TOWN OF WAIROA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 330, 17 September 1932, Page 5

TOWN OF WAIROA

(Press. Assn.-

POWER FAILS AND HEAVY RAIN CONTINUING STEADILY buildings collapse

— By Tele/tr.-.pu — Uonyright).

Wairoa, midnight. Mr. R. Long's butcher's shop collapsed like a pack of cards. Fortunately he, his wife. and family live in an outbuilding and escaped injury. The dividing wall of the butcher's shop also collapsed. Dalgety and Company's premises, a two storey building, was badly strained, with the loss of all goods. The only business premises to escape structural damage "were, Corkill's building, the Gaiety Theatre, the Bank of Australasia and Osler's at North Clyde. The district of Nuhaka was badly damaged and business places suffered heavy losses. A transport driver reports that the Mahia back road had hundreds of miniature geysers. A fisherman at the heads early this morning, engaged in laying his net, deelared that the river water receded and he was left high and dry, before returning. It is stated that the whole business area of Wairoa was moved two or three inches toward the direction of the river. In other instances buildings have subsided a similar distance. In the town, one house was lifted two feet away from its piles and the chimney is now bottle shaped. A second horise on the hillside has an alarming lean to one side. Bad cracks have developed on the Tehui Hill on the main Gisborne highway, making it difficult to negotiate. The main road to Napier is open and safe for traffic, but has opened considerably in places. The new bridge under construction presents a sorry spectacle. Girders are broken clean away, and the estimated loss on the structure is ap- . proximately £15,000. The Public Worlcs Department has undertaken the task of restoring the water supply. An idea of the huge task confronting the department may be gauged by the fa,ct that over an area of five miles in excess of 100 leaks have been located. It is hoped to have a temporary supply at an early date, but complete restoration, will take a long time. Hospital Damage Three gangs are busily engaged in carrying our urgent repairs to the hospital. A visit to the institution this afternoon disclosed the fact that the damage is far is excess of that done in 1931. The X-ray room was thrown completely off its piles, and the plant was damaged. The operating theatre : is in a sorry state. Surgical instruments were thrown from their glass cases. Various appointments have broken away from their fastenings. The sterilising room was completely wrecked. The largest steriliser was thrown through the door some feet away. It gives the impression that a maniac has been at work. Broken bottles of drugs, shelving etc. are seattered in all parts. The isolation ward was badly damaged and is unsafe to use. A house at Frasertown presents a remarkable sight. It is broken in four complete sections. Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputy-chainnan of the Unemployment Board arrived by air shortly before 5 p.m., to take control of the situation from the unemployment point of view. He is expected to assume authority to-mor-row, when qctivity will be commenced. Steady rain set in about noon and is still cofttinuing. An endeayour was made to supply electricity to-night, but unfortunately failed. The town presents a pitiable sight, a, number of buildings down, plate glass windows fallen out and the bridge in ruins.