Page 31 Advertisements Column 6

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

IN HOSPITAL » EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS BROUGHT FROM HAWKES BAY OFFICIAL LISTS The first batch of casualties from the stricken area to arrive in Wellington reached here by a special relief train at 10.30 last night. There were 23 stretcher cases, and in addition the train brought a number of other uninjured .refugees. On their arrival at ThorndoH special arrangements had been mado for their welfare. Kefreshments were provided, and ambulances were waiting to take the injured to hospital. The organisation was excellent; everything was in readiness. All day long people waited on the Thorndon railway station for the arrival of trains from the earthquake area. By i o'clock in the afternoon there were 'several hundred on the station Platform and the number steadily grew until shortly after 6 o'clock, when an express train from Otaue arrived, there must have been over 700 people present. The train, however, only brought a small number •of refugees—possibly ahout 30 in all. Those who had been on the station platform for upwards of two hours eagerly scanned the long line of carriages for relatives or friends. Some were lucky; they were few in number, however. Those whose relatives did not put in an appearance waited on. ' Tho next train to arrive was the New Plymouth express at. 6.27 p.m., but it was found that only a very few refugees had joined it at Palmerston North. It was difficult to obtain information of the probable arrival of relief trains, and porters and railway officials were besieged with inquiries. NEWS OF RELIEF TRAIN. The crowd gradually drifted away, and. shortly before 7 o'clock the Btation was cleared in view of the departure of the Limited express for Auckland. A little later an announcement was made that a relief .tralin was expected between 9 and 9.30 p.m., and within a very short time people wore again beginning to flock to the station. At 9 o'clock thero were over 1000 people on the station, many of whom showed Only too plainly their feelings of anxiety for those dear to them. It was an orderly crowd; little groups of people talked together quietly, and every now. and then there were some who stepped to the edge of tho platform to watch for the approach of the train. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. Although the crowd had waited long and patiently for its arrival, the train was diverted on the approach to the station to the new railway goods shed some distance from the platform. It %yas deemed advisable to take this action to facilitate the removal of the patients to hospital, but until tho arlival of the train the waiting crowd was unaware of the arrangement that had been made, and probably there were many among those on the station plat-' form who wore disappointed after their long vigil. It was just as well, however, that precautionary measures were adopted, for some of those who arrived by the train appeared to be in need of immediate removal to the Hospital. In each of the seven carriages, which were dimly lighted by hurricane lamps and candles, thp.re were a number of nurses who had attended tp the patients on the trip to Wellington. They had made the injured as comfortable as possible., Among the medical officers who arrived by the, train was Dr. A. Gillies, of the Wellington Hospital staff. SPLENDID ARRANGEMENTS. Excellent arrangements had been mado by the Bed Cross Society and other organisations for tho reception of tho injured. There were many trained nurses and other volunteer workers on duty, including Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Toe H members, St. John 'Ambulance Brigade officials, and representatives of the Salvation Army, as well as many others. The Automobile Association, in conjunction with the Bed Cross Society, had made arrangements for transport by private cars of the uninjured refugees; who were.on the train. Provision had also been made for the billeting of these people. There were four Free Ambulance cars, a Hospital ambulance, and a laundry van which had been made available for the transport of the stretcher cases, drawn up inside- the shed. Immediately the train arrived the doors at the north and south ends of the shed were closed and no time was wasted in transferring the patients from the- train. They were placed on stretchers and before "being removed to hospital by the ambulances i/'reshment was given to those- who desired it. On leaving the big shed at the southen end the ambulanco cars passed through a line of pepple, some of whom were waiting for news of relatives or friends. LONG, TRYING JOURNEY. Many of those .-who" were brought to Wellington by the train were elderly people, some of whom, in spite of their injuries and the terrifying experiences they had been through, were not by any "means in low spirits, but there were others, of course,, whose condition made it impossible for them to be, in the same frame of mind. Wan faces in some cases told a very poignant story. Several %vith whom a ..'Post" representative had a brief conversation stated that they had received splendid attention and had m'ef with wouderful kindness. Tha journey to Wellington had been a long one,'and no doubt very trying. The following are official lists of injured victims of the earthquake removed to hospitals outside of tho affected area:— WELLINGTON HOSPITAL Collins, James, 303, Hastings street South, Hastings;, transferred hospital patient. ColJery, Thomas, PaTk Island Home, Napier; injury to head; condition serious. Donnelly, John, Park Island Home, Napier; injury to head. M'Leod, John, 10, Avenue road, Hastings; injury to ribs and abdomen. Drower, Fred, Park Island Hgme, Na; pier; injury ankle and knee. Forster, Walter, 14, Station street, Napier; transferred hospital patient. Warwick, A. Stanley, 1, Corry avenue, Napier; transferred hospital patient. Badley, Charles, Greenmeadows; transferred hospital patient. Bradshaw, Thomas, Park Island Home, Napier; injury to ribs and shoulder. Anderson, William, Bay View, Napier; head injuries. Foster, John. Park Island Home, Napier; fractured ankle and head injuries. Job, Fred, 31, Shakespeare road, Napier; injui'ies to hip. Bance, Harry, Park Island Home, Napier; shock. Cotton, John, Hastings street, Napier; injury to leg. Kemp, Trevor, Bank of Australia. Napier; injury to head. Brascy, Henry, SI, Kennedy road, Napier; transferred hospital patient. Udwurds, Richard, Park Island Home, Napier; injury to leg and foot. Clever, Thomas, Park Island Home, Napier; fracture right leg. Pattison, A. T. Wairoa, Hawkes Bay; fractured aim; head injuries.