LOCAL VISITORS IX THE AREA.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1931, Page 6

LOCAL VISITORS IX THE AREA.

Mrs E. Nightingale, formerly of the Dominion Hotel, .Revel! Street, _ with her daughter, Valerie, was on a visit to Napier at the time of the earthquake last Tuesday. They both returned to Hokitika on Saturday night, well pleased to be hack home again safe and sound. Mrs Nightingale had been on an extended visit to Napier with her daughter, having readied there prior to Christmas. On Tuesday morning last at the time of tiie fateful visitation, Mrs Night* ingale witli Valerie, was shopping. 'Die quake came unexpected and without warning. The ordeal was a terrifying one. In attempting to escape from the building both were thrown down, which was fortunate in a way, as had they escaped into the street, the possibilities were that they would have been struck by falling debris. As it was, the goods in the shop came tumbling down, and both were bruised and cut by the falling goods. When they were able to escape from the rocking building, a scene of devastation met their gaze. Being tit the business part of the town, which ever*way they looked disaster met their view. It was n period of great alarm and excitement, all being overcome by the appalling suddenness of the great visitation.

The quakes continued but with less violence. Shortly the tires broke out and added to the scene of horror and tenor. It was extremely fortunate a naval ship was at hand, aiid the Jack Tars were soon iif evidence doing all possible to relieve and succour the distressed. With the fires raging and the feverish search for.those entrapped in the buildings, all "frits excitement and turmoil. Soon it was discovered the water had failed and the brigade had to pump water from various points; All worked with feverish zeal to help;

hut the catastrophe was so vast that it took time to get organisation going.

The special shortage was clean watejx This was a necessity which had to he done without excepting for veryurgent uses. Bathing and washing to any extent were out of the question, but food was always in plenty, and everyone was most kind and considerate.

] Mrs Nightingale and her daughter ! were evacuated by train from Napier on Friday morning, along with many others, some of whom were destined for hospitals for special treatment. All along the line at every stopping' place, food and comforts were supplied freely, and with every consideration for i the comfort of those travelling. Several of the passengers were bound for the South Island, and the ferry steamer was delayed to enable the through connection to he made. The sea trip was smooth, and the AVest Coast train ! caught at Christchurch on Saturday ! morning, and home was in sight,- and j Hokitika seemed a very pleasant haven ' to contemplate. i Mrs Nightingale was glad to meet friends on the train and it was cheering for both her and her daughter to meet and he greeted by familiar faces. They had both had a nerve wracking I experience, as can be quite understood,but out of it all they have nothing hut praise and thanks to express for all who were most kind to them in ; the time of the great crisis and its tragic aftermath, when the effects of the great catastrophe could he meas. , ured only by those who went through the ordeal, and had time to. realise all that bad happened in the sudden destruction of a fine town, which was indeed a garden eit.v now reduced to lumps of debris mute witness to the enormous loss of life and treasure involved in the work of a few seconds by nature’s great hidden force. Another visitor to Napier, who returned on Saturday night, was Mr D. •I. Evans, who had spent the previous week end in the town with friends. Mr Evans said lie and his friends on the holiday trip had been most impressed with the cleanly and orderly' appearance of the town and its importance. He had been afforded the opportunity to inspect various buildings and institutions about the town

in fclio business nresi. and these are now laid, in waste. 'File-, knowledge gained by so recent a visit lias impressed on Mr Kraus’ mind the tremendous loss caused by the destruction of the business centre. Several very line and imposing buildings have become a heap of ruins. The loss will lie tremendous, and falls heavily on those involved. The destruction of Napier and the adjacent towns with the heavy-loss of life, must surely rank as the greatest catastronlie which lias vet befallen the Dominion.