Severe Earthquake

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 February 1931, Page 5

Severe Earthquake

NAPIER APPARENTLY THE CENTRE LAND COMMUNICATION CUT OFF OIL TANKS AT PORT AHURIRI ABLAZE ALL STONE BUILDINGS DOWN FIRES RAGING IN CITY WATER IN NAPIER ROADSTEAD SHALLOWING RAPIDLY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Post Office advises that following an earthquake Napier has been isolated since 10.50 a.m. The senior naval officer at Auckland advises that H.M.S. Veronica at Napier reports a serious earthquake and all stone buildings down and fires raging. H.M.S. Diomede and H.M.S. Dunedin sailing about 2 p.m. with medical officers, nurses, and medical stores. The following radio was received from the s.s. Northumberland at 12.36 p.m.:—“One and a half miles off harbour entrance at Napier. All centre of town behind promenade seems to be blazing, and heavy volumes of smoke over the town.”

The Secretary of.the Post and Telegraph Department reported shortly before noon to-day as follows : All tefegrapjhic coninui/nicaiion Was lost with Napier from 10.48 a.in. The lines are interrupted at Takapau on this side and from the Auckland side between Taupo and Napier. The motor ship Taranaki, which was at anchor in Napier roadstead, reports a heavy earthquake at Napier and states that the oil tanks at Port Ahuriri caught fire and are now ablaze. The steamer also reports that the bluff at Napier has carried away and that there are land, slides all around the bay. At 11.20 a.m. the s.s. Northumberland reports that she was proceeding to sea from Napier roadstead owing to the water shallowing rapidly. Communication with Gisborne is cut off on account of the fact that it is made through Napier. VIADUCT DAMAGED TRAIN UNABLE TO PROCEED WELLINGTON. This Day. The Railway Department reports that a viaduct on tho ; lino between Takapau and Topua, about 30 miles north of Woodville, has been damaged. A train with passengers has returned to Takapau. A repair gang has left for the scene of the damage.