’QUAKE REPAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1932, Page 2

’QUAKE REPAIRS

GISBORNE’S BIG TASK

BOROUGH ENGINEER’S REPORT

[per press association.]

GISBORNE, September 19. There were unusual scenes in - borne to-dav, with shopkeepers removng theh slocks from their premises, which have been ordered to be evacuated, because of severe damage. Places W^ 1C vTiorning’s slightly cracked by Friday mom ng quake are made worse by the numerous severe jolts sustained since. On Saturday, one business ses inspected, and cracks weie i0l “ ld “ the brickwork and conciete. - thought that these could be repan ed, but, even then a considerable expense would be entailed. The two rather severe shakes on Sunday and ’ ous minor tremors enlarged the cracks considerably, and to-day the premises were ordered to be evacuated. In another case, the front window of a chemist’s shop quite all right on Saturday night, but this morning the plate glass window was one and a. quarter inches away from the corner beading and the lock on the front door has two screws forced out, all due to Sunday’s shakes. . , , Amongst the premises evacuated to date on account of severe structural damage are the following: J. G. Allan’s Derby Street two-storey building, with three shops on the ground floor, and studios and flats on the upper floor. G. S. Vincents, painter and paperhanger, containing in addition to one shop, a sweet and fruit shop, a shop occupied by a. hairdresser, but the chairs and barber's ■saloon arc still burled six or eight feet deep under the debris from. a. falling wall. The estate of Frank Harris, containing four shops. In addition the following places are closed to the public: —Holy Trinity Church: Salvation Army Citadel; Majestic Theatre; and the Native Lajjd Court buildings. Other premises evacuated hurriedly include Upton s tyre surgery, which is a large modern service station, and numerous small shops. The brick portion of the Mangapapa, School is temporarily closed. It is still impossible to give an idea of the damage but it must run to an enormous sum, as practically the majority of the buildings in the town have cracks visible on the outside, but whether these are serious or not is a matter for experts. At present, investigation is being made only into the places considered urgently dangerous. The glaziers were busy to-day in re. placing plate glass windows. One prominent glazier has orders for twentythree windows, the largest costing £3O, and none below £l2/10/-. The broken plate glass windows must total at least one hundred.

This morning one hundred and twenty unemployed were sent out in response to applications, to clear up bricks, plaster and mortar, and to pull down dangerous chimneys, and walls. It is expected that this number of men will be largely increased to-morrow. RESTORATION ESTIMATE. A special meeting of the Borough Council was held to-day, to receive a report as to the earthquake damage to Borough property, and Borough services. Th© Mayor, Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., presided. The acting Borough Engineer stated that Roebuck Road bridge was damaged. The Band Rotunda is only held from total collapse by guy ropes. Considerable damage has been done to the sewer mains and breaks have occurred in the central area. The Mangapapa Road Bridge held, but the parapet on the west side of the bridge fell into the stream. Several blow-outs occurred in the water supply, and in the low area there are still a number of leaks requiring attention. The report also states that the residential premises in the town suffered severe damage hundreds of (...inncys falling and causing structural damage to the houses. The lengthy report concluded as follows“Tn comparison with previous quakes, this one appears to have caused a very great deal more damage, and the work of restoration will take many months ” A motion was carried unanimously that the Government be urged to provide relief for the earthquake sufferers. The meeting also passed another motion that the Government be urged to take over the earthquake insuram e in lhe Dominion, because the present, rates are prohibitive. The Mayor, Mr Coleman, requests that a statement be sent throughout the Dominion asking the unemployed not to come to Gisborne. “We have over sixteen hundred unemployed here,” says Mr Coleman. “Many of these men have been out of work for a long period. Even with all of the additional labour now unfortunately required, it will hardly be possible to employ the great majority of these men for' any length of time.” The Mayor received a telegram today from Mr Forbes stating that he is making a national appeal for assistance for th© sufferers by the earthquake in Gisborne and Wairoa. Mr Coleman also received the following telegram from Mr Coates:—• “On my return, I learned for the first time of the extent and violence of the recent earthquake. Coming as it has on top of the 1931 disaster, and before the country has emerged from the general depression, this is a severe test of fortitude and a call to the sympathy of all. May I join in expressing m.v personal sympathy with those who have suffered injuries and loss.” WAIROA REPORTS. WAIROA, September 19. Further investigations in Wairoa show Goodley Hale (tailors), Hay--mini’s (stationer’s), and (trout’s (no • elty shop) have suffered a. big loss. At the first-named place the parapet adjoining the building collapsed, completely demolishing the plant. Had the quake occurred in the daytime it is certain that fatalities would have resulted.

