GHASTLY RUIN

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 7

GHASTLY RUIN

SURVEY OF W DISASTER TASK OF (RECONSTRUCTION 'WORK BRAVELY TACKLED \ FALSE RUMOURS DENIED / ' FINE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hastings, Last Night. At least so far as Hastings is con cerned one of the* greatest difficulties with which the authorities in charge have to contend is the irresponsible circulation of disturbing rumours. There is nothing in the-situation here to justify an attitude of mind such as leads to the creation and spreading of absilrd and alarming stories. r One - absurd story that the whole population had to be in Dannevirke within 24 hours, and another that everyone had to be in Trentham by Saturday were typical examples of the stories that were upsetting the women in particular. Other rumours manufactured were that typhoid had broken out. There is ho fear of typhoid in Hastings nor in Napier. The Hastings borough water supply is in normal working order wherever a connection exists, and if precaution is necessary it has been not only explained, but appreciated. The sewers are working perfectly, and the maintenance of public health is in expert hands. The people have nothing to fear. Whatever humour might ordinarily be found in> such rumours, this is a bad time for it. Witliout for a moment understating the degrees of mental shock followed as a result of the ghastly collapse of the business part of the town, it may be said that the whole of the townspeople with the single exception of people previously in a bad nervous state, are not only calm, but demand that in spirit if not in fact that there shall be business as usual. Nobody moving among the residents here to-day will see one sign of jumpiness, haggardness or dejection. Even the bereaved are hiding their grief under a placid countenance and carrying on in a, universal effort to put the town and social life into order once more.

The strain during the first three days was almost unsupportable io many, aud to all it was at least a, great trial. A sort of subdued, excitement kept the people going. Sleep was not only impossible, but was also unwise. Nobody wanted more of a meal than a cup of hot tea and a sng.ck, which one’s mind would not allow to be eaten sitting down. There w?re a thousand things to do, and they had to be done quickly. Somehow, they were done. EVERYONE HAS SLEEP. To-day everyone has had at least sufficient sleep and meals were being taken in a more normal way. Here and there one hears a resident genially boasting that he had a bath and sat down to a.hot meal. Shaving, once a sign of shame insofar as it proved a dereliction of duty, is now becoming de rigueiir once more. We have now adopted the task ahead of ms as a normal day’s work. From nine to five, or from midnight to six, or whatever hours we have ordained for us by the authorities, are the hours during which, we have to do our little share towards setting things right. Looking back upon the happenings of that dreadful day when the property of every man and women in business was wiped out in a few short moments, one remembers there was not a. sign of panic or hysteria anywhere. Tuesday and its emotions are seen from a distance which gives a truer view, and quietly considered after a refreshing sleep and hot meals have completely restored one’s mental, equilibrium, will forever be remembered with pride, by those who witnessed the conduct of the people, particularly of the bereaved and injured, and the way in which the whole town is now carrying on is no less a matter for pride. The Hon. A. J. Stall worthy, speaking to a .Press Association representative this morning, used terms of the highest praise of the way in which the people had borne their trial, and of how they had without a moment’s stay for grief or despair, set about undoing as much as they , could-of the harm that had been done. • ! •

From little boys and girls to aged men and women, every one is doing something to help. The earthquake has been a great leveller and a great influence in bringing out all that is friendly in man’s nature. Your neighbour’s lawn is yours to camp on, and your billy of hot Water in his. It is touching' beyond words to live here and see and hear about the wholesale and studiously thoughtful kindness of those who live in other places and were strangers yesterday. Thos# who are helping the rest are assured that their help is wanted and that it is appreciated to the uttermost. Not an hour passed in the town without one coming to know some fresh instance of kindness, or without hearing people who belong here. speaking with no little touch of tenderness of the kindness that the whole of the Dominion has so promptly and so copiously shown. DAMAGE INESTIMABLE. An attempt made to obtain from those best qualified to know an estimate of the damage proved . futile. Nobody knows, nor will know for many weeks. It is certain that the damage, will reach not onq or. two, but several, millions of pounds. One calculation alone, and it is but a bagatelle, gives an astonishing result. In Hastings strictly within the limits of the borough boundary the rebuilding of chimneys and repairs of roofs will cost at tire absolute minimum ££>o,ooo. The .rebuilding .or repairing of the three freezing works will cost probably £200,000 at least. It would not bs in the slightest degree an exaggeration to say. that among the business premises the proportion of total destruction at the time of the earthquake or in the way of future necessity before rebuilding can be gone on with is 90 per tent. ,

