FURTHER ’QUAKES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1932, Page 5

FURTHER ’QUAKES

WAIROA REPAIRS LARGE SUM IS NECESSARY. (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WAIROA, September 22. Several fairly heavy shocks were experienced here last night. One at 7.45 o’clock was of particularly Tong duration. There was another about 2 a.m. to-day, it being of a. bumpy nature. No further dariiage is reported. The executive met last night, and had a conference with local tradesmen. All work in replacing chimneys and tanks will be carried cut in conjunction with the local Council. One tank and one chimney will be immediately restored in each house requiring them, probably without cost to the owner.

Th© local residents are making every effort to assist themselves as fa.r as finances allow, but the work is of such a stupendous natur© that it will be impossible to carry out 'all repairs unless a large sum ie forthcoming from outride sources.

A Red Cross Depot is now open, and is carrying out admirable work. The Unemployment Board are also rendering all assistance possible, Various restoration works are proceeding satisfactorily, A temporary water supply should soon be in operation, meeting an urgent necessity, The Health Officer reports that the general health of the community js good. . The Wairoa Branch of the Farmer’s Union met this afternoon, and votes of thanks were passed to th© Dominion Executive, and! the Red Cross Society for offers of assistance. A committee was set- up to go into ways and means of helping stricken fanners by way of finance and materials.

REPAIR® AT GISBORNE. SAME STATE AID AS WAIROA. GISBORNE, September 22. As ,the result of the recent earthquake, hundreds of chimneys are down iu the Gisborne district. Many crashed on Friday morning, hut many-also did not fall, but were broken and cracked, necessitating instant removal to avoid damage. Over two hundred relief workers have been engaged for the past three days on rehabilitating works at private homes, the majority in removing cracked and leaning chimneys. This metons a serious blow to the people, on account of the expense, scores being '.absolutely unable to afford the replacement of their chimneys. ry This morning Mr Furkert, Engineer-In-'Chief of the Public Works Department, inspected the town and portions of the district. Later in the day' Mr Furkert held a conference with Mr Thornton (District Engineer of the Public Works Department), Mi' Maude (Deputy Mayor), and Mr Dwyer, the District Public Trustee. As n result of the meeting, Mr Furkert considered that Gisborne should be placed on the same footing as Wiairoa in regard to the reinstatement of chimneys, nnd he telegraphed the Prime Minister to that effect. This means that the Public Works Department will reinstate the damage to the extent of the replacement of one chimney and one tank. In the borough, however, where water reticulation is working, no> tanks will he replaced. - 1 v

Applicants must state their financial position, and must sign a form agreeing to accept the coat of such repair: free of interest. On the same form, the applicants agree to undertake the repayment for such loan of instalments less any grants made froim relief funds which will be credited agains ttha cost of the wort: carried out. Even with this help, however, the position will he verv hard in many eases, for in hundreds of . instances two chimneys are down, while sorno have three or four. In addition, much structural damage has been, done to homes, a number of cases occurring where chimneys crashed through roofs in addition to the houses being damaged by the upheaval. At the conference with Mr Furbart to-day the question of assistance in carrying out extensive repairs was not dealt with, but will be considered later.