FURTHER QUAKES

Grey River Argus, 23 September 1932, Page 5

FURTHER QUAKES

WAIROA REPAIRS Need of Help (Per Press Association). WAIROA, September 22. Several fairly heavy shocks were experienced here last night. One at 7.45 o ’clock was of particularly long duration. There was another about 2 a.m. ; to-day, it being of a bumpy nature. No further damage is reported. The Executive met last night, and had a conference with local tradesmen. All work in replacing chimneys and tanks will be carried out in conjunction with the local Council. One tank and one chimney will be immediately restored in each house requiring them, probably without cost to the owner. The local residents are making every effort to assist themselves as far as finances allow, but the work is of such a stupendous nature that it will be impossible to carry out all repairs unless a large sum is forthcoming from outside sources. A Red Cross Depot is now open, and is carrying out admirable work. Ti e Unemployment Board are also rend ‘ring all assistance possible. Various restoration works are proceeding satisfactorily. A temporary water supply should soon be in operation, meeting an urgent necessity. The Health Officer reports that the general health of the community is good. The Wairoa Branch of the Farmers’ Uni n met this afternoon, and votes of thanks were passed to the Dominion Executive, and the Red Cross Society fo” offers of assistance. A committee was sot up to go into ways and means of helping stricken farmers by way of finance and materials. Gisborne Repairs SAME STATE AID AS WAIROA. LIABILITY ON LOSERS. GISBORNE, September 22. As the result of the recent earthquake. hundreds of chimneys are down in the Gisborne district. Many crashed on Friday morning, but many also did not fall, but were broken and era ke<l, necessitating instant removal to avoid damage. (-ver two hundred relief workers have been engaged for the past three da;;s on rehabilitating works at private homes, the majority in removing cracked and leaning chimneys. This me ins a serious blow to the people, on account of the expense, scores being absolutely unable to afford the replr cement of their chimneys. This morning Mr Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, inspected the town and portions of the district. Later in the day Mr Furkert held a conference with Mr Thornton (District Engineer of tho Public Works Department), Mr Maude (Deputy Mayor), and Mr Dwyer, the District Public Trustee. As a result of the meeting, Mr Furkert considered that Gisborne should be placed on the same footing as Wairoa in regard to the reinstatement of chimneys, and he telegraphed the Prime Minister to that effect. This means that the Public- Works Department will reinstate the damage to the extent of the replacement of one chimney and one tank. In the borough, however, where water reticulation is working, no tanks will be replaced. Applicants must state their financial position, and must sign a form agreeing to accept the cost of such repairs free of interest. On the same form, the applicants agree to undertake the repayment for such loan of instalments less any grants made from relief funds which will be credited against the cost of the work carried out. Even with this help, however, the position will be very hard in many cases, for in hundreds of instances two chimneys are down, while some have three or four. In addition, much structural damage has been done to homes, a number of cases occurring where chimneys crashed through roofs in addition to the houses being damaged by the upheaval. At the conference with Mr Furkert to-day the question of assistance in carrying out extensive repairs was not dealt with, but will be considered later. Mr Furkert’s Report GISBORNE, September 22. Commenting on the Wairoa damage, Mr Furkert, Engineer-in-Chief, stated that the collapse of the new bridge sections was the most serious effect of the ’quake. The question now arose whether reconstruction of the bridge should proceed before the earth movements had definitely ceased. Reconstruction will represent a difficult task, owing to the character of the under-water structure, and the necessity for ascertaining the damage to the piles sunk seventy feet in the river-bed. The town water supply was seriously damaged and will take a long time to restore, but the effects of the ’quake otherwise were surprisingly limited, though private losses were extensive. Mr Furkert spoke favourably of the establishment of a pontoon bridge for foot traffic, recommending the use of the railway bridge adjacent to the town, for wheeled transport. ALARMING SHOCKS. FELT IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, September 22. • Residents of Benalla were terrified by another earth tremor of great force. Buildings wore badly damaged. Crockery and ornaments were smashed. People were thrown from their seats. Some dwellings shifted and others showed large cracks in the brick walls and chimneys toppled. The shock appeared to occur only in the centre of the town. It was

not felt outside a radius of a quarter of a mile, and lasted only a few seconds.