WAIROA NEWS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 12

WAIROA NEWS

(Herald Correspondent.) Dueo cars are now running daily to and from Napier, travelling over the embankment, which lias been temporarily repaired. The departure hours are: Wairoa, 9 a.m., from tile old stand in Marine parade; Napier, 8 a.m. The Rotorua service conducted by the same company is now also miming, passengers transferring tit the slip in the Ohuka gorge, which should be negotiable m a lew clays. Ihe road through the Urcwera country has not slipped anywhere. A service driver states that a trac.v had been cleared over most of the Devil’s Elbow, on the Wniroa-Napier road, on AJouday, but cars were not permitted thereon owing to the huge overhanging limestone boulders, which threatened at any time to topple over. Gangs of men were engaged facilitating their removal. the following are the export and import returns for Waikokopu for December and January : Exports, wool, 1663 bales; mutton, 6736 carcases; lamb, 4/ h 7, carcases; sand, 20 tons; tallow, 60 Casks; pelts, 18 casks. Impoets.: General produce. 693 tons; steel, unis; sleepers, BL3; foment, 103 tons; coal, 703 tons; explosives, 335 cases. On Monday afternoon a car capsized in front of St. Andrew's Hall, Queen street, and- not far from the police station, tins vehicle being much damaged, but the two occupants escaped without injury. The sequel was enacted at the Police Court oil Tuesday, when the driver, M. Tapenc, was fined £5, in default one month's imprisonment, in each case for (1) driving without a license and (2) for being intoxicated while in charge of a car. The passenger, Jv. Al. Gardner, was fined £5, in default one month’s imprisonment, for being drunk and assisting Tapenc in flic commission of the offence of which he was convicted. Gardner’s license was suspended for three months, and Tapono was prohibited from obtaining one for 12 months. Messrs. J. Corkill and H. L. Harker were the presiding justices. Mr. Zakie Saba’s house, which was burned down yesterday morning, stood back from the river a little over 650 ft., but despite that fact there was a good pressure at the end of the, hose from (he pump, the result being that Air. J. Hobbs’ new residence was saved. Air. Saba, who is a heavy loser, had been away from the house, and tho night of the 'fire was the first time he had slept ; n it since the earthquake on February 3.

As a result of tho recent earthquakes, Mr. and Airs. Dalhousio, of VYaihun, are leaving with their family for Palmerston North, the health of the former having been further impaired by shock. The Public Works Department men, who had such a terrifying experience when suspended over the Waihua bridge on February 3, also are suffering from shock. The Director of Education has visited Waihua school, as well as Moliaka, and repairs are shortly to be carried out. It is reported that several telegraph poles on cracked ground along the main highway near Waihua are swaying considerably in the high prevail ing winds. There is a general cry all over the district for rain, and it has been partly met by a fall on ATonday and Tuesday nights, the. total fall, as recorded by Mr. Mackay at Te Make, being .49in. Already the pastures are showing a green tinge, and 48 hours’ steady, rain would save tho situation for the winter.

The Mayor's relief fund (supplemented by £SO from the Gisborne Mayor’s fund) now stands at £125 5s 2d. Another of the band of Wairoa pioneers, in the person of Mr. Leonard Storey, died yesterday at tho age of nearly 66 years. The lato Air. Storey has been long and favorably known in Wairoa since lie arrived here from Palmerston North, where he was connected with the Post and Telegraph Department. After his marriage to Miss Gert rude Hewitt, licensee of the Clyde Hotel, lie/ took it over, and conducted it with success for a number of years. He later went into tho business of auctioneer and commission agent, first in conjunction with Air. 11. L. liarker and then on his own account. He owned at one time a considerable amount of property, but three disastrous fires, none of which occurred in his own premises, caused him heavy losses. Tho late Air. Storey was a past Grand Alaster of the local Alasonic Order, Lodge Waikaremoana. and for years was secretary of the Wairoa Racing Club. In local politics he did good service on tho Har--1 or Board, and in his younger days was a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen, and in Wellington was a member of the Poneke Football Club. Of lqte years he

had contracted a serious internal complaint, and though suffering great pain lie endured it with remarkable fortitude. I[o had heen a patient in the hospital for some time, and all that could be done for him was done, but without avail, and his death occurred at his residence yesterday. Besides his widow he leaves live children to mourn their loss: Miss Duleie Storey (Palmerston North), Mrs. K. Glass (YVairoa), Mr. Dudley Storey (Wairoa), and two younger children. The eldest son, Leonard, died about two years ago. The late Mr. •Storey’s funeral takes place to-morrow, leaving St. Paul’s Church at 2.30 p.m. lor the Wairoa cemetery. The Mayor, Mr. 11. T. Esther, as chairman of the Wairoa relief committee, has with his committee urged the Government to assist in the reconditioning of houses by erecting one essential chimney and making the roof reasonably weatherproof in each house. As has nready been reported, the necessary arrangements were made by the committee, on the authority ot Messrs. Furkert and J.ysnar, and the work was coinmen ced last week, but was stopped by instructions from Napier. As a result of the further representations made by the committee, the Prime Minister has now telegraphed as follows: "Work of reconditioning private residences in Wairoa is to he continued on the same linos as previously carried out by the Public Works Department.” The work will be carried cm as expeditiously as possible under the supervision and organisation of Mr. Trevor Smith and his stall', in response to the relief committee’s request for the appointment of in independent assessor of damage to business premises, the Prime Minister telegraphed : "Services of officers of Public Works Department will be available to advise on ouestions of demolition or strengthening and repair of damaged buildings.” ft is hoped to have this work put in hand immediately. At 8.31 p.m. yesterday another jolting eaithquake occurred.