ORDER FROM TURMOIL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1931, Page 10

ORDER FROM TURMOIL

EVACUATION PROCEEDING

WONDERFUL SPIRIT

(By "The Post's" Special Reporter.) NAPIER, sth February. The third morning of Napier's disaster found the. town still in a state of turmoil, and though every able-bodied man in the place was willing indeed to turn to in some capacity or another, no real sort of order had been established. There were many in authority, but so completely disorganised is the whole life of the place that coordination had not been possible. The immediate wants, of shelter and food, were met by the excellent work of the Defence Department, the Red Cross, and St. John's, the Salvation Army, and other like organisations, supported by any number of residents and workers from as far away as Auckland, but there was still a' marked lack of coordination. A GREAT CHANGE. During the day a great change was brought about and the various committees settled down ifi defined channels under one general guidance, _ overlapping was ended and the biggest work immediately ahead, that of evacuation, went forward rapidly. Today most of the visiting doctors and nurses have been able to return to their own towns) for with the exception of a few cases which, cannot, be moved long distances, all the injured are now well away from Napier. Three more of these more seriously injured patients died this morning, but at the moment of writing have riot been identified. Last night the Defence Department at Nelson Park provided for 2300 people, and this morning arrangements were made for additional accommodation at the refugee camps at Waipukurau and Dannevirke, sufficient, it is hoped, ,to permit of the complete evacuation of the town this evening after those who have friends in other towns have got away. Until this afternoon this work, which is essential to safeguard health, proceeded disappointingly slowly, for though there was transport offering, many were unwilling to leave their, homes unguarded. There could, however, be no choice in the matter. : SMASHED SEWERS. The food difficulty could be overcome at big transport expense, but the water shortage is a more difficult problem. Still more serious is the smashing of all underground services to such extent that chlorination or other disinfecting processes cannot be applied. So far there are, as~ far as is known, no evidences of sewer contents finding their way to the surface, but the danger of an outbreak of disease is too serious to allow the residents to remain. Now the reluctance to go has gone; the people realise the folly of remaining, and • before.nightfall some thousands will be away. Apparently every motor-car in Hawkes Bay is at the disposal of the Transport Committee, and every bus and lorry not required for transport between Napier and Hastings is in service., Even motor tractors and trailers are on the roads, but few arc endeavouring to take away anything but the clothes they stand in. Nelson Park is the main cleaving station, but as fast as a few hundreds arc placed in cars or buses moro ar-

rive. It was hoped that all would "bo away by 5 p.m., but plainly that will be impossible, as return running by the transport cars will be slow against an unbroken stream of refugee vehicles. GENERAL RELIEF. The spirit is wonderful, a recovery from the gloom of Napier last night, a dead ruined town without a light in streets or homes and with scarcely a soul' moving about. There is general reliof at getting away from so dreadfully stricken a town, for so much is lost that what is being left behind is merely so much more. So wrecked is the town that everything seems unreal, unbelievable. , The splendid spirit of helpfulness towards tho other fellow has eased the mental tension of everyone, individual heart breaks and worries aro forgotten in. the wish to complete the first big recovery work, that of clearing the whole town till the wreckage has been somewhat cleared away and the danger of an outbreak of disease is removed.