HEAVIER THAN 1931.

Wairarapa Age, 17 September 1932, Page 5

HEAVIER THAN 1931.

FAULT LINE IN PRINCIPAL STREET. TREMENDOUS LOSSES. WAIROA, September 16. Despite tremendous losses, the people of Wairoa are bearing up bravely under their cumulative misfortunes. Some business people have closed their premises temporarily to clean up, while others have opened up to continue business amidst the debris of their stock. Large numbers of residents have lost their entire stock of crockery, glassware, jams and preserves. Residents who went through the 1931 upheaval are of opinion that the earthquake of this morning was greater in intensity than the former. A deadly line of fault ranges through the Marine Parade from east to west, about 20 feet back from the frontage. With the exception of about three buildings almost every building, whether in brick, concrete or ferro concrete, has fractures, some slight, while others are serious. The business places to escape structural damage were Corkill’s Buildings (2), the Gaiety Theatre, the Bank of Australasia and Osier’s (North Clyde). Large numbers of premises lost plate glass windows. Every business firm had tremendous losses. The shipping companies’ wool store, badly damaged in the first great ’quake, collapsed entirely. NUHAKA BADLY DAMAGED. The district of Nuhaka is badly damaged. Business places suffered heavy losses. A transport driver reports that the Mahia back road had hundreds of miniature geysers. A fisherman at the Heads early this morning engaged in laying nets, declared that the river wafer receded and left him high and dry before returning. Residents in the vicinity of the hills on the eastern side of the river near Wairoa were greatly alarmed during the morning by numerous slips cascading into the water. It is stated that the whole business area of Wairoa moved two or three inches towards the direction of the river.. In other instances, modern buildings have subsided a similar distance. A suggestion has been made that a pontoon bridge should be conatructed over the river pending the completion of the new bridge. Homes at the Mangapoike, Clyde Bank, Marumaru and Tuhara settlements crashed to the ground or were thrown bodily off the piles. Residents at the lastmentioned place escaped through the windows. In town one home was lifted fully two feet away from the piles. A second house on the hillside has an alarming l||n to one side. The Ruakitun also reported to have suffered considerably. Bad cracks have developed in the Tehui Hill on the main Gisborne Highway, making it difficult to negotiate. The main road 1° ♦ v pier 18 open and safe for ut has opened up considerably in places.

A SORRY SPECTACLE. A large number of local residents are carrying cuts and bruises to-day as the result of injuries from falling furniture. The new bridge under construction presents a sorry spectacle. The cylinders have a dangerous lean and girders have broken clean away from their hingings into the river. It is estimated that the loss of this alone is about £15,000. The Public Works Department has undertaken the task of restoring the water supply. It is hoped to have a temporary supply at an early date but complete restoration will take a long time. Many buildings thought previously to have escaped damage are now found to bo seriously affected structurally, very few escaping injury. The various committees appointed this morning are functioning smoothly and the situation is well in hand, as far as finances will allow, there being an entire absence of chaos. Three gangs are busily engaged in carrying out urgent repairs at the hospital. The Xray room was thrown completely off its piles and the plant seriously damaged. The operating theatre is in a sorry state. The isolation ward is so badly damaged that it is unsafe for use A house at Frasertown presents a remarkable sight, being broken into four complete sections. MR. JESSEP ARRIVES. J ir a : Te3se P’ Deputy-Chairman of the Unemployment Board, arrived by air shortly before five o'clock to take control of the situation from the unemployment point of view. He is expected to assume authority to-morrow, when activities will be renewed. Ample unemployed are available and it is unwise that others should come to this district. The Mayor (Mr. Harker) is doing his utmost to assist the whole community and under his guidance good results should be shown. Shakes are continuing every few minutes. They are of a minor nature out an occasional sharp jolt; causes concern. Steady rain set in about noon and is still continuing. There is no wmd and the weather is not cold.— MASTERTON’S sympathy. . T ?, e % or ( Mr - T - Jordan) despatched the following telegram last evening Harker > Mayor of Wairoa:— Greatly regret fresh disaster to Wairoa. Can we help in any way?”