EARTHQUAKES

Grey River Argus, 19 September 1932, Page 5

EARTHQUAKES

STILL SEVERE WAIROA LOSSES Over £50,000 MORE SHOCKS AT WEEK END. WAIROA, September 17. No official estimate of the damage •Tom. the earthquake is available The popular belief is that fifty thousand pounds will not cover the amount. Every building will require an expert examination before a report can be made. Practically every further examination of the business area discloses more structural faults. One hotel-keeper states that six hundred pounds will not cover the loss. A second one estimated his at over four hundred. The Hospital loss in drugs aud fittings in the isolation ward, X-ray room, operating theatre and the ' nurses' new home totals thousands. I The various wards of the hospital were I not severely damaged, but are badly strained and tire out of alignment. The electric light resumed lat P last night. It had the effect of considerably allaying the nervousness. The restoration of this service was a stupiendous task, th P Power Board and Borough Staffs rendering yeoman gervice, the work being a credit to 1 hem. The business of the town is gradually resuming normality. It will take a long period to repair th P damage The demolition of the bridge is the gravest loss to the commercial community. The damage to th e new bridge under construction will make a resumption of normal activity at North Clyde a matter of conjecture. There was no untoward incident during Friday night apart from the fac* that tin* night was filled with minonr tremors. There was a particularly heavy shock at about ten-thirty on Saturday morning. It was followed by a second bump a short whil e later, but not so severe. The tremors are practically continuous, but the spirit of the community is wonderful. No panic is occurring whatever. The general business and professional services are rapidly resuming. All of the staffs have resumed work. The unemployed are all engaged on various repair works. No stand down period will operate meantime. Aledical officers and assistants have arrived from Gisborne and Wellington, and Mr Coleman, Member for the District is arriving to-monow from Gisborne. The weather, though still wet. is not cold. The rain hag not been so heavy to-day, as last night. A more cheery atmosphere is prevailing, the whole community acting like one big family, and doing their utmost to assist on e another in any manner possible. The Alayor, Air Harker, reports that offers of assistance, which will certainly be needed, and messages of sympathy are flowing in from all piarts of the Dominion. COUNTRY DAMAGE. Further reports from th e country state that numerous bridges have been totally destroyed, and demolished. The slips have been tremendous, occurring in the same parts as those in which chimneys aud tanks are down, and residences are seriously damaged. The Wairoa “Star” published a small bulletin this afternoon. It will be a week before it. resumes normalIv, owing to the loss of the linotype. The lack of a, water supply is now the greatest drawback, but Public Works officers and workmen are working like trojans to have it resumed at the earliest possible moment. Mr Glennie, resident engineer, at Napier, is here and restoration work is under his control, assisted by Mr Smith, the local resident engineer.

i GISBORNE SHOCKS All Day Saturday DAMAGE INCREASED. MANY THOUSANDS OF POUNDS LOSS. GISBORNE. September 17. This afternoon, rain fell here at frequent intervals, and before the cartv evening, the rain had developed into a continuous drizzle. Hundreds of families, as a consequence, are having a cheerless weekend for chimneys are down in all di rections, and a warning has been given that, in case of any fire, due to damaged chimneys, th e insurance policy will not apply. Therefore it is considered better t.o take no risks. Numerous shakes have occurred during to-day, two being heavier than usual. These occurred at about 10.45 a.in., and -just before- 6 p.m. On both occasions, customers' and shop assistants rushed from the shops into the middle of the road the main street presenting an unusual sight. As time has gone on, the structural damage is found to be more serious (han at first anticipated. The Chief Post Office is surrouiuTed by rop'es and timber, to prevent public approach. As the result of an investigation made by the District Engineer, Mr G. Thornton and by the Public Works In specter, it is considered likely that the clock tower will be removed altogether. Th e Native Land Court building in Palmerston Road has also been barricaded off, it b*eing considered unsafe. Architects report that strengthening operations will be necessary in many businesses, and the damage will run into many thousands of pounds. The continuous quakes are alse

gradually weakening buildings, which formerly were considered only slightly damaged.

