Personal narrative, S Sinclair
Maker
Sinclair, Sheila
Object detail
Brief Description
A two page narrative by Sheila Sinclair, who has signed as S Sinclair (nee Sheila Perry), recalling her memories of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake. Sheila has included her address and telephone number.
Sheila writes that she was 11 years old when the Napier quake struck, and was on her second day back at school. As the teacher's were holding a meeting, the pupils had been given an extra ten minutes to play, by their headmaster, Mr James Hyslop. When the earthquake struck Sheila writes that she and her friend were more surprised than frightened, and that Mr Hyslop blew his whistle and told all the pupils to go home.
Sheila and her friend thought to take a short cut through a pine plantation up to their homes on Roslyn Road, and passed a house where the water tank had tilted, causing the water to run in rivers. They also saw two newly built houses which had signs saying they were earthquake-proof. Sheila writes that the signs were still standing, but the houses were just a heap of rubble.
By now the girls had become frightened so decided not to take the short cut. Along the way they passed another house with a wooden tower and were told by a man on a motorbike that it was unsafe to go past it. They decided to risk it and were met by Sheila's mother, who was on her way to collect them.
Sheila writes that she thinks it was foolish of the headmaster to send the children home, and that if he had not, then perhaps she may be less afraid of earthquakes, had she not had that frightening walk home.
Sheila writes that she was 11 years old when the Napier quake struck, and was on her second day back at school. As the teacher's were holding a meeting, the pupils had been given an extra ten minutes to play, by their headmaster, Mr James Hyslop. When the earthquake struck Sheila writes that she and her friend were more surprised than frightened, and that Mr Hyslop blew his whistle and told all the pupils to go home.
Sheila and her friend thought to take a short cut through a pine plantation up to their homes on Roslyn Road, and passed a house where the water tank had tilted, causing the water to run in rivers. They also saw two newly built houses which had signs saying they were earthquake-proof. Sheila writes that the signs were still standing, but the houses were just a heap of rubble.
By now the girls had become frightened so decided not to take the short cut. Along the way they passed another house with a wooden tower and were told by a man on a motorbike that it was unsafe to go past it. They decided to risk it and were met by Sheila's mother, who was on her way to collect them.
Sheila writes that she thinks it was foolish of the headmaster to send the children home, and that if he had not, then perhaps she may be less afraid of earthquakes, had she not had that frightening walk home.
Maker
Production place
Production period
Production technique
Media/Materials description
Handwritten in blue ink on grey and white mottled paper.
Media/Materials
Measurements
Height x Width: 295 x 210mm
Classification terms
Subject person
Subject period
Subject date
03 Feb 1931
Other number(s)
73503
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