REBUILDING ’QUAKE AREA

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1931, Page 9

REBUILDING ’QUAKE AREA

• - PRELIMINARY MEETING HELD METHOD OF FINANCE DISCUSSED. HOUSE TO CONSIDER THE SCHEME By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■■ Wellington, Last Night; ■ Mefnbers.pf the Government are turni ing their attention to the problem of how; best to meet the cost of rc-build-ing the-btusfriciss portions of Napier and Hastings. ‘ -- J . A preliminary meeting wae held this morning. The Prime Minister, the Hon, G. W. Forbes, stated afterwards that it was not known yet how much money would be required, but as soon as that was ascertained ’ a decision would be reached as to the method of raising the necessary money. He would have definite proposals to submit to Parliament during the emergency session. SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT. HASTINGS TAKES MEASURES. , Hastings, Feb. 24. Owing to the magnitude of the unemploymcnt problem facing Hastings, the following resolutions have been adopted by the governing authorities. The registration of all labour will be done through the registration office. Absolute, preference in all cases is granted local residents. All labour on a remuneration basis is to be engaged through the registration office, where full lists of all tradesmen are to be kept. In the event of a shortage of any tradesmen, all trade registration officers will apply to the head office of the ■ union concerned at Wellington for the ' required number of men. In the event of any registered man obtaining employment he' is to notify the registration officer at once, so that his name can bo removed from the list. REINSTATING NAPIER SERVICES ESTIMATED COST £280,000. Napier, Last Night. The weather is cold and showery, with a southerly wind. The sea is calm and the rivers are normal. A meeting of the Napier City Council this evening decided that the half-holi-day this year should be observed on Thursday and the late night on Saturday. ' \ It is officially stated that it will cost £280,000 to reinstate the borough services. It is expected that the reinstatement of one chimney in each house will run into £30,000. Water and electric light extensions are still in progress. The first shock to ; day, a moderately strong one, was felt at 8.30 p.m. LONDON FUND GROWING. DONATIONS TOTAL £36,905. Rec. 7.5 p.m. London, Feb. 23. The New Zealand earthquake fund has reached £36,095. HOSPITAL QUAKE PATIENTS. DISCHARGES FROM PALMERSTON X , Palmerston N., Feb. 24. The hospital authorities report that the following, who were admitted with ‘ injuries sustained in the earthquake, have been discharged:—Mrs. C. Pottle, 164 McGrath Street, Napier; Mrs. ■ Cocker. NAPIER ANCHORAGE NORMAL. i RESULT OF MATAI SOUNDINGS. Auckland, Last Night. No shoaling of a dangerous nature ,• was discovered at Napier by the Government steamer Matai, which reached Auckland from the East Coast lighthouses to-night. Observations showed J that the bed of the roadstead had risen in parts from 6ft to 7ft, but in places soundings gave the same depth of water as is shown on the charts. Nothing less than 33 feet of water was found from two miles off shore to half a mile from the breakwater, according to Captain J. Burgess, master of the Matai. Investigations shows that the anchorage in the roadstead is just as safe for overseas shipping as it was before the earthquake. NAPIER COMPARATIVELY QUIET. HAVOC BY WIND IN WOOL STORE. ; Napier, Feb. 24. The weather is fine, with a _ squally westerly wind, which has a decided nip in it. The sea is,dead calm. Difficulties are being experienced by fruit-growers owing to the dry spell and high winds causing the fruit to .fall. Those well protected from'winds are able to attend to export work, but a continuance of the present will do much damage. ; There •’■’hive been no shakes worthy of mention during the last 30 hours, Messrs. Williams and Kettle’s big wool store which was badly damaged by the original shake, was blown into the air this morning, exposing the wool comi pletely to the weather. It is thought that there were no casualties among the workmen engaged, in rescuing the 'wool undumped. Bale's of wool are be- : - despatched to the Home market as rapidly as possible, in order to make a clearance or stores. The charred remains of an elderly female were fbutid outside the Majestk Theatre site this mornings