VIOLENT AWAKENING

Northern Advocate, 16 September 1932, Page 6

VIOLENT AWAKENING

WAIROA PARES BADLY. THREE PEOPLE INJURED. .SHOPKEEPERS' LOSSES. (Per Press Association. — Copyrlgnt.7 WAIEOA, This - Day. Wairoa had a violent awakening at 2,27 a.m., when an earthquake, admitted to be 50 per cent greater in intensity than that of February 3, 1931, hit the town with awful consequences. There were no fatalities, but three casualties occurred. The damage is estimated at thousands of pounds. The Injured. Mrs J. O. Scott, broken arm. Mrs A. -Dawson, injured back and severe shock. Mr King, log artery severed; taken to hospital. The 'quake came without warning tremors. Very few, people were outdoors, but there were a number of narrow escapes from serious accidents through falling furniture, tanks, etc. Damaged Buildings. r • Buildings most damaged include the following:— „ • Deacon's garage. Long's confectionery, which completely collapsed. Hall’s shop, a recently erected building,, which collapsed. Winter's bulk store. Richardson’s briek office. Thomson's, butchery., Herbert’s drapery. Duley’s workshop, whore the top storey collapsed, burying tw T o cars. Pox's garage, which was structurally damaged. In addition a large number of plate glass windows* fell out. Linotypist’s Escape. The scene at the “Wairoa Star’’ office defies description. Every machine was thrown out of plane, and type and stocks -were thrown everywhere. The paper will be unable to publish for several days. A linotype operator leaving the office had a miraculous escape. A falling linotype crashed through a partition, and Just grazed the employee’s head. A remarkable absence of x damage, apart from goods and fittings, was noted in all the buildings re-erected since the 1931 'quake. The Gaiety Theatre is a case in point, the only damage suffered being patches of plaster off the wall. Bridge Demolished. The traffic bridge, which has been unsafe since the 1931 earthquake, was completely demolished. The new bridge, "which has been in course of construction, and which is -estimated to cost £30,000, suffered serious damage. It is certain that the delay in completion will be many months, and this will add further to the people’s hardship. The new bridge was being built from both sides of the river bank. There were three stands from North Clyde side and one stand from the Wairoa township side-. The stand from the Wairoa township side collapsed, and of the three stands on the Clyde’ side the one nearest the bank gave way. All the piles throughout the new structure are out of alignment. Numerous cracks appeared in all streets. This was not the case in 1931. Concrete fences in all parts of the town were flattened to the ground. The noise accompanying the 'quake was like an artillery bombardment. Manj’ women and children rushed info the streets, and the night was filled with screams and cries of fear. Every shop dwelling and businesr place is a scene of the havoc wrought by the awful visitation. Goods, fit-

tings and furnishings are strewn everywhere. It appears that thousands of pounds have been lost, .iust as the town was resuming its normality. It seems a, heavy blow to the business people, who have carried on so valiantly since the 19.'1l shake and other setbacks. It appears certain that there will be a tremendous loss to certain shopkeepers. It was reported from Wairoa at 10.20 a.m. that the road is clear from Napier except for one bad crack, abhut ‘ five miles south of Wairoa. There is no serious damage to the line. Telegraphic communication between Wairoa. and Gisborne should be re-established early, TRYING EXPERIENCE AT HOSPITAL. TOWN’S ESSENTIAL SERVICES. CUT OFF. COMMUNICATION DISORGANISED. (Per Press Association. —Copyright.) . WAIROA, This Day. North Clyde premises were badiy damaged, and the cost of renewal will bo considerable. In all parts of the hospital the patients behaved admirably. The nurses displayed great coolness, and there was an entire absence of panic. The medical superintendent reports that all inmates endured the shake remarkably well. The hospital suffered more than in 1931 in the way of breakages, practically everything being broken. The council mot at 7 a.m. and emergency committees were set up to deal with the position, which is much more serious from the municipal viewpoint than, in 1931, especially regarding the , damage to private homes. Practically no residence possesses ( crockery or glassware of any deserip- ( tion. Pianos, wardrobes and other articles of heavy furniture were tossed about like corks. ,• Remarkably few chimneys and tanks collapsed locally, apparently due to the I good reconstruction work. > The Mayor, Afr Harker, states that i the damage to the water service is very serious, and that it will take a , considerable time to restore it. He [ hopes to iftstal a temporary system . shortly.

- —J • 3 Lighting and power broke down,, several transformers were displaced, and the poles are out of alignment. Mr Karker is confident, however, that this 3 service will be restored tomorrow. The local Public Works officials are affording all assistance possible. A start is being made this morning to clean all the debris in the main j thoroughfare. Practically no damage has occurred at the Waikarcmoana power house. Prasertown and other country districts report that all chimneys and tanks are down, and that numerous buildings are 3 damaged and roads cracked in every direction. Telegraphic communication North is disorganised by the loss of the bridge, restoration work concerning which is 2 proceeding. Wairoa is considered to be the centre of the disturbance. The ’quake maintained an extreme -violence for approximately 90 and was then folj lowed at few minute intervals by further shakes of lessening intensity, with an occasional violent upward burst, accompanied by a sound similar to that of the firing of heavy guns. Shocks are still occurring. ' SERIES AT OPOTIKI 3 ! LASTED SEVERAL HOURS. '} s SEVEN -FAIRLY HEAVY. 1 —* f SURPRISINGLY SMALL DAMAGE. * (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) OPOTIKI, This Day. Opotiki residents had a trying time during the night, when a series t of earthquakes lasting several hours s was experienced. At 1.27 a.nu, there v was a heavy shock, which lasted a £ long time, finishing Avith a long cir--1 cular motion. Immediately after the ’quake there a Avas a tremendous roar from the sea, j which calmed dpAA r n soon afterwards. s Minor ’quakes Avere felt frequently, and at 1.48 there Avas another proj. nounccd shock, jAvhich Avas folloAved by another heavy shake at 2,43. The [j motion of the latter Avas from east B to Avest. j • Another distinct movement occur- . red 16 minutes later, folloAA r ed by e 'quakes Avhich varied in intensity and . continued until 5.30, Avhen the mOA re- £ meat practically ceased. A peculiar feature of the ’quakes is the fact that rain fell after each 1 shake and then ceased till another shake came. The maximum movement „ Avas not as heavy as the big shake felt last September. The first shock 3 :Ws3 .. very much longer, with stronger wOiA'bSeixts throughout, Surprisingly little damage was j done. Water came through ceilings from hot Avater ‘ supply tanks and goods AA T crc dislodged in a number of I shops, more especially grocery shops. , Practically no damage was done to chimneys. Electric light , failed irn- : mediately after the first shock, but 1 power Avas restored after a few tnini utes. Trouble occurred in some parts of the county, Avhere little power Avas - available. This morning reports from country I districts state that shakes lasted al- - most continuously for three hours I and a half, faint tremblings being > noticed, Avith occasional heavy p quakes. Altogether there Avere seven fairly heavy shocks. t