SPEEDY REPAIRS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 5

SPEEDY REPAIRS

RAILWAY TRACKS EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE CLOCK BELLS DISLODGED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Giving details of .the earthquake damage to the railways, the Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple, to-day stated that .the most serious interruption occurred between Masterton and Eketahuna, where one bridge was damaged. The Manawatu line, he said, had been restored within 12 hours of the 'quake and the line from Masterton to Wellington within nine hours. Mr. Semple expressed thanks to the army authorities at Woodville for the services of CO soldiers, who did very good work, enabling the railwaynien to repair the track and bridges and to the railwaynien themselves, some of whom worked for 30 hours continuously. Many hundreds of chimneys in railway houses and buildings had been brought down or damaged and bricklayers commenced repairs next morning. Wellington’s Post Office clock chimes have been silent since Wednesday’s earthquake. Two of the smaller bells were dislodged without affecting the mechanism of the clock. When the bells will be heard again depends upon the clock tower proving to be structurally sound. If it is sound, they will be replaced. If it is not sound, there is more urgent work needing attention than the clock.