RECORDS DESTROYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 11

RECORDS DESTROYED.

LAND TITLES AND PLANS. FIRE SWEEPS BUILDINGS. VALUABLE DOCUMENTS LOST. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIER. Friday. With the destruction of Government offices nearly all offices and banks, nothing but chaos stares all in the face. Every title to land in the district from Wairoa to Woodville was burned when the Lands and Deeds Registry and Lands Survey Office at Napier wero destroyed on Tuesday. The Lands and Deeds Office was wrecked by the first shake, but the employees returned and closed the steel doors. Then they assisted wounded persons in the cathedral.

The fire came a little later and swept the whole building, in which were stacked documents, plans and registers occupying a space 70ft. by 40ft., and piled 6ft. to Bft. high- They contained the private land records of the whole of Hawk-e'a Bay, extending back to 1848, comprising leases, transfers and survey plans. In the Lands Office all Crown leases, survey plans, records and Crown mort gages were destroyed. One legal office alone lost securities covering £3,500,000.

The first shock was so sudden that all made for the open, and wljen a return was made, open doors could not be closed, and fire followed so closely on the stunned people that practically all was lost. Those able to act, naturally, turned to helping the injured. NAPIER'S FUTURE. QUESTION OF REBUILDING. BUSINESS MEN'S OPINIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER. Friday. "Napier must be rebuilt," said a pioneer business man this morning. "It is the outlet of a large district and the produce must be got away by sea. Within twelve months building will be well under way, and a much better laid-out Napier will result." • Mr. Yates, of the Yates Cash Stores, who owns 10 shops in the district, says he is well established m the district and will rebuild as soon as permission is granted. He think the evacuation has ceased and that private demolition will commence immediately authority is given with recompense from the insurance companies and the Government. "No start can be made yet," said the part owner of one of Napier's largest hotels. "This hotel has an earthquake insurance cover of £20,000. I have everything insured up to the hilt and it will be hard luck if payment does not come." Many other business people are pessimistic and say they regard the future of Napier as gloomy. They say that if rebuilding is undertaken the whole town and residential quarter will have to be demolished as thero is not a decent foundation left. Tho Bank of New Zealand has a temporary office but the manager is awaiting instructions from Wellington to open