FIVE THOUSAND DWELLINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1931, Page 2

FIVE THOUSAND DWELLINGS

•QUAKE RESTORATION. HUGE AND URGENT WORK IN HAND. WELLINGTON, February 24. The Prime Minister conferred to-day with the Hon Robert Masters after bis return from a further visit ro Hawkes Hay, Mr F. W. Furkert, engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department who organised the clearing of the Napier streets immediately. after the earthquake, and Mr A. D. Park, Scretary to the Treasury. The Government intends immediate ]y to consider the problem of rebuilding the business sections of the two devastated towns, involving financial measures in regard to which proposals are to be submitted to Parliament. A more immediate necessity now well in hand, is to make as many dwellings as possible habitable, Mr Forbes stated that this work isbeing pushed ahead in accordance with the relief oommittee’s decision that one chimney in each dwelling should be made safe for use. The Public Works Department, he explained, will carry out this work in a systematic manner. Every house will receive attention from it working gangs, irrespective of the owner’s ability to pay the costs. “The important point,” said Mr Forbes, “is to get the work done regularly and completely. Those who can afford .to pay for it will bo, in flue course, assessed after their circumstances fiaev beep t(ikeri into consideration, but, meanwhile, no discrimimu tion can be exercised,” A HUGE TASK. As almost every dwelling in Hastings and Napier must receive expert attention, the magnitude of the task can be gauged by an enumeration taken in 1926, since when there have been lurther additions to the total of the houses in these towns. At the date of the last census there were 3249 dwelling in Napier, of which 3030 were constructed of wood, 60 of concrete and 40 oi brick. Hastings had 2335 dwelling, 2145 being of wood, 45 of concrete and 33 of brick. Rented houses in Napier totalled 1649 and in Hastings 1053. NAPIER ESTIMATES. NAPIER, February 24. It is officially stated that it will cost £280,000 to reinstate the Napier Borough services. It is exected that the reinsntement of one chimney in each house will run into £30,000. Water and electric light extensions are still in progress. " , DUBLINS’ EXPERIENCE, AUCKLAND, February 24. Senator >T. Moran, of the Irish Free State, arrived by the Aliuamn. He said that he might, be able tp giyo some adyicp regarding the reepnstruo*tion of Napier epd other towps affected by the earthquake, apd he could show those responsible that there wps a eoip paratively cheap way of widening the thoroughfares. They had rebellions ip Ireland ip 1916 and 1923, and most oi Dublin's, valuable.property was destroy ed. In 1916 Senator Moran got a Bill through the British: parliament known as the Dublin, Reeonstrxietion Bill.