TOWN OF WAIROA

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 September 1932, Page 5

TOWN OF WAIROA

(Press Assn.-

HEAVY LOSSES SUSTAINED IN COUNTRY AND TOWN THE DAMAGE SURVEYED

— By Telegraph — Copyright)

Wairoa, Monday. Two shocks were felt to-day, one. at 11 a.m. and one at 4 p.m., but no damage was caused. Reliable information now being received shows that the 'quake crossed in a remarkable manner, .practically missing Mahia, where only one. chimney was eracked. Coming back to the mainland, Nuhaka and Tuhara suffered considerably. In the lastnamed place, the residences were thrown off their piles, suffering heavy damages. The railway line between Wairoa and Mangapahi was badly damaged, in many places being displaced by slips. At Mangapahi the road is covered by slips over a continuous length. Roof Over Head At Puketoi, a residence completely disappeared, not a chimney or tank C(?dld be seen. There were numerous landslips. Tremendous damage was sustained at Maramara and Opoutama. At the last-named place, two young men had a remarkable escape from death. The roof collapsed completely, coming to rest on the head of each bed. Had they bee.n out of bed they would have stopped the full weight of the falling ceiling. Farms in the Maramara locality give the impression that they are now ready for crops; the soil is so broke.n that the grass growth has disappeared. Tremendous Bouldjers At Rualcuruti Valley, the road is completely blocked with boulders of immense size, falling from the nearby hills. It will take at least a month before the roau is again open for traffic. Further investigations at Wairoa show that Goodley and Hall, a tailor's shop, Canham's stationery shop and Grouts' novelty shop have suffered big losses. Had the 'quake occurred in the day time, it is certain that fatalities would have resulted. The work of restoration of various public services is being rapidly carried out. The health service is now good, and an ample supply of chlorinated water is now available. The water is being pumped from wells. The health offieer reports that there is no danger of an outbreak of disease. Appeal For Help The Mayor, Mr. Harker, this afternoon received an intimation that it is the Prime Minister's intention to launch a national appeal for financial assistance, and also that Mr. F. W. Furkert, the chief engineer of the Public Works Department, is making a report. The announcement is received with a feeling of gratification by the earthquake sufferers, as the position is genuinely serious. The Mayor said that the bridge was absolutely unreliable and asked the Minister to arrange immediately for a pontoon bridge, or some other means of nniting the. two sides of the town. Mr. Harker also replied thanking Mr. Forbes for making the financial appeal. He stated that the matter of tanks cannot wait for Mr. Furkert's report ,and asked the Prime Minister to forward immediate authority to have these re-erected, as the position of every family in the town and in the country is desperate.