One badly damaged two-storey business p’remis'es in Derby Street, containing three shops, flats, studios, etc., was inspected this afternoon by a competent engineer who stated that the quake {l t 10.45 this morning had shifted the whole building one inch further out of plumb. Big Slip GISBORNE, Sept. 17. The slip at the Bluff is the biggest the district engineer, Mr O. G. Thornton has ever seen in New Zealand, and when he visited Hangaroa yesterday he estimated it to contain 600,000 tons of papa rock, the slip having extended right out over the main arm of Hangaroa to a narrow island. Enormous boulders weighing upwards to 40 tons are strewn everywhere in the gorge and above the roadway are many more huge boulders, delicately balanced, which render the whole of that section of the road extremely dangerous. Apart from landslides, there are many other smaller slips in the gorge, completely or partially blocking the road. Air Thornton considers that it -will take three or four days before the roadmen can cut tracks for packhorses. There is little likelihood of the landslide at the Bluff ever being cleared. It has completely obliterated the road for a distance of five chains, and the cost of clearing would bo between £lO,OOO and £15,000. Probably a deviation route will have to be formed. CUT OFF. Tiniroto settlers are completely cut off from the outside world, their exit to the north being closed by a series of slips, with one tremendous landslide in the gorge known as Bluff, while the road to Wairoa is blocked by slips in the vicinity of Tereinga. Some days riiust elapse before a temporary vehicular road can be put through from Gisborne. AN APPEAL. The Alayor is preparing an appeal to Parliament for national assistance, in repairing the damage, and is seeking estimates of the damage done to private property. He is going to Wairoa to-morrow to meet the people there, the Gisborne Borough Council having expressed a desire to be of every possible assistance to the neighbouring borough. The Deputy Chairman of the Unemployment Board has authorised the uninterrupted use of subsidized labour for restoration work at special rates. The Borough Council meets on Monday to frame a definite programme of restoration work. Architects find that the buildings, strengthened since the last earthquake, stood up well, most of the damage being confined to premises which had not been given attention. YESTERDAY’S SHOCKS Large Church Attendance REPAIRS IN HAND. GISBORNE, September 18. Several more earth tremors were experienced to-day. The most one was at 6 a.mi. It awakened many of the residents. Another pronounced shock was experienced before eleven o’clock thii i morning. The Church services to-day were rather more largely attended than usual, and references were made 111 practically all of th e churches to the quake, the expression of thanks giving being emphasised that no lives naa been lost. Owing to the structural damage no service was held to-day in Holy Trinity Church, th e usual services being held in the parish hall, a wooden building in the grounds of the Church. The Salvation Army Citadel also, was not used, the services being Yierd tn n smaller hall at the back of the Citadel. To-day was a perfect spring day, and scores of householders) took advantage of the fin P weather to remove cracked chimneys, sounds of hammering on brick and plaster being henra in all directions, particularly in the suburbs.

MORE DAMAGE THAN ANTICIPATED. In some suburban homes, two and three chimneys were removed, thus avoiding further danger from that source. After an examination by the Hawke’s Bay Education Board building’ architect this morning, a special meeting of the Gisborn P Main School Committee was held, and it was decided that, the upper storey of the main school, a large structure built In brick, should be evacuated at once, and the children be removed to the wooden Technical School, and the infants r wooden school in the same grounds. At th c Chief Post Office a gang ot men were busy to-day removing th* badly-eracked parapet over the back entrance in Customhouse Street. Severity of Shock WHAT A HOUSE SHOWS. GISBORNE. September 18. Instances are continually coming to light of the severity of th e first quake early on Friday morning. A house in Perry Street, within seven minutes’ walk of the centre of the town, suffered considerably. The whole house was badly twisted and was moved back several inches from its original position. A double chimney n-t the rear of the building crashed through the roof into the bathroom and the wash-house, knocking th c hath and tubs through the floor, and partly burying them in the earth. At the back of the house, the tank-stand

collapsed and a largo corrugated tank has bee n securely wedged between the wall of the house and the back portion of the porch. On the front portion of the house a double chimney collapsed, the bricks crashing through the roofs into a room. Th e husband had a narrow escape as a heavy wardrobe in the bedroom toppled over, and struck him a glancing blow on the shoulder and completely blocked off his means of escape from the room. The whole building has subsided in the corner. The next door house is badly damaged and has been moved backward fr<ynr five t'o six inches. A VIOLENT SHOCK Felt at Wairoa YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. (Per Press Association). WAIROA. September 18. Tremors still continue at Wairoa. The severest on-e since yesterday occur?. d at one o’clock this afternoon It was a very heavy upward jolt, causing ; he buildings to rattle and the bells to ring, but there has been no further damage, yet reported. Two fairly serious shocks occurred this morning about seven and eleven o’clock. Quite a l° n £ roll developed, gradually diminishing, the intervals being filled in with minor tren ors. The ground has been giving ' thc fooling tahat it is on the move th' who be time. The cracks o n the Alarm© Parade hav 1 been considerably widened to day. Probably this was due to the quakes throughout Saturday night. A portion of the mai n thoroughfare is row dangerous to traffic. VA.LLEY’S TERRIBLE EXPEPvIENCE Reliable information from th e Waiatai Valley reports that the shake there wa' of immense intensity. Practically ew yi homestead collapsed off its foun dations, or was structurally damaged. It is feared that t° er ® as been a heavy 10-ss of stock, due to slips, the animals having had no chance to escape before the hillsides fell on them. Miles of fencing have been ruined. It is anticipated if will tak-e months to replace this. The farmers set out to ride over the property, but they found it impossible. Both the flats and hills prrved to be nothing but cracks aud subsidences. Thousands of tons of ea th has be-en displaced. OPOUITI DAMAGE. Opouiti reports that severe damage w.-'s there sustained. Tim occupants of one residence had a miraculous escape from death, when heavy beams crushed right across the floor and beds jv t a second before the place, was evacuated.. VAGARIES OF THE QUAKES. It is noticeable here that where new additions have been made to buildings these have suffered in almost every case by being wrenched away and bodil v collapsing. A peculiar happening was that at a private garage. The back wall was completely torn away, as if cut by a saw, but the three remaining walls remain so intact as to give the im. p-ession that nothing had happened. WINTRY WEATHER COMES BACK. To-da y has bee n bitterly cold in Wairoa. There has bce n a southerly wind, with intermittent showers, making ihe position unenviable for those without chimneys and with broken buildings, ns fires cannot be lighted. Due to the lack of a water supply an outbreak of fire in the present strong wind would have disastrous results for the whole community. Every precaution is being taken to prevent any outbreak. Arrangements have been made for a trailer pump' to be sent from Auckland for, tho us© the local Fire Brigade, if required. The telephone service is being restored rapidly. Despite the huge task, it is hoped to have all of th e sub scribers re-connected to-morriow. In order to restore contact north of Wairoa, a cable was laid under the river. It is now only a matter of hour a befor e Gisborne will be re-con-nected. NEW WATER SUPPLY. I The scheme of the Public Works officials for a temporary water supply is well under way. This will require sixinch pipes being laid across the river bed. Pipes for the work, which are ccming from Tawa Flat, commenced to arrive to-day, and the officials and employees are sparing no effort to com plete the work as quickly as possible. All of the debris from the falling buildings in th© Alarinci Parade has now been cleared away, and business conducted as usual last night, dosT>ie thc fact that practically -every i kit -glass window was smashed an 1 im.t the shops were in great confusion NATIONAL RELIEF APPEAL Urgently Needed IS MR FORBES DILATORY? TOWN IN APPALLING STATF. (Per Prea« Assoeiniion). WAIROA. September IS. Th b Wairoa. Borough Council and Hospital Board held a lengthy meeting. 3 1,.' Mayor. Mr Harker, stated the v. oils of restoration was proceeding •v. -Ihcl.rily. There was no possible hope of the Borough paying the Pub- > be Department for restoring the u a tor. APPEAL FOR FUNDS. 1 This morning, Mr Harker telephoned ; to Mr Forbos, placing the position be.

