REDUCED TO RUINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 4

REDUCED TO RUINS

BUILDINGS IN EKETAHUNA CRACKS IN THE ROAD. MANY LANDSLIDES. The severity of the earthquake in the Eketahuna township may be judged by the number of buildings now reduced to ruins, or so badly cracked as to be condemned. Every business building bears evidence of the severity of the shakes to which the town was subjected. The Post Office and Bank of New South Wal.es, both strongly built, were completely shattered. The Tararua Power Board building, a two-storied block, has apparently tilted backwards and is badly cracked. DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. The brick walls of A. 11. Herbert and Co. are spread in heaps of brick and mortar and damaged beyond repair. Scarcely a chimney remains in the town. The business premises of M. W. Priest, the local chemist, was reduced to masses of splintered wood and broken bottles. Mr Priest is a heavy loser. CRACKS IN STREET AND ROAD. The District High School has lost its chimneys and the heating system is thereby inoperative. Cracks in the street and on the road to Masterton and numerous slips add to the evidence of a visitation of magnitude. Fortunately the earthquake occurred late in the evening when people were in their homes. Had it occurred during business hours, casualties must have been heavy as the major damage occurred in the larger premises which are usually very busy. POSITION NOT YET NORMAL. The after effects of the earthquake have not yet subsided and it will be some days before things become normal. The school.was closed for two days as it was deemed inadvisable to subject the pupils to the risks attendant upon the minor shakes which may be expected in the readjustment which normally follows. A STATE OF EMERGENCY. Yesterday afternoon his Excellency the Governor-General motored to the town to view the devastation and confer with the local authorities. The Prime Minister was also in the town and he met the Mayor and business men in conference. Public services are now operating on an emergency basis, and military patrols are supervising control in the process of demolition.

CENTRAL OFFICE IN MUNICIPAL BUILDING. EARTHQUAKE INQUIRIES. Persons making inquiries relative to the earthquake position should note that the central office for dealing with all matters of this nature is at the Town Clerk’s office, Municipal Buildings.

TOLL OF CHIMNEYS NO SERIOUS DAMAGE IN WANGANUI. DISTRICT ROCKED VIOLENTLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI. June 25. Though Wanganui and district were recked violently by the severest earthquake last night since 1931, no serious damage is reported. The quake took a heavy toll of chimneys, particularly in the suburbs of Aramoho and Springvale. However, there are few reports of chimneys having fallen inside houses. There are many reports of damage to household crockery and breakables in shop premises.