GREATEST DISASTER OF ITS KIND IN HISTORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 10 September 1923, Page 5

GREATEST DISASTER OF ITS KIND IN HISTORY

IMPERIAL DECREE ISSUED OSAKA, Sept. 8. The Privy Council issued an Imperial decree that one month’s wages must be payable in full. There must be no limit tot bank withdrawals on wages account, and food hoarding will be punishablo with three years in jail or a fine of 3000 yen. In order to control the price of lumber, the Imperial household donated 1000 trees from the Imperial forest for the; relief of works. The prompt action of the guards at three penitentiaries at Tokio, the walls of which collapsed, prevented the escape of theOprisoners. The chief justice, the chief public prosecutor, and 40 other judges and procurators were killed at ' Yokohama, where both police and firemen were practically exterminated. The Japanese public are only now awakening to the fact that the disaster is the greatest of its kind ever recorded in history.

YEAR'S EXEMPTION FROM TAXES IN STRICKEN AREA CONTEMPLATED "j OSAKA, Sept. 8. ; A British naval wireless message states that only one casualty—a German —is reported 'from Miyonsliita, a favourite summer resort of foreigners. ; . Other reports state that it is believed the Department of Finance contemplates exemption from taxes in the zone of the disaster for one year. _ The condition of the huge image of Buddha at Kamakura is still unknown, "but the smaller Buddha at the Unyeno Park sits calmly with its head completely gone. • ; The Italian Consul at Yokohama Is now reported" to be alive and aboard an Italian warship.

A TOKIO CONVENT ESCAPES DEVASTATION , •-

it CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. S Cabled news- has reached Christchurcb. that-the .'Convent, of the -Sacred Heart at Tokio has- escaped the devastating effects of the recent earthquake. The members of the community, amongst whom is Mother Dorothea Loughnan, a.daughter of Mr H. H. Loughnan, a wellknown Christchurch barrister and solicitor, are all safe.