HANDSOME DONATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 12

HANDSOME DONATION.

CHRISTCHURCH COUNCIL. £IO,OOO FOR RELIEF FUND. HALF AVAILABLE AT ONCE.' < REMAINDER IF NEEDED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.! CHRIST'JHURCH. Friday. Tho Christchurch City Council, at a special urgent meeting called by tho Mayor, the Rev. J. K. Archer, this morning decided to increase its donation to the Hawke's Bay earthquake relief fund from £IOOO to £IO,OOO. Half the amount is to be paid over immediately. The money is to be taken from the reserve funds of the electricity department. The decision of tho council was based upon a recommendation made unanimously by the Electricity Committee. In a statement at the conclusion of the meeting the Mayor said • the feeling of the committee was that, much as the council might desire to do so, it could not in the present circumstances place a large amount upon the rates either this year or next year, but it could afford to meet the case out of the reserve funds of the electricity department. After very carefully considering the matter, the Mayor added, the council had decided to approve the recommendation of the committee with the qualification that the grant of £IOOO previously voted be immediately increased to £SOOO and that the. council give an undertaking to provide the other £SOOO when it was satisfied that it was necessary. In the meantime the council had deputed two members, Messrs. E. IL Andrews and D. G. Sullivan, M.P., to proceed to Hawke's Bay to make a personal investigation and report as to the present position, the need for help and the methods of relief distribution. COUNTRY ' FROM ' THE AIR. NORTHWARD OF WAIROA. TUTAEKURI RIVER BLOCKED. [by aeroplane.—special reporter.] NAPIER, Friday. A general air survey of the stricken area from north of Wairoa to Napier reveals appalling desolation. The coastlino from Petane to Wairoa has undergone a terrific upheaval. Cliff faces are completely shattered, and in many cases whole cliffs slid into tho ocean. Beaches have been raised 6ft. to 30ft., and all the streams on the coast have their mouths blocked. This is not likely to cause serious flooding, apart from the natural banking up necessary to enable the water to clear the fresh obstacle. Many slips have fallen in the high country between Gisborne and Wairoa, but there is little sign ol damage there. The entire contour of Napier's inner harbour has been altered. A high cone appears out of the. water to a height of about 60ft. a short distance from Weetshorc. In the flat country around Napier and Hastings the effect of the earthquake is confined chiefly •to fissures and subsidences. The Tutaekuri 'River is blocked at the mouth, but deep fissures which occur for several miles,along the banks may cause 6\vamps and minimise the dang6r of flooding.