The work in the restoration of the various public services is being rapidly carried out. The health services are now good. An ample supply of chlorinated waler is now available. j| being pumped from wells. The. health officer reports (here is no danger of an outbreak of disease.

Reliable reports now being receive.'] show that, the quake veered in its disastrous course in a remarkable manner. If practically missed Alahia, only a chimney being cracked there. At Opontama the damage; also was slight. 'Phen coming back to the mainland, the quake caught Nuhaka, Whakaki and Tuhara, which all suffered severely. At the last-named place the

schoolmaster’s residence was thrown off the piles and then turned completely over. The nearby residences suffered heavy damage. The railway line from Wairoa to Whakaki was badly buckled in numerous places. Hie displacement ceases at the laltei place, Whakaki, and yet, strange >o relate, this is the closest part of the district to what termed to have been the centre of the disturbance. At Mangapoikie, the road is covered with landslides over its continuous length. At Puketoi a residence has completely disappeared. Not a chimney or a. tank is to be seen at any of the house pm perties at Mangapoikie and Tukemokihi. There are numerous landslides there. The road is shattered in all directions. . The country nearer Wairoa shows that tremendous damage was sustained at Marumaru and Opouiti. At the last-named place, two young men had a miraculous escape from death. a roof collapsed completely, coming i•> rest on the heads of each of their beds Had they been out of bed they would have stopped the full weight of the falling ceiling. The farms m the Marumaru locality give the impression that they are now ready for the planning of crops, the soil having been broken up that finely. The glass growth has disappeared. In the Kuakituri Valley the road ns completely blocked by boulders of immense size, which have fallen from the neaiby hills It will take at least a month before the road there is again open for traffic.

RELIEF FUND OPENED.

MR. FORBES’ APPEAL.

WELLINGTON, September 19. The following appeal has been issued to the people of the Dominion by the Prime Minister: — “In view of the damage caused b.v the recent earthquakes in the Wairoa, Gisborne and surrounding districts, .following, so closely uopn the serious disaster in February, 19:>1, by which considerable damage was caused in the same district, 1 desire to issue an appeal to the people of New Zealand for financial assistance to relieve, in some measure, the plight of the sul fevers in (ho districts affected. It will be realised that, although this most recent. earthquake cannot he compared with the disaster of February. 1931, the residents and the business community in the district, had not recovered from the effects of the previous disaster, and are not. in a position to bear the additional loss as the result of the recent earthquakes. I have no doubt that the philanthropic spirit of New Zealanders, which has been amply demonstrated in the past, will ensure a ready and generous response to this appeal for assistance for our fellow countrymen, who are now in such need of help.

“I would suggest that relief funds be inaugurated in each of the centres’ population throughout the Dominion, preferably by th© municipal authorities and the newspaper offices. In previous disasters, the Government has established a general fund to be administered by a special representative committee. Any moneys received direct by the Government will be paid into a general fund, the administration of which will closely follow the administration set up in connection with the previous earthquakes. “Bank receipts for donations in respect to this present appeal should be sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, Wellington, with a covering letter setting out details of the contributions All contributions will be publicly acknowledged through the Press, and official receipts will be forwarded for ail remittances. Steps will also be taken by th© Government to submit legislation to Parliament at lhe forthcoming session to validate donations by local authorities to the earthquake fund. The setting up of a Central Fund has, in the previous cases, enabled the assistance in various localities to be coordinated, resulting in a concentration of effort, and has justified the measures taken.”

