New Zealand - Napier - Rebuilding of shops and businesses in Dalton Street - The previous buildings were destroyed in the 3 February 1931 earthquake. Hallenstein Brothers shop is shown on the right - Post 03 Feb 1931 1931 Napier Earthquake - The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, also known as the Napier earthquake, occurred in New Zealand at 10:47 am on 3 February, killing 256, injuring thousands and devastating the Hawke's Bay region. - It remains New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster. - Nearly all buildings in the central areas of Napier and Hastings were levelled and the death toll included 161 people in Napier, 93 in Hastings, and two in Wairoa. - The death toll might have been much higher had the Royal Navy ship HMS Veronica not been in port at the time. Within minutes of the shock the Veronica had sent radio messages asking for help. The sailors joined survivors to fight the fires, rescue trapped people and help give them medical treatment. - Another casualty of the earthquake was the Napier trams. The tracks were twisted by the earthquake, and were never restored. - On the tenth anniversary of the earthquake, the New Zealand Listener reported that Napier had risen from the ashes like a phoenix. It quoted the 1931 principal of Napier Girls' High School as saying "Napier today is a far lovelier city than it was before". Napier - Napier is a city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay. - Captain James Cook was one of the first Europeans to see the future site of Napier when he sailed down the east coast in October 1769. - The Crown purchased the Ahuriri block (including the site of Napier) in 1851. - On 3 February 1931, most of Napier and nearby Hastings was levelled by an earthquake. The collapses of buildings and the ensuing fires killed 256 people. Reference: Wikipedia ---------------------- Image source: Collection of Hawke's Bay Museums Trust, Ruawharo Tā-ū-rangi, [70566] https://collection.mtghawkesbay.com/objects/70566