UNSAFE BUILDINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 3

UNSAFE BUILDINGS

DEMOLITION WORK IN PROGRESS IN QUEEN STREET Householders Cleaning Up Chimney Dehris GOVERNOR-GENERAL VISITS MASTERTON REPORTS FROM OTHER PARTS OF AFFECTED AREA Demolition of unsafe buildings is now proceeding in the business area of Masterton, following Wednesday night’s earthquake, and nearly all householders are engaged in clearing up the debris of fallen chimneys. Although residents had an unnerving experience during the earthquake period, they faced the position with calmness and courage. There was an entire absence of panic. Many people yesterday visited the business section of the town to see the effects of the earthquake. The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, passed through ’ the Wairarapa yesterday, travelling from the north, and made brief halts at Masterton and other centres. According to the Dominion Observatory, Wellington, the epicentre of the earthquake was near Masterton, which appears to have been the most affected town in the southern portion of the Wellington district, the area over which the earthquake was felt. Beyond the Wairarapa some damage was done in the Manawatu. There was no serious damage at Wanganui and Dannevirke escaped lightly. It is too early yet to get any accurate estimate of the damage in Masterton, but it could be anything between £250,000 and £300,000 and perhaps even more, several badly damaged buildings in Queen Street will have to be demolished. In the 1934 earthquake the damage in Masterton totalled about £25,000. Public Works Department men have already arrived in Masterton to assist in the work of restoring services and carrying out demolition work.