A DAY OF DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 14

A DAY OF DISASTER.

'QUAKE AND CRASHES. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. (From O'jr Special Correspondent.) LONDON, April 2. Yesterday was a day of extraordinarily widespread catastrophe and accident. The columns of the day's paper recorded: Nicaraguan earthquake, 500 dead; Kansas 'plane smash, 9 killed; Dedeagatch wrecks, 22 drowned; Cawnpore, 300 dead; tornado in Florida, 6 injured; Bicester 'plane crash, 2 killed. The Nicaraguan disaster at the time of writing seems to be of the gravest kind, and it makes our hearts turn to Hawke's Bay and the suffering there. A fine tribute to New Zealand grit and fine spirit in the recent earthquake is paid by Grizel M. Richmond, writing from Goodooga, New South Wales, to the editor of "The Times" (London, April 31, 1931: — "I was at Napier, New Zealand, during the awful earthquake, and as a Scotswoman by birth and a resident of New South Wales for some years, I feel I can pay a completely unbiased tribute to the wonderful courage and courtesy shown by the New Zealanders during that appalling catastrophe. "There was no sign of panic, no looting, no selfishness. From beginning to end they behaved with the utmost courage. If I had not seen it I would not have believed that a whole community would rise to such heights in face of utter destruction—their homes in ruins, in many cases their relations killed or wounded, and their entire future chaotic. The other wonderful thing which this ghastly earthquake brought forth was the esprit de corps that seems to run right through New Zealand. From every corner of New Zealand came offers of help—food, money, cars—to their brothers in distress. ■ I am so very glad that people in England are going to help too, because one has only to spend a few weeks in New Zealand to find out the intense love and loyalty she has for Great Britain; and in her hour of need I feel glad that Britain is going to give a helping hand to one of her very finest 'Britains over the Seas.' "The behaviour of *;he people of the Dominion of New Zealand during this calamity proves that all the highest traditions of England and what she stands for in the world are still alive. The only comfort one can find in this tragic catastrophe is that an Empire built by such a race cannot die, and it is only at a time like this that one realises what it is to belong to the British race. I feel as an outsider it is easier for me to write this than it would be for a New Zealander, and I would like the people of Britain to realise how proud they have reason to be of their British stock, which has taken root and is growing so well and strongly in this young England."