ANNIVERSARY OF EARTHQUAKE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 9

ANNIVERSARY OF EARTHQUAKE

Recollections Of Hawke’s Bay Disaster Of 1931 CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT TO RESTORE ORDER At ten minutes to eleven iu the morning, 10 years ago today, Hawke’s Bay was rocked by one of the most severe earthquakes in tlie history of the Dominion. More than 300 fives were lost; thousands of pounds worth of valuable property was destroyed; hundreds of acres of land were raised as much as seven feet higher than before; and business in all its branches was suddenly disrupted. The Hawke's Bay province had suffered no greater set-back since it was first colonized, and yet, within a week of the disaster, both tlie town and country communities, quick to recover from their shock, put their shoulders to the wheel in a co-operative effort to restore order out of chaos. Praise from all parts of New Zealand poured into Hawke’s Bay during those busy mouths after February 3, 1931, for the country was quick to appreciate the courage and industry of a people who, unguided by any emergency precautions scheme, declined to admit that adverse circumstances had beaten them. Today Naqfier and Hastings are model towns, rebuilt on well-planned lines with many civic features unique in the Dominion. The work of reconstruction in Hawke’s Bay was carried out under the guidance of Messrs. J. S. Barton, S.M., aud L. B. Campbell, appointed by the Government as a special rehabilitation commission. Various Activities. News bulletins published by the evening papers of Napier and Hastings a day or two after the earthquake made reference to various activities in the district almost before tlie people had recovered from the first shock of their disaster. “Health Department report everything satisfactory iu Napier,” stated a “Hawke's Bay Tribune” bulletin dated February 12.'1931. "Restoration of water, sewerage and electric lighting proceeding rapidly.” Other items from the same bulletin announced 2000 bell tents In use in Hastings and Napier; wool at Port Ahurlri being shipped to London not to Auckland and Wellington, as reported; and the special police force abandoned and normal control resumed. Items from a “Daily Telegraph” news bulletin of the same dale stated that the sanitation of the various camps and of portions of Napier was Improving daily, though a lot of work was still to be done. The pool at the Napier municipal baths would be opening shortly for bathing. Arrangements had been made for the opening of the post office in temporary premises opposite the railway station for letter delivery between 7 and 8 o’clock in the evening. Babies Born. Assorted news items were contained in other bulletins, such as: “Five babies have been born at the Hastings Memorial Hospital since the earthquake a week ago and there are now five patients in the hospital grounds—all happy and contented.” “ ‘Thank God for the Navy. The confidence it has established has been wonderful.’—Chairman of executive committee to Prime Minister at Napier today.” “Government has granted £lO,OOO for urgent repairs to river banks.” “Complete clearance of old business area being made in Napier with idea of planning on entirely new scale.” “ ‘This news elevates us.’ Remark of Napier citizen on hearing news of rise of sea bed.” It is difficult to find any trace of the Hawke’s Bay earthquake today. Since 1933, when the work of reconstruction began in earnest, every year has seen steady progress toward repairing the damage. Those who never knew Napier and Hastings before 1931 find it difficult to realize that, only 10 years ago, these two towns were practically razed to the ground by earthquake and fire.