HOLY CALM SHATTERED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 12

HOLY CALM SHATTERED.

WRECK OF SEMINARY. STUDENTS AT DEVOTIONS. MANY KILLED AND INJURED. TWO PRIESTS MEET DEATH. [HY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTED.] NAPIER,' Saturday. Overwhelmed by tlio earthquake while attending devotions in the chapel, two priests and seven students were killed at the Marist Brothers' seminary at Greenmeadows, five miles from Napier.

Tho seminary, tho only one of the type in New Zealand, was set in a most picturesque environment on an eminence, but a visit to tho institution to-day revealed a pathetic waste of wreckage, and the work of years has been set virtually at nought. However, in tho quoted words of Father. Eugeno Kimbell, who had come from Wellington to conduct a retreat at the seminary, "hope springs eternal in the human breast." The seminary will bo reconstructed at the, earliest opportunity, but the building will be in wood. The living quarters at tho institution, which fared best, are in wood, but tho chapel erected in 1913 was of Halswell stone brought especially from Canterbury, while a new wing intended as the first instalment of a new building schomo had just been completed in ferro-concrete.

During tho retreat three hours' devotion takes place each day and it was upon the second of these that the priests and students had entered when the earthquake came. Father Kimbell had given a lecture to tho students, and, as is the usual practice, had retired after making various points for meditation. It was in this atmosphere of holy calm that tho students, about 40 in number, were gathered when the violent shock came. The gabies of the chapel collapsed and debris rained down upon the occupants. Fathei Uondringer, of Wellington, who had come to the seminary especially for the retreat, and Father Boyle, bursar of the seminary, were caught at the end of tho chapel adjoining the wooden portion of the seminary. Tho bodies of the others wore found in various portions of tho devastated chapel. Fathei Kimbell had retired from tho chapel only a short time before the crash, and Father 13oylo had later visited him in his room. Father Boyle then returned to the chapel to meet his death. To-day men from tho warships are dynamiting the walls of the chapel and bringing them down in clouds of thick red dust.

The earthquake also claimed the life of Mrs. Susan Orr, a Taradale resident, who made a daily habit of visiting the seminary. Apart from thoso killed in the chapel about 15 students were injured.

REMARKABLE ESCAPE.

TRAPPED IN CATHEDRAL. TIMELY AID OF A WOMAN. [BY TELEGRAFJI.—SPECIAL REFORTER.] NAPIER, Sunday. A remarkablo escape from death was experienced by Dean Brocklehurst, of Napier, who was conducting a service in the Cathedral chapel when tho earthquake occurred. Ho received a blow on the back from fallen masonry and his robes were caught, preventing his escape. Idealising his plight, a member of tho congregation, Jlrs. Jlill Thompson, ran outside, procured a knife, returned to the chapel and cut away Dean Brocklehurst's robes. Thus freed, ho was able to crawl to safety.

REMOVAL OF THE RUINS.

FIRST STEP IN RESTORATION. RENEWED INTEREST FOR PEOPLE. "The disaster that has befallen Hawke's Bay has not been exaggerated in the slightest degree, and the sympathy that one naturally feels for thoso who are afflicted, becomes intensified when ono meets them among the desolate ruins of their homes and businesses," said tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, on Saturday, on his return from a visit to Napier and Hastings. "I do not think our people need any further assurance of tho urgency of tho call for help. Wo cannot give back to tho bereaved tho husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters and children they havo lost and wo must leavo to our doctors and nurses tho noble task of restoring those who havo "been injured, knowing full well that with the country behind them they will not lack anything that may bo required. Where everybody can help is in tho work of restoration.

» A big point to remember is that tho productivity of Hawke's Bay has notbeen destroyed," said Mr. Coates. "Damago has been dono on a number of farms, but, taking the province as a whole, tho farms are capable of producing as much as they ever did. It is tho distribution system to and from the farpis that has been knocked out and our energies must be, devoted to restoring it. That means that there, cannot be any argument whether or not we should get startod immediately with tho rebuilding of tho towns. They havo to be rebuilt. and the quicker wo get ahead with it the better it will bo for the people of Ilawko's Bay and New Zealand as a whole.

"I discussed the situation with tho Minister of Public Works, the lion. E, A. Ransom, in Napier, and wo agreed that tho first tiling to do is to got tho affected towns cleaned up. That forms #s much of the cure of the stricken people as financial and other help. The atmosphere of desolation must be removed and the people given a renewed interest in life. The two can be achieved by employing (he peoplo on clearing up and rebuilding. There will bo sufficient of this work to keep a number of people going until life functions normally again. Then, too, wo must give every encouragement to the business houses to resume their affairs.

In brief, everything that can be done to restore normality should be put in band at the earliest possiblo opportunity. There is a tremendous task ahead, but 1 am sure the peoplo of Hawke's Bay, with tho support, liberal and quick, of the whole of New Zealand, will perform it."