Personal narrative, Catherine Downes
Maker
Downes, Catherine
Object detail
Brief Description
Letter to the Be Our Guest competition by Catherine Downes (nee Crosse). She writes about her memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.
Catherine Downes was living with her family at Patoka Station north west of Napier in February 1931. She was seven years old and had a younger brother and sister. When the earthquake struck Catherine, her brother and sister, mother and their grown-up cousin Kitty from England were at opposite ends of the house. Somehow they all escaped outside, and witnessed heavy wooden wash tubs torn away from the walls and rain water tanks falling from their stands, as the ground rolled and the concrete broke apart.
When the earthquake ceased, they noticed no noise from any animals or birds. Their father and the shepherd had been out on the station mustering sheep when the earthquake occurred, and they were relieved to find everyone safe when they arrived home. The wooden house and buildings were still standing, but chimneys had fallen, one in the living room which had fallen through the verandah. The walk-in pantry was deep in broken glass and ruined preserves.
On February 4 Catherine's father decided to drive to Hastings to ensure his parents were safe. They travelled via Napier and were able to get through. They saw many of the sites now familiar in photographs taken at that time. When they arrived in Hastings, they discovered that Catherine's grandparents had already left and were making their way to Patoka. Their two-storied house had been so badly damaged that they later had the top floor removed. On return to Patoka, for many weeks Catherine and her family slept in a tent on their front lawn.
Catherine Downes was living with her family at Patoka Station north west of Napier in February 1931. She was seven years old and had a younger brother and sister. When the earthquake struck Catherine, her brother and sister, mother and their grown-up cousin Kitty from England were at opposite ends of the house. Somehow they all escaped outside, and witnessed heavy wooden wash tubs torn away from the walls and rain water tanks falling from their stands, as the ground rolled and the concrete broke apart.
When the earthquake ceased, they noticed no noise from any animals or birds. Their father and the shepherd had been out on the station mustering sheep when the earthquake occurred, and they were relieved to find everyone safe when they arrived home. The wooden house and buildings were still standing, but chimneys had fallen, one in the living room which had fallen through the verandah. The walk-in pantry was deep in broken glass and ruined preserves.
On February 4 Catherine's father decided to drive to Hastings to ensure his parents were safe. They travelled via Napier and were able to get through. They saw many of the sites now familiar in photographs taken at that time. When they arrived in Hastings, they discovered that Catherine's grandparents had already left and were making their way to Patoka. Their two-storied house had been so badly damaged that they later had the top floor removed. On return to Patoka, for many weeks Catherine and her family slept in a tent on their front lawn.
Production place
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Typed in black on unlined paper.
Media/Materials
Measurements
In the Be Our Guest Folder No 2.: Height x Width: 290 x 210mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Credit line
gifted by Catherine Downes
Other number(s)
m2006/27, 71748
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