TO-NIGHT'S MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1929, Page 11

TO-NIGHT'S MEETING

THE STRICKEN DISTRICT

There wiil no doubt be a large attendance at the public meeting at the Town Hall to-night when an appeal will bo mado to the citizens on behalf of the sufferers in the area which suffered most from the recent earthquake The Mayor will preside, and addresses will be given by Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party), Sir Joseph Ward (Prime Minister), and Mr. J. G. Coates (Leader of the Reform Party). Mr. Holland who was in Westport when the first and heaviest shock occurred, will describe the conditions prior to and accompanying the earthquake and its effect on the town, using lantern slides to illustrate his description. He will also describe the position in Karamea and Murchison, and will give some idea of the damage done in the latter district, where the effects were most severely felt. The lantern slides will also show some of the geological "faults" in the area affected. Alluding briefly to the subject to-day, Mr. Holland said that apart altogether from the wrecking of roads and bridges, which will involve an enormous expenditure, damage has been douo throughout a wide area in farming districts, and in quite a number of cases individual farmers have boon hopelessly ruined. Irreparable damage has also been done to the homes of artisans and miners in Westport, Greyinouth, and the various mining townships. At the conclusion of Mr. Holland's address, a collection in aid of the sufferers from the disaster will be taken up by thirty Eed Cross nurses, who have offered their services for the purpose.