Big Task of Repair and Reconstruction in Prospect

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1942, Page 3

Big Task of Repair and Reconstruction in Prospect

A severe earthquake which shook the southern part of the North island last night appears to have been at its worst in the Wairarapa. , j_ m!in n From all the Valley towns and from other areas more or less serious damage is reported and chimneys are down in thousands and numerous large buildings have P been partly wrecked. The one bright feature, of whole affair is that although much alarm was caused, casualties appear to have been negligible.

In Masterton damage is on a very great scale. Fortunately, no casualties occurred with the exception that one man was slightly injured. Many buildings in the business area were party wrecked, a fair number of plate glass windows were smashed and hundreds, if not thousands, of chimneys were shaken down in the residential and business areas. . Both the drainage and the water systems are functioning and the position regarding these services appears to be satisfactory. Trouble is being experienced in maintaining the gas supply, on account of the destruction of the chimney stack at the works, but steps are under way to remedy the position. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, communicated with the Mayor (Mr Jordan) stating that he would be pleased to give every assistance possible. . Public Works Department engineers are visiting Masterton to confer with the local body representatives in order to ascertain the needs of the situation. The Mayor has asked that all bricklayers in camp should be released to assist in rebuilding chimneys. Severe damage was occasioned to the gasworks-chimney, necessitating its removal. Until this is done and a temporary chimney erected gas will be in short supply and possibly there may be a cessation of the supply. It is hoped that this position will be remedied tomorrow and a supply made available. The militay will continue to control the roped-off portions of the commercial area until an examination is made by Public Works engineers to ascertain what structural weaknesses are disclosed and w&ich may render buildings dangerous. Persons having primus or petrol stoves who are prepared to lend them td those who have no cooking facilities are asked to notify the Town Clerk, so that arrangements may be made to have same collected and issued to those needing them.

A fairly heavy earthquake at 8.15 o’clock, which preceded the major disturbance was of sufficient intensity to ring bells and throw a few articles off shelves, but as far as can be as* certained no damage of any consequence was caused. Three hours later, however, a more severe earthquake was felt throughout the district. Many people rushed outside in their night attire as chimneys crashed to the ground and crockery and other household articles were tumbled to the floor. MASTERTON E.P.S. TURNS OUT. Immediately after this quake members of the E.P.S organisation turned out to restore services. Communication was lost north and south owmg to crashing building fronts carrying away telephone and telegraph wires while the power lines were also brought down. The business area was roped off and placed under the control of a company of the Army Service Corps, who patrolled Queen Street until they were relieved by infantry companies, who remained on duty for the rest of the night.

BUILDINGS WRECKED. The most serious damage appears to have been suffered by St. Matthew’s Church, a fine brick structure. Half of the eastern wall has fallen away and St. George’s Chapel is completely wrecked. Other portions of the church were also damaged. In Queen Street the front of the building occupied by Misses Ninnes and Farrar crashed into the street, debris falling almost across the road. A parapet on the building accommodating Hannah’s boot shop and that of Messrs Bullick Blackmore Ltd. crashed on to the verandah and crushed it to the footpath, while a side wall of the same building fell through the roof of Messrs Woolworths Ltd. next door, wrecking the interior on one side. A parapet on the Bapnister Street side of the building tenanted by Mr J. V. Gordon, chemist, crashed through the verandah to the footpath. Considerable damage was done to the building of Messrs John Graham and Co., Ltd., where walls fell in. Another wall from the building formerly occupied by Messrs Hoar and Permain crashed into Messrs Hugo and Shearer’s premises. Portion of the Queen Street gable of Knox Church fell away, and the front portion of Keith and Co’s, building is wrecked. The Bank of New Zealand building is badly cracked and a portion of it seems about to fall away. A piece of a parapet a ton in weight, on the Queen Street front of the Regent Theatre was wrenched away and was poised in a dangerous position. It was later removed. The Masterton Fire Brigade building is badly cracked and as a precautionary measure the fire engines were removed to Wagg’s Garage. A car belonging to Mr L. J. Taylor is buried under the wreckage of his garage at tne rear of the United Friendly Societies Dispensary. . Damage was also evident in other streets. The gables of the Social Security building, the old Masterton Technical School, fell out on to the street. The north wall of Messrs Fly and Young’s sample rooms fell on to the building occupied by Mr F. W. Lusty, motor car painter, badly wrecking the roof. The parapet of Messrs Fagan Motors Ltd. in Dixon Street, was also demolished. In Church Street, portion of the building occupied by the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, fell to the footpath and-a gable end at the back of the Academy Buildings also gave way.

Clark’s billiard saloon in Bannister street, suffered some damage. W.F.C.A. TOWER FALLS. The tower at the rear of the W.F.C.A. Ltd., a well-known landmark, was completely demolished by the earthquake and wrecked a store shed belonging to the firm. Water from the tank on the tower poured into portion of the building and the surroundings. The basement of the building was flooded and much damage done to stock. Considerable damage was caused throughout the business area by falling chimneys, which in many cases crashed through the roof of their own or an adjoining building. Stores with breakable goods suffered grievous losses. Crockery and chemists shops have lost a great amount of stock, at a time when much of it is not replaceable. Although damaged, the Masterton Post Office tower stood a severe test, thanks to the strengthening work carried out following on the heavy earthquake of March 5, 1934, which caused damage in Masterton amounting to about £25,000. A few pieces of masonry fell from the Post Office last night and at least one chimney crashed. The front portion of the building has been evacuated, as it is considered unsafe and a telegraph office has been established in the mail room. The chimney stack at the Masterton Gas Works collapsed and the walls of ( the building were damaged. The gas service, however, is being maintained. Plate glass windows were observed to be broken in the following buildings: Hoar and Permains, Hugo and Shearer’s, Rolph’s, Nimmo’s, Elliott and Co., Vivian Joseph, Wong Nam and Co., Shoosmith’s, W. H. Saunders, JNinnes, H. E. Pither’s, P. Hamill’s, Yates No. 3 shop, Maeder’s, W.F.C.A. Ltd., R. Russell’s, Rew and McCracken, Modern Furnishers, Masterton Gas Office, Union Bank, Krahagen and Chapman’s, have been cracked. A freakish trick was played with two large windows in Mr R. Russell’s building, facing Jackson Street. These were shifted bodily several inches to the east, without breaking. )t