fore him, and asking that a nation*, appeal for financial -idsista’.ce be made Mr Forbes replied that -'he position would be considered wb.n a detailed report of the losses was submitted.

Mr Harker said «t the meeting to day that he had informed th 6 Prime Minister that if he (Mr Forbes) does not make a national appeal by to-mor-row (Sunday) night, then lie. the local Mayor, will do so through the newspapers of the country. Th € request cf Mr Forbes for a reoorf is considered a frivolous one, as it will take weeks in order to estimate the damage su< tained. This will be impossible until every building, private dwelling, farm, road, and bridge i s inspected by ex. ports. Proceeding, Mr Harker stated that offers of help were arriving from al] quarters. The food supply was plentiful, but what was wanted was pounds shillings and pence from outside. There were buildings that did not appear to be seriously damaged, but inside of them, everything was strained badly. They would cost infinitely more to repair than the damage done i n the 193 i quake. The main street had subsided a number of inches towards the river. Continuing, the Mayor stated that the punt over the river on the first day had transported two thousand pedestrians. It was -essential for the town mther to secure a suspension bridge or a temporary bridge of the same nature. The lack of the bridge, was now undoubtedly the town’s greatest setback It would tak e at least twelve months to replace the bridge. They had beer, absolutely dissatisfied with the work of the Rehabilitation Committee appointed 1931, and they hoped that a bettor system of controlling the funds and grants would be introduced. Mayor Harker remarks were endorsed by the whole meeting, and especially the reference to the need of a national appeal. Mr Brewster, the Chairman of the Hospital Board, estimates the damage sustained at the Hospital will reach more than two thousand pounds. He admitted there was no hope of securing one penny in rates this year due to the immensity of the calamity and the town and district were in a sad financial plight, due to the latest visi tation. Gifts of crockery, glassware of any description would be greatly ap' predated. Various social organisations were already assisting in this direction.

Mr Coleman, M.P., and Mr Barnard, M.P., were both present at th e meeting. They expressed their sympathy with the tow n and district, and they also promised to give every assistance and to help in any manner they possible could. The members assured the meeting that they were confident that the whole of the Labour Party and also a large number of the other Members of the House would support the making of the appeal for financial assistance. The fact that at the present time tho Government holds thousands of pounds in over property that was restored after th o 1931 earthquake, and that now those securities are valueless adds further to the district’s difficulties. £lOO,OOO NEEDED. When considered apart from th e construction of the bridge, a n amount in excess of fifty thousand pounds—probably closer to one hundred thousand is required to recondition the Borough and County.

A prominent business ma n interviewed, expressed doubt as to the safety of buildings in the main thoroughfare, as it was most obvious that there was a distinct line- of fault through a large portion of it. Workmen have bee n busily engaged throughout the day in carrying out restoration work.

The town is thronged with sightseers from Gisborne and Napier, many of them expressing the opinion that the reports sent out have in no way bee n exaggerated. The town is in an ap'palling state.