THE EARTHQUAKE AREA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21267, 23 February 1931, Page 8

THE EARTHQUAKE AREA

FURTHER VIOLENT SHOCKS. OVER WIDE AREA. BUILDINGS FURTHER DAMAGED. (Peb United Peess Association.) NAPIER, February 21. At 2 a.m. a fairly violent shock, probably the third heaviest since the opening attack, -woke everybody. During the next hour it was followed by three others, the severity of each being less than the one preceding it. Minor tremors were frequent, but have now ceased. The people seem to have got their earthquake legs, even heavy shakes failing to cause excitement. „* _ ' HASTINGS, February 21. Two quite severe shocks were felt at Hastings—one at 2 a.m. and the other at 3.7 a.m. Though the first was rather alarming, neither was comparable in severity with the three big shocks that did all the damage. Loose parts of badly-damaged buildings were shaken down and sleepers awakened. OPPRESSIVE WEATHER. / A PROLONGED SHAKE. many people returning. (Peb United Pbess Association.) NAPIER, February 22. Yesterday a sweltering nor’-wester made conditions almost unbearable in Napier, but the heat gradually failed at night and to-day the weather, in spite of a high wind, has been more tolerable. Big grass fires inland added to yesterday’s oppressiveness, and these have evidently died out. The weather at 5 p.m. to-day was cloudy with a change threatening. The sea is choppy. , , , Only one shakfe of any severity has been felt since yesterday afternoon. It occurred at 1.45 am. to-day and was pro* longed and moderately severe. The tremors have not been so numerous. Very. little work has been done to-day, j which was the quietest Sabbath since the big upheaval. , ... Concerts yesterday and to-day by the Wellington Salvation Army Band attracted many hundreds. Birds whicn disappeared shortly after the earthquake are now returning. Very few mmahs are to be seen. Hundreds of canaries which were released have disappeared, probablj having provided dainty morsels for the • many cats prowling about. Temporary premises are springing up in all quarters and it is now possible to spend money in the town. Supplies are coming in to business people and soon normal trading will be possible. Many women are returning with chudren, but it is not wise fo r absentee children and women or those injured to return without instructions from their relatives or employers. Some of the people are now returning to sleep in their homes, but their actions are greatly restricted owing to the lack of facilities. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. GOVERNMENT ASSURANCE REQUIRED. UNCERTAINTY IN PEOPLE’S MINDS (Special to Daht Times.) AUCKLAND, February 22. “ There is very great need to inspire the people in the Earthquake area with confidence and hope in the future, and if something in this direction is not done soon the state of affairs resulting will be disastrous,” said the Primate (Archbishop Averill) on his rbturn from Napier and Hastings. “The people are living in a state of uncertainty, and everyone is wondering what the, Government is going to do.” , , Archbishop Averill added: “I feel very strongly that the Government ought to let the people know immediately what type of building they can put up. A good many of them are willing and ready to build, and it _ would improve the moral immensely in those towns if the people could only see some form of reconstruction going on, but at the present time practically nothing in that way is being done.” He had already suggested 'to members of the Cabinet the advisability of raising a loan in England to help the people of Napier and Hastings to help themselves. Only very few of the people were insured against earthquake or fire following earthquake,_ with the result that the majority of the inhabitants would receive nothing from the insurance companies. . T “How these people will be financed I do not know,” he said. When I was in England last year I had many opportunities of judging the temper of the English people. They have every confidence in New Zealand, and I am perfectly convinced that if we like to make an appeal for a loan at a lower rate than the current rate of interest for the purpose of reinstating the ruined towns the people of Britain will subscribe very readily. But if no effort is made to obtain such a loan for 12 months—and I have heard it said that such is the m- • tention —it will mean nothing but ruma- “ T spent Friday afternoon at the refugees’ camp at Palmerston North, Arc bishop Averill continued. It is being wonderfully managed, but I am very concerned, as to what will happen when it closes. At present there is a considerable difficulty in getting people to leave, for those who are suffering from strained nerves —a form of shell shock—feel that they are comparatively safe where tney are. and besides "they have no money, no work, and no means of paying any rent. It is going to be a very serious problem. It seems to me only too plain that something definite is needed to inspire these people with confidence.’ \ TWO BODIES RECOVERED. (Pee United Press Association.) HASTINGS, February 22. Another' body has been found at the Napier Hospital and identified as that of Henry Ogden, of 209 Avenue road, Hastings, a casual employee at the nosPl The body of another employee of Roach’s, Ltd., of Hastings, Grace Jones (about 20), was recovered from the ruins yesterday. ANOTHER BODY IDENTIFIED'. (Pee United Press Association.) HASTINGS, February 21. A body previously reported unidentified is now identified as Mrs Ellen Bohan, widow, aged 58, of 415 Avenue road, West Hastings. A photograph of Mrs Bohan and her daughter. Kathleen (previously reported dead), in the possession of a Hastings resident, led to identification. The mother and daughter were shopping at Roach’s when the disaster happened. ___ REPAIRING RIVER BANKS. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. (Per United Press Association.) HASTINGS, February 22. Mr R. Masters,, on behalf of the Goveminent, has given approval for the nrimediate payment of £2OOO to the Hawke s Bay River Board for repairing stop-banks damaged by the earthquake. PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 22. The secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board is endeavouring to trace refugee primary school children who are

attending school in other education districts, and asks for the assistance of other boards in obtaining information. The authorities desire all the refugee children to be sent to local schools, and the teachers will be asked to supply the respective boards with a list showing the schools the children formerly attended. PROTEST AGAINST CHARGE. (Per United Press Association.) NAPIER, February 21. A large meeting at Nelson Park last night made a protest against the charge of 4s per day by the committee, but as that body is going into retirement the agitation, which had been somewhat pronounced during the last few days, will die down. It is suggested that all outsiders not usefully engaged should be sent from the town. A large number were due to leave to-day. NAPIER HOSPITAL. TO BE REINSTATED. (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., February 21. A statement indicating the future policy regarding the ruined hospital was made at Napier to a reporter by Mr Morse (chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Board and Control Committee). He said the institution would be reinstated on the hill. Wooden shelters would be used for patients, the cottages for the administration officers, and marquees for the staff. The old hdministration building could be ready in two months if reinforced. The demolition of all the wards was being undertaken,/ He estimated that, in the equipment and the remajns of the bunding, the board had left assets of a. value of £70,000. The losses would be in the vicinity of £300,000. “ Within four years the hospital would have been free of debt” said Mr Morse. “ I had hoped to retire then, but I will now stick to the guns to build up something great within five years. I consider that the cost of such disasters should be spread over the whole hospital system of the Dominion. I am confident of securing the backing of all hospital organisations in this crisis. We want the women and_ children back as soon as the houses are in order, probably in a fortnight.” Mr Morse added that the business people were loyal to Napier and keen to restart. CO-OPERATIVE WHOLESALE SOCIETY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. February 22. The New Zealand Producers’ Co-opera-tive Marketing Association has received cable advice from London that the Cooperative Wholesale Society of England has given £IOOO to the London Fund for the earthquake disaster. EARTHQUAKE IN COCOS AREA. CONNECTION WITH DOMINION. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) PERTH, February 21. The State Astronomer (Mr Curlewis), discussing the New Zealand earthquakes, mentioned the curious apparent connection between New Zealand and Cocoa Island, and said that an earthquake was recorded at 2 o’clock yesterday morning, the seismograph swinging three inches. The osculation indicated the location an the Cocos area. The recent big shakes in New Zealand were followed by disturbances at Cocos Island.