GISBORNE'S PLIGHT

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

GISBORNE'S PLIGHT

(Press. Assn.-

TREMENDOUS DAMAGE

— By Telegraph — Copj righti.

Gisborne, Monday. There were unusual scenes in Gisborne to-day, when shopkeepers removed stocks from premises ordered to be evacuated, because of severe structural damage. Buildings which were only badly eracked by Friday morning's shake, were made worse by the numerous jolts sustained since.. On Saturday, one large business premises was inspected, and cracks were found in the brickwork and concrete, but it was thought that these could be repaired. The two rather severe sliakes on Sunday and the numerous minor tremors enlarged the cracks considerably, and to-day the premises were ordered to be evacuated. Among the larger premises to be evacuated on account of severe structural damages are the following: J. S. Allen, a two storey building with three shops on the ground floor, a studio and flats on the upper floors. D. S. Vincent, painter and paperhanger, containing his own shop, a sweet and fruit shop and a large shop occupied hy a hairdresser, but which now lies buried beneath the debris of a wall some six feet deep. In addition to these the following buildings have been closed to the public: Holy Trinity Church, the Salvation Army citadel, the Native Land Court Building. Other buildings evacuated hurriedly include Upton's tyre surgery, a large modern service station and numerous small shops. It is still impossible to give an estimate of the damage, but it must run into an enormous sum. Walls Cracked Practically the majority of the buildings have cracks visible on the outside, but whether these are serious or not, is a matter for experts. Glaziers had a busy time to-day restoring plate glass windows. One prominent glazier had an order for 23 windows, the largest costing £30 and none helow £12 10/-. Broken plate glass windows total at least £1000. This morning 120 men on the unemployed register wefe sent out ,in response to applications to clear up bricks, ete. and pull down chimneys and walls. It is expected that the number Of nien will be increased tomorrow. ■ A special meeting of the Borough Council was held to-day, to receive an estimate of the damage. The Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, MJP., presided. The acting-Borough Engineer states that the Roebuck Road bridge was damaged badly, and was

done to sewerage mains, and breaks had occurred in the central area. At Manugapapa Road, the bridge was badly damaged, the parapet on the western side falling into the stream. Several blow outs had occurred in the water supply and in the town area, there were a number of leaks requiring attention. In Town Area The report also states that residential premises in town suffered severe damage, hundreds of chimneys had fallen causing structural damage to houses. The report concluded as f ollows : "In comparison with the previous 'quakes, this one appears to have caused a very great deal more damage, and the work of restoration will take many months." A motion was carried unanimously that the Government should provide relief for earthquake sufferers, and also another motion that the Government take over earthquake insurance in the Dominion, because the present rate charges are prohibitive. No Room For Workless The Mayor requested that a statement be sent throughout the Dominion askirig unemployed not to come to Gisborne. "We have over 1600 unemployed here," said Mr. Coleman, and many of these men have. been out of work for a long period. Even will the additional labour now required, it will hardly be possible. to employ the great majority of these men any lengtliy time." The Mayor received a telegram today from the Prime Minister, the Rt. ■ Hon. G. W. Forbes, stating that he is making a national appeal for assistance for Gisborne and Wairoa. Mr.* Coleman also received the following telegram from the Rt. Hon. J. G, Coates, "On my return, I realised for the first time the extense and violence of the recent earthquake, coming as it did on top of the 1931 disaster, before our country has emerged from the general depression. This is a severe test of f ortitude, and a call to sympathy of all. May I join, in expressing my own personal sympathy to those who have suffered injuries and loss."