EARTHQUAKE DISTRICT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20800, 17 February 1931, Page 11

EARTHQUAKE DISTRICT

, RESTORING SERVICES.

CONTROL AT NAPIER.

COMMISSION SUGGESTED.

LEGAL STATUS NEEDED.

WELLINGTON CONFERENCE.

[liT TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER. Monday.

Demolition work and tho restoration of services were resumed at Napier to-day after the week-end respite, which was found very welcome by all concerned. The chairman, Mr. C. 0. Morse, and secretary, Mr. R. G. Butcher, of the relief committee, returned at mid-day from a flying visit to .Wellington for thei purpose of conferring with tho Prime Minister.

The subjects discussed have not yet been stated officially,- but it is believed that they included arrangements for appointing a commission or other body with statutory powers to take control of reronstruction and to administor relief when the present stato of emergency is over. Such a body would probably have a life of two years at least. Tho present relief committee has no legal status, and some statutory provision will have to be made by Parliament if it, or any body equivalent to it, is to continue in office.

The special advisory committee appointed by tho New Zealand Institute of Architects to deal with matters arising out of'the earthquake arrived at Napier this afternoon. Tho members will inspect the wrecked and surviving buildings, and will confer with the executive of the relief committee to-morrow morning. It is possible that representatives of the committee will also attend the meeting of property owners and ratepayers to be held to-morrow afternoon " to discuss the question of clearing of sites and the proposed rebuilding of a greater Napier." A ban has again been placed upon motorists wishing to visit Napier merely as sightseers, Pickets were placed on the roads to-day, and cars were turned back unless the occupants could show that, they had some definite business to transact. The relief committee proposes to admit sightseers only on certain days in future, probably at week-ends.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

SURVEY OF DAMAGE.

REPAIR WORK IN PROGRESS.

[by telegraph.—SPEClAL reporter.] NAPIER, Monday.

With the exception of the destruction of a great portion of the embankment leading out from Napier, and the loss of the first span o:E the West Shore bridge, many of the. roads leading northward have escaped serious damage. The country has suffered most in the vicinity of Waikare, and from there varied stories are reaching Napier as to the extent of tho damage.-,

The Hawke's Bay County Council has advice that 200 acres of its territory has slipped across the river into the adjoining county. At present the council is concentrating upon opening the main roads to give access to settlers who may be cut off. It is considered that it will be only a matter of days before the embankment is made passable. It is not intended to rebuild the collapsed span of the West Shore Bridge, but to strengthen the structure and fill the gap with bricks and s.poil from the demolished town.

The Esk Bridge, north of Eskdale, is already under repair, and large gangs are at work clearing slips at various points toward Waikare. Some slips, however, are of huge dimensions, and it will be a long time before the main road north is open, although it is possible to get through by making long detours. Ihe chairman of the council said to-day that he thought £BO,OOO to £IOO,OOO might cover the cogfc of the present damage, but he feared for what might happen when the rain came.

THRILLING MOTOR TRIP.

GISBORNE TO. NAPIER. INCIDENTS BY THE WAY. The first motor-cap to travel to Napier from Gisborne since the earthquake arrived at its destination last Tuesday, after a thrilling trip, during which the car had to negotiate railway lines, viaducts and crevasses. A party which comprised Messrs. C. Baker, C. Morley, T. Dodunski, J. Hath well (service car drivers) and A. Biimie left Gisborne at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning. Good time was made as fqr as Wairoa, where they arrived about midday. The roads on that part of the journey were fairly good, but were cracked in many places. From Wairoa south many of the road bridges had been destroyed and the party had to deviate over a railway viaduct. After a detour of about two miles over paddorks and swamps they got on to the main road-again and followed it down to Mohaka. Huge cracks in the road were encountered at this stage and the car sometimes went so deep into them that not much more than the hood was showing. A stop was made at Waikare to salvage a service car which was locked between two slips. The main route was followed from Waikare to Matahoura Gorge, where the car again had to leave the road and go over paddocks for another three miles. Another railway viaduct was then crossed and the car bumped over the railroad

track for two miles until Tutira was

reached. The party then branched off on / to the Waikoau Road, which was clear enough, for one car to get throqgh. The party was, held up at Tongoio for the night, ns the bridge approaches had fallen awav.

The journey was resumed next, morning and ,tjie final lap into Napier was without incident.

BENEFIT CONCERT.

, SUM OF £SB RAISED. if The Mini of £SB was raised by the benefit concert held in the Civic Theatre on Sunday evening. Items were given by Miss I. Langlands, Mr. R. Eskrigge, Mr. Fryer-Raisher and Miss I. Frost, Mr. E. .Lynnc and four boy sopranos. An orchestra of ever 30 players, led by Mr. Hadyn Murray, played several selections. A film, "The Fifty-Fifty Girl," was included in tho programme.