Following are a few of the buildings in the condition specified, with an estimate of their value on a replacement basis:—;Grand Hotel, £45,000; Roach’s, Ltd., £25,000; Union Bank, £15,000; National Bank, £25,000; Cosy Theatre, t £30,000; Municipal Theatre, £20,000. Those are nothing more than instances and are not quoted as representing the bulk of the town’s loss in business premises. Of entire blocks not a sound wall is left. The outskirts of the borough and losses at Havelock North will add many thousands to the total. According to the 1930 Year Book the capital value, of land improvements of Napier was £4,424,000, and of Hastings £3,321,000. Losses of stock in the shops will be enormous. There is also indirect loss by the suspension of business to consider. Yet, Hastings residents speak in gratitude that their experience was not so disastrous as Napier's. There is one unpleasantness to mar the magnificent story of conduct of the

people here and in th© towns that are offering them hospitality. The police say that all too large a number of professional rogues is coming into the centres where the refugees are being accommodated and posing as Hastings and Napier residents. It is hoped that steps will be taken to check the activities of imposters. The Hastings Tribune in a bulletin to-day says the continuance of minor shocks is a normal result of the big shake. The paper is reliably informed that there is no cause for alarm. What the people must do now is to hold together, keep steady, avoid panic, disbelieve rumours] help one another and go ahead to rebuild the town. ; BURIAL OF VICTIMS. ' The clergy announce that those for interment being dispatched from the mortuary without exception are being buried in their own church plots. Crosses are being erected over every grave with the names of the victims painted thereon. . At Napier minor shocks continue. There was a fairly heavy shake at 7 ,p.m. The military have taken over police duties to assist the volunt-er patrols, but civil law still operates and will continue; the behaviour of the people being beyond reproach. Several further bodies have been recovered in. Emerson Street, but they have not yet been identified. .’■'■'■; .• '■ ('•■

Civilians are assisting tlie naval men in the demolition of the wreckage and in the supply of food, Excellent service is being adequately maintained by women, and men. The weather has again turned cold, but is still fine.

It is understood the question of rebuilding the town will form the siib; jcct of discussion with the idea of town planning. Consequently nothing of a permanent nature will be permitted for 12 months. In the meantime several firms announce that temporary premises are to be erected. The Daily Telegraph’s building will be erected next to the Catholic church immediately. A new plant is expected to arrive on Monday. Murdoch’s bakery, the only building-in use in the devastated area, has been taken over by the authorities, but electric power is being installed and the firm, will operate three shifts at breadmaking as from Monday. This is the only bakery in commission in the town. Fostal facilities and railway transport have improved, some telephones being in use. So successful has the organisation become.that water is now being pumped on to parts of the hills and parts of the flats. An inspection, is proceeding in other., localities. The sewer system will receive consideration as soon as possible. Men- respond splendidly . io the . call for labour, and most able-bodied men now have something to think of besides their misfortune. The workers are being paid Bs. per day and found. It is still necessary for outside friends to exercise patience as to the welfare of their friends, as thousands of telegrams have not been delivered, and in many cases outward telegrams have failed to reach their destinations. Inquirers can rest assured that full details of the fatalities will be published as soon as they are available, but the police are exercising almost excessive care in issuing information as to deaths. Lists are' sent out whenever available.

A later message states that after a comparatively quiet night, nothing serious being felt between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., several moderately heavy shocks were felt this morning. All work is proceeding. The post office is now open continuously, It is estimated that 11,000 people have been evacuated, and very few women and children arc now in the area. Y’eoman work is still being done by local and visiting volunteers. Water services are being restored in a further area, and the water is chemically treated at the {jumping station. There is no confirmation of rumours concerning disease, and the relief work is proceeding with wonderful precision. The patrol system is quite capable of coping with any position.

The Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, arrived by a train which also carried water. The warships Dunedin and Diomede have anchored closer in and. now occupy the usual Admiralty anchorage. Rog. Williamson, Napier, has been added to the list of dead.