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Grey River Argus, 2 March 1931, Page 6

A serious aspect of the quake is that the Government buildings at Napier have been wrecked a:>d burnt. Most of the legal offices suffered severely, and the deeds and securities held in their strong rooms have doubtless been destroyed, while the banks fared little better. This in itself would be a sufficient source of confusion, but had the official records remained, the position could have been cleared up. Now, however, titles, records, survey plans and securities in official custody are so! much ashes, and only the uncertainty I of human memory remains to give evi-1 deuce of their contents; while it must be remembered that this affects not merely the stricken districts, but the' whole province of Hawke’s Bay, from'; Wairoa to Woodville. It may be safe-1 ly predicted that months, if :iot years, of inquiry by a R(oyal Commission will be entailed, followed by legisla-1 tion validating the : decisions so reach-1 ed; but even the most searching and costly investigation will effect no more . than approximate justice. '