ALMOST NORMAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 July 1942, Page 2

ALMOST NORMAL

MAIN POST OFFICE COUNTERS REOPENED DEMOLITION OF TOWER WELL ON WAY. MORE SHOPS RESUME BUSINESS. The main public counters at the Masterton Post Office were reopened for business this morning and the staff is much better placed for dealing with business generally, as the conditions are now almost normal. The task of demolishing the Post Office tower is proceeding expeditiously and once it is down, the public will be more at ease in the event of another severe earthquake occurring. Elsewhere in Queen Street several other buildings are being dealt with, including Messrs Pickering Bros., Hugo and Shearer's, Cody’s and the Prince of Wales Hotel. The clearing up of Woolworth's shop, into which a parapet from an adjoining building crashed with devastating effect, is well advanced. Several of the shops in buildings which have had their facades removed, are now open for business. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, received a telephone communication from Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the United Kingdom, who expressed his deep concern about the losses suffered by Masterton and district and specially of the destruction of St. Matthew's Church.