EARTHQUAKE AREA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18832, 21 March 1931, Page 18 (Supplement)

EARTHQUAKE AREA.

MONEY FOR RESTORATION. LONDON LOAN NOT AVAILABLE. By T«1 seraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 20. Mr G. W. Forbes, in an interview in regard to financing Hawke’s Bay restoration, said that his attention had been brought to Mr A. Jull’s scheme. Mr Forbes said the whole basis of this rested on raising a special loan. When the proposals already announced by the Government were being framed, * every passible avenue of providing finance, both internal and external, was explored, and early opportunity was taken of inquiring from its advisers as to the possibilities of a special loan issue. The reply left no doubt as to the inadvisability of this, and the Government had necessarily to seek other means, and the realisation of a reserve ! fund securities represented the only one 1 whereby a measure of Government as- ] sistance could be immediately provided. It was hoped that this action would demonstrate that the Dominion was able to make good the damage out of its own resources, and restore the confidence of overseas investors in the Dominion. By means of the special tax of 1 6 per cent., it was calculated that the reserve fund would be reinstated in from five to seven years. When this was accomplished, the tax would be used to build up a special emergency reserve against a catastrophe of a similar nature. Mr Forbes emphasised that it was essential to preserve the reputation of the Dominion on the world’s money markets. NAPIER CHURCHES POPULATION RETURNING. By Telegraph—Prose Association NAPIER, March 20. It is proposed to replace St. John's Anglican Cathedral with a temporary structure, costing £SOO. This is expected to last ten years, by which time it is hoped that a building, costing £40,000, will be erected. Part of the Diocesan offices may be saved. An expenditure of £2OO is proposed to put St. Augustine’s in good order. A wooden building, St. Patrick's Church, is practically undamaged, and is fit for worship. Baptist Church people are rebuilding their Church, which was destroyed in the big fire. People are returning to Napier, many score arriving every day. It is anticipated that the populatiin if Napier city is up to 14,000. In the outlying districts the population is almost normal. NAPIER SCHOOLS By Telegraph—Press Association HASTINGS, March 20. The Hawke's Bay Education Board this morning expressed concern at the delay in getting the Government’s approval for restoring schools damaged in the earthquake, and resolved:— “That thus Board expresses regret and is perturbed at the delay in obtaining tile Government’s authority to proceed with the erection of school accommodation to replace that destroyed and also provision of heating systems in schools, and that the Government must recognise that reestablishment of education facilities in the devastated area is of most urgent and paramount importance: that the Board requests an immediate reply to the chairman’s telegrams to the Minister of cation.’Advice has since been received from the Minister that Cabinet has approved of grants for the erection of a six-rocmed school in wood at Napier central, and Napier west sites. PROGRESS OF RAILWAYS. By Telegraph—Press Association NAPIER, March 20. Work is proceeding in reconditioning the East Coast railway. The task of finishing the two unfinished viaducts 5s also in hand. A total of 428 men is engaged. It is anticipated that the railway to Wairoa will be finished in the two years’ time previously fixed. Napier is singularly free of epidemic disease, such as was at first feared might break out. Dr. Ritchie, the Health Officer, says that all precautions are still maintained. COAST DONATES TIMBER. By Telegraph—Press Association GREYMOUTH, March 20. Fifty thousand super feet of red pine, valued at £SOO, donated by the Grey and Hokitika Sawmillers’ Cooperative Association, were shipped this morning for Napier Hospital reconstruction.