Be Our Guest entry: Letter, Maurice Sims
Maker
Sims, Maurice Bertram
Production date
28 Nov 2005
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter to the Be Our Guest competition by Maurice (Morrie) Sims. He writes about his memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
There is an extract from Morrie's autobiography about his memory of the earthquake, along with other highlights from his life. His father John (Jack) Harvey Sims was a storeman at Williams and Kettle in 1931 and worked there all his life.
Morrie's mother Dorothy (Dot) Edith Sims and his father raised four boys: John (Jack) Harvey Frederick; Harry Leonard; Maurice (Morrie) Bertram; and Raymond (Ray) Matt Sims. They lived at 39 Hardinge Road, Port Ahuriri. Morrie and his younger brother Ray were at Ossian Street State School when the earthquake struck. Ray immediately ran home to his mother. One of the pupils at the school was killed when a chimney fell down.
The boys and their mother, along with other women and children, were taken on to the naval ship Veronica because of the fear of tidal waves. After breakfast on 4 February 1931 they were taken by the launch Ponui to the Northumberland, which was anchored in the harbour. People needed to be transferred from the Ponui to the Northumberland, even though there was no breakwater or wharf. Due to heavy swells, the people were told to stand with their arms outstretched and when the swell lifted the launch up, the sailors would call: Jump, and the sailors on board the Northumberland would catch them under the arms and lift them aboard. Morrie's mother Dolly jumped too soon and ended up in the water. She was treated on the ship for nervous shock. After one night on the Northumberland they were transferred to the Ruapehu. They were transported, six at a time, by a large canvas sling to the other ship. They were evacuated to Wellington, with the voyage taking three days. In Wellington they received clothing from the Red Cross and a small amount of cash. They were billeted with the McLaughlan family for some time before finding accommodation.
After their return to Napier to meet up with their husband and father again, the family moved to 2 Outram Street, Port Ahuriri, a house owned by Louis Hay. Morrie attended the newly opened Port Ahuriri School, built on reclaimed land. He won a talent contest and a Kodak camera after the earthquake. It was to celebrate the reopening of the Mayfair Theatre in Emerson Street and was run by Percy Spiller of the Thirty Thousand Club. This sparked an interest in Morrie, of becoming an entertainer.
There is an extract from Morrie's autobiography about his memory of the earthquake, along with other highlights from his life. His father John (Jack) Harvey Sims was a storeman at Williams and Kettle in 1931 and worked there all his life.
Morrie's mother Dorothy (Dot) Edith Sims and his father raised four boys: John (Jack) Harvey Frederick; Harry Leonard; Maurice (Morrie) Bertram; and Raymond (Ray) Matt Sims. They lived at 39 Hardinge Road, Port Ahuriri. Morrie and his younger brother Ray were at Ossian Street State School when the earthquake struck. Ray immediately ran home to his mother. One of the pupils at the school was killed when a chimney fell down.
The boys and their mother, along with other women and children, were taken on to the naval ship Veronica because of the fear of tidal waves. After breakfast on 4 February 1931 they were taken by the launch Ponui to the Northumberland, which was anchored in the harbour. People needed to be transferred from the Ponui to the Northumberland, even though there was no breakwater or wharf. Due to heavy swells, the people were told to stand with their arms outstretched and when the swell lifted the launch up, the sailors would call: Jump, and the sailors on board the Northumberland would catch them under the arms and lift them aboard. Morrie's mother Dolly jumped too soon and ended up in the water. She was treated on the ship for nervous shock. After one night on the Northumberland they were transferred to the Ruapehu. They were transported, six at a time, by a large canvas sling to the other ship. They were evacuated to Wellington, with the voyage taking three days. In Wellington they received clothing from the Red Cross and a small amount of cash. They were billeted with the McLaughlan family for some time before finding accommodation.
After their return to Napier to meet up with their husband and father again, the family moved to 2 Outram Street, Port Ahuriri, a house owned by Louis Hay. Morrie attended the newly opened Port Ahuriri School, built on reclaimed land. He won a talent contest and a Kodak camera after the earthquake. It was to celebrate the reopening of the Mayfair Theatre in Emerson Street and was run by Percy Spiller of the Thirty Thousand Club. This sparked an interest in Morrie, of becoming an entertainer.
Maker
Production date
28 Nov 2005
Production place
Production period
Media/Materials description
A4 sheets, typed and printed, photocopied.
Media/Materials
Measurements
In the Be Our Guest Folder No 2.: Height x Width: 298 x 210mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Credit line
gifted by Maurice Sims
Other number(s)
m2006/27/92, 34958
Public comments
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