WEAK WALLS TOTTER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 14 February 1931, Page 5

WEAK WALLS TOTTER

SEVERE HAWKE’S BAY SHAKE FURTHER FALLS OF LAND SEVERAL NARROW ESCAPES. ißy Tfctefijraph—Pre*~ Association.) NAPIER, Feb. 13. The severest shake since the one that devastated Napier and Hastings was recorded at 1.30 p.m. to-day. The shake was slow and more gentle than the first, hut it lasted over a minute. It brougtli down a further large portion of Bluff Hill and caused walls in the ruined business area to totter.

Several minor injuries are reported affecting men working in the city area. Several men were sent to a dressing station. Dr. Moore’s hospital took a further backward cant. All the work of clearing the town stopped temporarily, but was resumed after a period. Many narrow escapes from falling walls and buildings are reported. The whole coast southward was buried in clouds of dust. Wainukurau reports an exceptionallv heavv shake. The buildings rocked ominously. There were no casualties. Hie municipal* theatre is still a source of danger. Chimneys which have mostly been rebuilt since the fateful Tuesday are safe. Minor damage was caused to tradesmen’s stock.

Waipawa was apparently less fortunate, a number of chimneys being razed. The Wanstead district was severely shaken. The pupils of the nrimary and secondary schools at Wainukurau safely evacuated the buildings. The residents were terrified, hut there was no unseemly panic. In the opinion of manv the shake was worse than that on February 3.

Following the big ’quake at 1.30 several minor shocks were recorded at Nauier, but they did not cause alarm. Oolenso Hill was affected, a fair-sized slip occurring. The telegraphic services and electric supply were severed for a time, but they were restored late in the afternoon.

A large number of residents, including a fair proportion of women, returned to-day. although the authorities continue to. discourage the return of women and children. A particularly sharp but short shock was experienced at 9 o’clock to-night, but the movement was not heavy enough to do material damage. The employees of the Napier Gas Company had a ndrrow escape in the big earthquake to-day in the company’s Hastings Street building. They had just got out of the building when the walls caved in.

Wa.iroa reports a particularly severe shock at 1.30 p.m. It was almost as heavy as that of last week but was .of shorter duration. Several of less intensity followed. The people were greatly alarmed and rushed into the streets but little damage was done. The hydro-electric branch of the Public Works Department reports that the Taradale sub-station reported that power from Waikaremoana, which was restored yesterday afternoon, ceased to-day shortly after 1.30. The shake at Taradale was severe.

The Railway Department reports: “No communication north of Ormondville. Wires are interrupted and information is that this shake has extended over a wider area than the former one.”

Although the Waikaremoana power failed just after 1.30 p.m. to-day the break was attacked expeditiously and

the Public Works advised late tonight that the power had been restored at 9 p.m. SEVEREST KNOWN IN SYDNEY EPICENTRE OFF N.Z. CO-AST SYDNEY, Feb. 13. The observatory authorities declare that the seismograph to-day recorded the biggest earthquake in the history of the observatory. The shock was eo i great that the pens were thrown off the chart at 11.31 a.m. A message from Adelaide states that at the Government observatory the earthquake caused the needle to oscillate off the chart, swinging at least six inches. Father O’Leary, of the. Riverview | Observatory, having examined the charts at 4" p.m., said: “I find the epicentre was not New Zealand, but out in the ocean about 100 miles off the coast. There was a crumbling of the ocean bed. This would account for the i shock being so widespread and being I felt in both islands. My seismograph is now steady.” DAILY PAPER AGAIN ‘ ‘TELEG RIAPH” REAPPEARS. NAPIER, Feb. 12. The “Daily Telegraph” makes, its reappearance to-day. The premises and plant were totally destroyed in the earthquake and fire, but thei newspaper has had sufficient plant to carry .on rushed to Napier by train and motor lorries from all parts of the North Island. The staff has been working day and night to bring out the first issue, and the management’s determination to re-establish its services, will be realised this afternoon.

Arrangements have been made for distribution over tbe whole of Hawke’s Bay and to refugees in Palmerston North. A four-page sheet, each page of six columns, will be produced until the necessary organisation to publish a larger newspaper has been carried out. GANNETS STILL THERE. CAPE KIDNAPPERS STANDS. . A SURMISE DISPROVED. NAPIER, Feb. 12. The first reliable report of the state of the country at Cape Kidnappers has been brought back by Dt. D. G. Williams, honorary ranger to the Cape Kidnappers Sanctuary Board, who has made a trip to the point and slept in the vicinity overnight. He states that the gannet rookery is intact and that the birds are still there. There have been several slips along the coast, although the Cape has notbeen affected as much as was thought at first.

Three big slips, have occurred along the beach near the Cape and these have given the face of the cliffs the clean-cut appearance that is noticeable from Napier. 'The surmise that the whole Capo had been torn away was disproved by a close inspection, although the pathway to the Cape has been made less safe. Several parts of the area are out of position and rocks are fractured bamy at the Cape itself. OVER 1000 IN CAMP PALMERSTON SHOWGROUNDS. GOOD HEALTH REPORT. PALMERSTON N.„ Feb. 12. Daily improvements are being effected to an already efficient organisation at the refugee camps at Palmerston North. Changes are being made and the facilities extended. The camps are strictly guarded by the Legiou of Frontiersmen, while many able-bodied men are kept employed within the camps themselves. A kindergarten school was established at the showgrounds to-day, the school being located in the vicinity of the band rotunda. It is being conducted under permission of the Wanganui Education Board and supplies of books and other requisite material are being provided by Mr. W. B. Cameron j chairman of the committee of the Terrace End school. Miss M. G. Thornton is in charge of the kindergarten, and is assisted by Misses Quirke, V. E. Smith, K. Cutler, M. L. Lynch, and C. Gunter. The Y.M.C.A. has established bureaux at both the showground and the Awapuni racecourse. An information bureau has been established by this organisation and over 350 inquiries have beeta. satisfactorily dealt with. A recreation and concert marquee has been erected, while an open-air cinema is being conducted in front of the main grandstand. Mr. C. Woods, general secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the association, is in charge, and is assisted by Mr. F. Chappell, of the Trentham Y.M.C.A., Mr. G. Pitkethley, assistant secretary, Mr. J. Hopkins and Mr. G. Harkness.

Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, arrived in Palmerston North yesterday afternoon after inspecting the relief camp at the Feilding racecourse. Here some of the inmates of the Parke Island Old People’s Home iare encamped under the control of the Palmerston North Hospital Board. Dr. Cameron, of Feilding, is the medical superintendent at the camp, while Mr. Chapman, formerly manager of the Napier home, is in charge of the inmates. assisted by Sister Seaton, of the home staff.

The Mayor, Mr. A. J. Graham, stated to-day that Dr. Watt had intimated to him that he was satisfied with the conditions at the showgrounds relief camp. Mr. Graham visited the showgrounds last night and reported that the number in camp was 1250. He pointed out that this number was satisfactory, as the health authorities had stated that the safety line was between 1000 and 1250. Mr. Graham said they were hoping to reduce the number to 1000.