E.P.S. MEN TO RESCUE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20826, 3 July 1942, Page 6

E.P.S. MEN TO RESCUE

FURNITURE REMOVAL DANGEROUS HOUSE CARRIERS REFUSE JOB (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Faced with the situation that three local carriers had declined, because of danger, to undertake the removal of furniture from a house condemned through earthquake damage, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, decided to call for volunteers from the city E.P.S. units. As a result a fully adequate body of volunteers tackled .the job last night and the goods were duly transferred to safe storage at the Newtown Library. The house was a two-storey brick residence, 77 Pirie street, occupied by Mr. and Mrs. W. Milne and family. On the night of the ’quake, they were all awakened, but returned to their beds at about 3 a.m. It was not until next morning that the damage to the house was perceived. One side wall had fallen outward and was resting against the outside wall of the next house which is but a foot or so away, while the other side wall of No. 77 bulged ominously a little below the roof The occupants then evacuated their residence. The volunteer removal .of the furniture was supervised by the Mayor, who actively participated in .the removal of some of the heavier pieces of furniture.