Lot 2139

Description

RAOB (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes), Napier Lodge No 6584, jewel struck in gold (9ct, 18.0g, 40x40mm) with enamel, on ribbon with top bar, by C. & Co., hallmark for Birmingham 1932, pin-back, reverse inscribed 'Presented To/Bro./W.H.Bond C.P./for Services Rendered/during the/H.B.Earthquake/Feb. 3. 1931'. Very fine.

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 and devastating the Hawke's Bay region. It remains New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster. Centred 15 km north of Napier, it lasted for two and a half minutes and measured magnitude 7.8 Ms (magnitude 7.9 Mw). There were 525 aftershocks recorded in the following two weeks, with 597 being recorded by the end of February. The main shock could be felt in much of New Zealand, with reliable reports coming in from as far south as Timaru, on the east coast of the South Island.