OUT OF THE ASHES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1932, Page 8

OUT OF THE ASHES

REHABILITATION OF NAPIER

WORK VALUED AT £454,000

WELLINGTON, November 15

Tile total value of permanent, rehabilitation work in Napier, completed or in hand, and made necessary by the earthquake 01 February, 1931, amounts to £*54,000, according to an official statement on the question issued yesterday. It was >• tated that the expenliture mentioned ref ’esented the cost of the rehabilitation of most of the business ar^fe. “It is interesting to observe the position regarding the retail trade of the town since the earthquake,” the statement says. “Prior to the disaster there were 133 shops covering all retailers exclusive of butchers, bakeis, chemists, confectiofners, haiu'diressers and tobacconists. Of these, 37 were put out of business by the eart iquake. There were, therefore, .96 preearthquake traders still in Napier. In addition to these, however, 86 new

firms have commenced, making a total of 182, an increase of 49 or 37 per cent, on the total for 1930.

NEW BUSINESSES. “A number o£ pre-earthquake concerns have either changed hands or been taken over by one or more of the employees, while over ,40 persons who were employees before the disaster have now commenced business on their jwn account. A sectional analysis of :he position shows that there are now n Napier 10 more ladies’ outfittj’s than before, the disaster,- 14 more men’s shops, two mere drapers, and seven new, art and speciality drapers, a total of new apparel shops of 37. In addition, there is an iperease’ of 40 per cent, in the number of furniture .shops, the total being 18 ag against 13, ,vhile there are 23 boot shops compared with 13 before the earthquake.

1 “Now that the ■ town is taking shape and the full effects of the townplanning scheme, are apparent, one can only arrive at the conclusion that when the rebuilding is complete, th~ town will, represent a unique appearance. While in one sense, thi e,rtn quake was an unparalleled disaster, there is no doubt that a much better Napier will arise out of the ashes- * “In reference to the townplanning fecheme, one of the greatest changes has been affected in the vicinity ox the .Public Trust Office where the widening bf Dalton and Emerson Streets has ieft the office in a commanding position, and no doubt greatly enhanced she 'value of the site on which it stands! - In spite of the modern forms -f architecture which the rebuilding scheme, has encouraged, the opinion is ’till expressed that the Public Irust Office building stands out as the most handsome structure in the town. POPULATION OF 19,300. “An estimate of population gi’ es .the existing -figure for Napier at 19;300, thus ranking eighth in size am Lg the urban areas -of the Dominion, the order now being given as: Auckland, Wellington, Ghristchurch, Dunedin, Wanganui, Invercargill, Palmr s ton N., Napier. Among tne counties ol NeW Z e a_ lar i, Hawke’s Bay at ranks first in the administrative areas and third in the geographical area.s. “Advantage is being taken of the alteration in the foreshore caused by the lift in the land, to carry opt a « extensive improvement scheme, and already a very- large area-has been, laid down in grass and flower beds. The commissioners are now concentrating on cementing a further area cf 13,500 square feet, the establishment of'a number of tennis courts, and the extension of-the filling north of the Muncipal Baths linbmg up with Coote Road, where a further planting and improvment work will take • place. The effect of this work is now becoming apparent, .and there is no doubt that the seafront is going to be one of the attractions of the town.”