FRIGHTENING STATISTICS

Little Darwin sent an email to friends in Christchurch, New Zealand, expressing concern for their safety after the latest major shocks. Back came a short reply saying they had received 79 jolts in the last 24 hours , two strong ones in the past few minutes. "Not funny" was the understatement. Discussing the plight of Christchurch yesterday with a Casuarina businesswoman who once lived in NZ , she said it was obvious that the city , the country's second biggest, would have to be abandoned and rebuilt on a new site.