NORTHERN TOWNS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 June 1942, Page 3

NORTHERN TOWNS

WALLS FALL IN EKETAHUNA FISSURES OPEN ON ROADS. SUBSIDENCES AT OPAKI RAMP. Mr Godfrey Taylor, of Pahiatua, who arrived in Masterton by road this morning, stated that as far as he had heard chimneys down were the principal damage done in Pahiatua. In Eketahuna he saw, as he drove through, serious damage to many business and other buildings. A considerable part of the facade of the Bank of New South Wales building—much more than the parapet —had fallen into the street. Bricks and debris from many other buildings had fallen into the roadway. Mr Taylor was informed that the Bank of New Zealand building in Eketahuna had also suffered serious damage and that the two main walls of a large garage were down. Another detail of damage was the collapse into the street of the front of a wooden shop building. South of Eketahuna, Mr Taylor stated, quantities of spoil and boulders from hillsides had fallen on to the road. In several places, between Eketahuna and the Bowen Road turn-off, the road had cracked badly, fissures an inch oi' a couple of inches wide extending diagonally. The Opaki Road ramp appears to be in the main undamaged, but the earth filling at either end has subsided to some extent, creating dangerous bumps. Soldiers were posted at either end of the ramp this morning to warn the drivers of passing vehicles. MASTERTON HOSPITAL NUMBER OF CHIMNEYS DOWN. BUT NO ONE INJURED. A number of chimneys fell at Masterton Hospital, but no one was injured. It is stated that two bricks fell alongside of a three-hour old baby, which was uninjured.