SAPPERS AT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 3

SAPPERS AT WORK

DEMOLITIONS IN QUEEN STREET SOLDIERS BUSY THROUGHOUT TOWN. REMOVAL OF CHIMNEYS < & OTHER WORK. Although the earthquake in Masterton was severe enough, a person who experienced the Napier earthquake said the latter was four times heavier than the one just recorded in the Wairarapa. Likewise the damage in Masterton, serious as it is, is nothing like what it might have been. Masterton residents are certainly fortunate that/' Wednesday night’s earthquake did not occur earlier in the evening; otherwise there might have been loss of life. Military units maintained guard over the commercial area throughout yesterday when an early start was made with demolition work, for which purpose the services of sappers were called upon. Tractors dragged away heavy pieces of masonry and lorries were loaded with fallen brick and carted away. The badly damaged tower of Mr J. V. Gordon’s building was demolished late in the afternoon, falling to the i roadway with a roar. A tractor was used to pull over the wrecked tower. Debris from the front of'Misses Ninnes and Farrer’s shop was removed during the day and work is now proceeding with clearing up the wreckage of Messrs Gray Bros’, building, occupied by Messrs Hannah Ltd., and Bullick Blackmore Ltd. Several other buildings are also being dealt with. In many parts of Masterton small parties of soldiers were busy yesterday knocking down dangerous and shattered chimneys and doing other work of a similar kind. Many of the men took serious risks, working in their nailed boots on wet iron roofs. Masterton Cemetery presents a scene of some chaos. The earthquake overturned all the larger monuments. The main roads north and south of Masterton are open, ' including the Rimutaka Hill and Manawatu Gorge highways. Care is necessary on the Rimutaka Hill where there are many slips. The Masterton-Martinborough Road, via Longbush, is blocked between Pope’s Head and Whakama. The W.F.C.A., Ltd., has offered the use of its parking area, opposite the “Times-Age” building, to any firms whose premises are not accessible to the public on account of the closing of Queen Street. The offer has been accepted so far by a butcher and a greengrocer. MASTERTON GASWORKS. REPAIRS CARRIED OUT. Necessary repairs have been carried out at the Masterton gasworks with commendable promptitude, and it is hoped that an adequate supply will soon be available. Mr Jordan this morning stated that temporary repairs had been effected at the gas works. The supply was now quite good. “It will be 100 per cent tomorrow afternoon,” said Mr A. D. Low.