT. HASTINGS. February 9. Air Hughes, a health officer, stated that from a health point of view, the posiion was very satisfactory. He wishes to take the opportunity of contradicting false rumours circulated regarding the outbreak of disease. There is not one case of disease to create any alarm in the borough. The clergy report all burials were properly conducted and the graves are being properly tended. Al AN G AOLED. FOR RECEIVING LOOTED PROPERTY. AVAIROA, February 9At the police court this morning Justices sentenced John Burt to three months at Gisborne gaol for receiving looted property. They issued a warning that further cases would he more severely dealt with. Another ease war, adjourned. SHOCKS AT AVALROA. ■ AVAIROA, Feb. 9. Scores of shakes have been experienced here in the last two days, several very severe. Yesterday’s was almost as heavy as Tuesday’s. Rain is now threatening and further damage to roads is probable. The AVairoa “Star ’ is now publishing full sized papers as usual. KABAAIEA’S HELP. A\’ELLINGTON, February 19. The Karauiea settlors have not forgotten their tribulations in tho AfurcliLson quake. This morning there arrived by the Scow “Fairburn” a generous gift of goods for the Hawkes Bay area. The <saods consisted of butter, potatoes, cabbage, and sundries.

A LASTING ASSISTANCE. HAWERA, February 9. Edward Lovell of Lovell and Christina, s. London, who was in Hawkes Bay on the day of the earthquake cabled his firm suggesting that a form of assistance having a most lasting effect would be a fund for special propaganda in Great. Britain on behalf of the New Zealand dairy producer. He received a reply stating that they had arranged an interview with Government officials next Monday. TARA NA KI REI -1E F. NEW PI YMOUTH, February 9. The earthquake relief lunds in New Plymouth at midday totalled £3.000, including £2,100 of the Taranaki “Herald's” fund. AMERICAN TOCRTSTS. SYMPATHY WITH EARTHQUAKE SUFFERERS. WELLINGTON, February 9. On the Makttra, which arrived from 'Frisco to-day, are two parties ol American Tourists, one conducted by J. L. Wheeler and the other by Mr Charles Stewart of Los Angeles. It is the latter’s first visit and be belongs to the Ci’ishwell Tour Company. Ihe visitors say they are not deterred by the ’quake, the news of which reached ,them by radio, and they will carry out the tour.

They extend sympathy to New Zealand and all who have suffered as a consequence of the disaster. They are sure the people in the States will help if need be.