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Before and after scenes of Napier following the devastating Earthquake on 3 February 1931
Intertitles:
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE AT NAPIER AND HASTING
“The morning of Feb. 3rd. 1931, found Napier enjoying the sunshine of a perfect summer’s day.”
“Then with startling suddenness came the first terrible news.”
“The Press leave by aeroplane.”
“Doctors and Nurses were hurried aboard the H.M.S. Dunedin, to leave for Napier.”
“Napier - what a scene of Desolation and Ruin!”
“Hundreds of motor-cars were destroyed by falling masonry.”
“Railway lines and roads were rendered useless.”
“Bridges were destroyed.”
“Dr. Moore’s Private Hospital, now leaning at a dangerous angle.”
“The Bluff, where a huge landslide occurred.”
“The new St. Paul’s Cathedral now in ruins.”
“The Nurses’ Home as it appeared before -”
“- now!”
“The grim search for bodies among the ruins.”
“All that remains of some poor unfortunate -”
“The Refugee Camp at Nelson Park.”
“Bounding the wounded in a Hospital Tent.”
“The damaged waterfront at Port Ahuriri.”
“Scenes at Hastings. Heretaunga St., the Main Thoroughfare.”
“Where Roach’s Store once stood.”
“Have you ever seen a motor-car quite as flat as this?”
“Vice-Regal Party visits the Devastated Town.”
“Memorial Service held in Clive Square on Sunday. Feb. 8th. 1931.”
“Starting the apparently hopeless task of clearing away the debris.”
“Scrap-Iron!”
“Demolishing dangerous walls.”
“The first car through to Wairoa.”
“The Veronica, her heroic work ended, leaves for Auckland.”
“And as the Sun sinks low in the West, the Guardian Angel watches o’er the Graves of the Victims.”
“Then came the Dawn of a New Day -”
“And before long a new Shopping Area was opened in Clive Square.”
“But no Earthquake can ever bring down Napier’s Flag!”
THE END
A Carlton Production - logo.