IMMEDIATE AID ASKED

WAIROA, September 19.

The Mayor of Wairoa, Mr. Harker, has this afternoon received an intimation that it is Mr. Forbes’s intention to launch a. national appeal for financial assistance for the quake sufferers. The Mayor is also advised that Mr. Furkert (Hnginccr-in-Chief) is to visit here and make a survey of the position. The foregoing announcement has been received with feeianguj ot gratification by the earthquake sufferers, for the position genuinely warrants the relief.

Mr Harker has replied thanking Mr Forbes for making the national appeal, and for sending Mr. Furkert, hut lhe Mayor stated that the matters of the and chimneys cannot wait for Mi. 1< urkert’s report, and asking the Government to forward immediate authority to have chimneys and tanksreinstated, as the position of many families in th© town and country is desperate.

Previous to the receipt of the Premier s advice, a telegram was received tiom Mr. Gerhard Husheer, of the National Tobacco Coy., placing £l5O to th© credit of the Mayor for relief purposes.

, 11 + \ irker - I has wired Mr. Coates, stating that the position without any !,i 8 e , here is absolutely unbearable, and asking the Government to arrange sum edl H tely fOr a P° nto °n bridge, or shZ Z l ,? 1 ’ \ nean3 of uniting the two sides of the town. TO-DAY’S REPORT WAIROA, September 20. -,n > , p . ( ?aceful night was experienced apai t from two jolts. „Z’ he C ?’! ncil executive decided to -place chimneys and tanks in necescases immediately. Mrj Furieit has arrived, and carries out an inspection to-day. Mayor Harker received a telegram rom the Minister stating the request oi a pontoon bridge was receiving immediate consideration. This advice was perhaps the most, welcome message since the upheaval took place. An area, not previously mentioned, that suffered to a great extent, is the local cemetery. It is estimated that a hundred headstones crashed. Ornaments and railings lie everywhere, he area giving the impression of having undergone an artillery bombardment.

1 he Opouiti river is still completely blocked by slips running from Mangapoiki, through the hills. At Clydebank, the sheep-yard gates were wrenched off their hinges and fences flattened, the whole giving an impression that. a. ferritic tornado had carried down through this previously peaceful valley. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is badly damaged. The brick Sunday school is badly fractured. St. Paul’s Anglican Sunday school is tilted over, and broken away from another section. The church building is badly strained. St. Paul’s Catholic Church

is also strained. The Convent is damThe Harbour Board sheds are badly damaged, also the wharves, including the ferro concrete wool-wharf, which is damaged worse than in 1931.

S YDNEY RE-ASSURED

SYDNEY, September 18.

Mr. Schmitt, the New Zealand Government Commissioner, advises that the official cablegrams he is receiving from the Dominion in regard to the earthquake are proving extremely useful, helping to allay fears among those concerned here, regarding the effects at Gisborne and other areas; also enabling him to furnish answers to those anxious to obtain official knowledge of the damage. These messages are being handed to the news papers, and published side by side with those received from, local correspondents. Considerable relief is felt that there was no loss of life. GREYMOUTH SYMPATHY The Mayor, Mr. J. W. Greenslade, on Saturday forwarded the fallowing telegrams to the Mayors of Gisborne, and Wairoa: —“Accept deepest sympathy from citizens of Greymouth. Question of assistance now being considered. —J. W. Greenslale, Mayor. The Mayor, Mr. J. W. Greenslade, has received the following telegram from Wairoa: —“Many thanks for message of sympathy. Prime Minister has promised to open National Fund. Harker, Mayor.”