QUAKE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1931, Page 6

QUAKE DISASTER

CLEARING OPERATIONS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Assocuitiuii) HASTINGS, February 9. J. Campbell' of the Public Works Department, reported to-day that be had complete authority to undertake the dealing of debris from the streets.

A start faafes been made and 40 trucks and 120 men, selected locally, \rere employed. He would work in cooperation with the Local Committee, and would eliminate any possibility of overlapping in his department. A Registration. Committee was formed to see that every man in the .Borough capable of doing work had offered his services. At the present time, the policy of the Committee was to give no’ food, unless it was earned by participation in the relief. Such is the spirit among the men of the town however, that the need for such a regulation is almost superfluous. The chairmen of various sub-com-mittees reported that their organisations were working smoothly and it is clear that the people are uob definitely of the one mind in re-buil'ding Hastings.

Several business places have re-op-ened, and others are well on the way to resume.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Board’s decision that open-air classes will he resumed at various schools in and about Hastings on Monday morning has had a beneficial effect on the feelings of the women folk and was gladly welcomed. The Emergency Hospital at the Hastings racecourse where over a thousand cases of injury were dealt with during the first two or three days of last week was in full operation two hours after the first shake on Tuesday morning. Between 1.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on that day a total of 61 anaesthetic operations had been performed, and every patient had been given full anaesthesis. By three o’clock in the afternoon hot refreshments had been served to all patients and the stall', and by six o’clock every patient and every worker had been given a substantial hot meal.

Mr Maddison, chairman of the H.B. Education Board, announced that the Board officers were established in the old wooden buildings of the central school, Napier. A general assemblage of school children in various schools in Hastings is called at nine to-mor-row (Monday) week. All classes will be held in the open air. The clearance of debris is being conducted by at least eleven gangs. Rapid progress is being made in this direction. The electric light service is practically complete, there remaining few buildings likely to cause danger to the supply. Street lighting is practically restored.

Officers state that there is a steady supply of necessaries of life coming to hand. These are disposed with complete satisfaction. There is no need to want.

The organisation is running smoothly, and there is practically no overlapping, and citizens are now falling into the new order of things. The Y.M.C.A. at Hastings and Napier is continuing to receive numerous inquiries of missing friends. The stfiff is kept busy and untiring efforts are made to locate all persons mentioned in the messages. Hundreds of re-as-suring telegrams have been despatched in reply to inquiries. QUAKE RISKS. AUCKLAND, February 9. Insurance companies are now underwriting earthquake risks, subject to the introduction of a new tariff, the rates of which will be fixed at a meeting of the underwriters that is to he held in Wellington in the near future, Only limited cover is being given in the meantime.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. NEW PROTECTION WORKS. NAPIER, February 9. Inspection of the country reveals the river banks are badly damaged but these are being repaired. A bank is being erected round the base hospital on the Park Racecourse, which is not much above the sea level, as it existed prior to the beginning of the disaster.

I The weather is dull and threatening. The sea is calm, but the wind is in a bad quarter, sout west to south, but the weather will probably take up. NAPIER’S RECOVERY. NAPIER, February 9. Since the violent shake this morning, there have been no shocks beyond a few minor tremors. The weather is fine. The sea is a little rougher than normal. The temperature is mild. All three warships are preparing to leave. The Diomede is to escort the Veronica to Auckland, as it is feared the hull of the latter has been strained. It is expected to take the Veroncia out stern first, with the aid of tugs. They are due to sail to-morrow. The Dunedin is to leave on Wednesday on her way home to re-fit. The departure of these warships indicate that the civil authorities nr® fully capable of controlling the situation. 'More street lights are being used to-night. The water services are being extended, and repair gangs are extending operations, the first work being to make all houses weatherproof. The shipping company's wool store at the port, like most others, is like

a concertina, being hold up by the thousands of bales of wool stored therein. The bales are all exposed to the weather. No serious damage is done as far as can be ascertained more than twenty miles from Napier, going in a westerly direction. The worst damage is the fall of chimneys and broken china, etc. The country, of course, is badly cracked. and is torn about on the'hillsides, but the damage lessens as Napier is left behind.

All the telegraphists on duty since the shock have been given the opportunity of taking a week's holiday, and it is suggested the same privilege should he extended where possible to oilier public officers who have done service not only fo the people but to the country which can never he forgotten by the present* generation. Harris’s Hat and Cap Factory has announced that its building is to be repaired immediately, and work will start as soon as possible. Other firms are to follow suit.

The plant of the “Daily Telegraph” arrived to-day, and is being installed in temporary premises. Publication is to start in a few days. It is now stated that the “Hawke’s Bay Herald” will be loaned the- building and plant to enable it to produce a daily morning paper, once the “Telegraph” is ready to start. All the organisations such as Salvationists, Y.M.0.A., Red Cross, and Automobile Associations, and the church bodies are still doing splendid service for the 'afflicted.

Pending the re-opening of the banks, no money is available except to depositors in the P.O. Batik, who are allowed to withdraw up to £lO.

Sewer inspection is in progress, but it is anticipated this will be the largest and most difficult task of all. PRE-MATERNITY CASES. WELLINGTON, February I). Provision for pre-maternitv cases among the earthquake refugees is available now in Wellington, through the kindness of Lady Bell, who lias placed her home at Lowiv Bay. with her servants and staff, at the -disposal of the authorities for use as a hospital. In making the announcement to this effect, Capt. M. G. Galloway, New Zealand Secretary of the Red Cross, said that there were 16 patients at Lady Bell’s home. Five were already in residence. THE RED CROSS. At the request of the Health Department, Sister Lewis, of the Red Cross Society, who lias been at Napier since the disaster will remain there as Matron of the Auxiliary .Hospital. This announcement was made by Capt. Galloway. Now Zealand Secretary oi the Red Cross.

| As a gilt from the British Red 1 Cross Society to the New Zealand Red ! Cross Society in connection with the ; Hawke's Buy disaster, tile sum of j £IOOO lias been placed at the disposal of the High Commissioner at London. A cable announcing this gift was ro- . ceived to-day by Capt. Galloway. It read as follows:—‘‘Have to-day placed at the disposal of tbe High Commisser in London the sum of £IOOO as a gift from the British Red Cross to the Red Cross on behalf of the sufferers in the recent earthquake.” A cable lias been received by the Red Cross Society from the Italian •Red Cross Society, expressing its sympathy with the sufferers in the Hawke’s Bay disaster. PENNILESS TEACHERS. It was reported at a meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute that many teachers in the Hawke's Bay district were penniless as the result of the earthquake. Necessitous cases were asked to communicate either with their own branch or the General Secretary in Wellington, when immediate relief will he granted. The Executive last pvenng decided +o donate £250 to the Prime Minister’s fund.

Dr. Hughes, Health Officer, states that from the health point of view, the position is very satisfactory. He wishes to take the opportunity of contradicting the false rumours circulated regarding the outbreaks of disease. There is not one case of disease to create any alarm in the borough. The clergy report that all the burials wero properly conducted, and the graves are being properly tended. An important statement was made by Doctor ,1. Allan Berry. tn-dav to the Press Association Representatives.

Asked if he could state if the health of the imprisoned community in Napier was good, lie said:—'‘ls is far better than any has hoped for.” •' Have any cases of typhoid or other serious disease been reported?” Dr. Berry was asked. “No. of course, typhoid takes from Iwo to three weeks to manifest itself,” lie replied. Answering a further question, lie said that he could definitely state the chances of any epidemic breaking out were extremely remote.

ft is pointed out that the Doctor’s statement should give a re-assurance to the refugees that the wild rumours circulated throughout the country are absolutely without foundation. GEOLOGIC A L S l' R V E Y. NAPIER. February !). Doctor Henderson, director of the geological survey, and Doctor Marshall, of the Public Works Department issued the following report:—“Geological opinion is based upon experience gained in previous ’quakes not onlv in New Zealand but in all parts of the world. Speaking on this basis, therefore it can be definitely stated that the course of the present disturbance is past, and although ninner- I ous shakes and tremors nuiv Ik* re-J eurring, they will not approach in I

magnitude the first very severe shakes but will gradually diminish on the average from now onwards. Long period of earthquakes in this particular area is most unlikely, and we think it can lie stated that this locality will lie relatively immune from earthquakes for a. long period of years.

.IMPORTANT STATEMENT. HEALTH OF NAPIER PEOPLE GOOD. NAPIER, February 9. An important statement was made by Dr C. Allan Berry to-day to Press Association Representatives. Asked ill lie could state il the health cl the imprisoned community in Napier was good be said: —“lt. is far belter than any of us hoped for.” “Have any eases of typhoid or other serious diseases been reported,” Berry was asked. “No. Of course typhoid takes from two to three weeks to niauitest itsell” be replied. Answering a further question, be said be could definitely state the clnmces of any epidemic breaking out were extreuiciv remote.

It is pointed out the Doctor’s stalemoni should give a reassurance to refugees that the wild rumours circulated throughout the country fire absolutely foundationics*.

HE LI EF CAM PS. EF FI Cl ENT ORGAN I,SAT IO X. PALMERSTON NORTH, Feb. f). After having been in the earthquake zone at Napier siuce®Tuesday, Hons. A. .1 Stallwortliy and .J. G. Cobbe, arrived at Palmerston North this morning accompanied by the Mayor and also Air .). Nash AI.P., and Air .), Linklnlcr AI.P. They visited the refugee camps and expressed both surprise and relief at the efficient organisation at the Showgrounds. They inspected the accommodation of roll cross I anilities and sanitation conditions.

They then went to Awapnni where they were shown over the cooking arrangements and sleeping quarters by Air V. T. Dibble.

Subsequently Air SOobb-e extended congratulations to Air ('. Louisson (president ‘of the Manawatu Racing Club) on the splendid organisation at Awapnni. staling it was earning the gratitude of ail. “It is a great relief to find a clearing bast' so well organised. A little looseness here should -break down the whole system.’’ clerln ire, I Mr Stnllwort by.

MESSAGE FROAI THE POPE. SYDNEY. February 10. The A post a lie Delegates at North Sydney cabled the Prime Minister as follows: —“I am commanded by His Holiness the Pope to express profound svmpatliy in the very serious disaster that has befallen his beloved children of New Zealand. He prays for the eternal repose of the victims and lor the comfort of the survivors.