THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1931, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE

FURTHER SHOCK AT NAPIER. STRICT CONTROL ENFORCED. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) NAPIER. February 12. Tile weather is line and the wind a light westerly. 'Hie sea was heavy overnight, but subsiding rapidly. As usual this morning an alarm at 4.50 woke the whole town with one of the worst shocks since the commencement. It was prolonged. Otherwise the night was quiet. Food tickets are now necessary, supplies being strictly limited. Only those with an order from their employers being supplied. The police control has reached such | perfection that every bouse in town is visited several times each night by special Constables in pairs.

The staff of McGrrers Ltd. lire requested to report to the Manager's address immediately.

CONDITIONS IN NAPIER. NAPIER, February 12. There were no further shocks up till noon. It is announced that all fit Napier men should return, but the Women will not be invited until the water and sewerngo connections are completed. Excellent work as already been done and many areas are now supplied with both these services. Gas will he available in six weeks. The relief committee will rebuild one chimney in each house. The streets are clenred sufficiently for all necessary purposes, water and sewerage connections are being made free but, fires in houses will not be perinitted.

[WEST COAST FUND. REMAINING CLA INIS. REQUIRED TO BE SETTLED. WELLINGTON, February 11. The position of the Went Const Earthquake Fund and the attitude taken up by the Relief Committees in the district were outlined by Mr Blacky M.P. for Alotuoka, in a statement to a “Post” representative today. Air Black said that after the earthquake the people of New Zealand subscribed £147,511 2s, in relief funds, and to this could be • added £l2 16s received in interest from the Treasury, £4941 7s received in interest from th© Public Trustee, and £2l 19s 7d in credits and reductions of expenditure, making a total of £152,686 14s 7d. The expenditure from the fund to date had been £129,294, but there were still a number of claims to be considered by the executive. These would take about £4,400 to meet, and on top of this there were unexpended commitments totalling £3,900. Although the earthquake happened in June, 1929, there were settlers in the mid-Maruia district whose access had not yet been restored) and they were; still receiving allowances. It was estimated that £5,000 would bo required to meet the total claim in this direction. Further claims had been made by churches and other institutions, and these had not yet been dealt with. Added to this there were certain otherproblems which would have to be connidered. They had to do the right thing, for instance, in the ease of the Corbyvale and other settlors, who hat! been receiving payment for loss of access, and who had found, when the highways had been reopened, that their farms had deteriorated. Without assistance these farmers would not. he jn a position to restore their, poverty, cut scrub and otherwise improve their holdings. The settlers at Arapito rightly had a claim on the fund as a result of the silting up of the Gordon Creek.

“In regard to the proposal as to the transfer of the balance of the West Coast fund to the Hawkes Bay fund, said Mr Black, “I have been in communication with the local committees at Murchison, Reefton and Karamea, and the view that these committees take is that furthti claims which have been forwarded by them to the Centi a] Committee should be dealt with first. The transferring of the balance in the W est Coast fund u'ould be an alterntion in the purpose'of the trust, and would,, I take it,- require legislative authority.” Mr Black said that the people o, the Motueka electorate were doing everything possible to assist the people of Hawkes Bay and he had been advised that in addition to what had already been sent from Karamea, there would be a further shipment of butter. MR H J. WARD'S AID. WELiLINGTON, February 10. “T don’t know what T can do until I look around, but T am ready to anything at all,” said Mr Huge J. Ward, on his arrival from Australia this morning. Mr Ward is well known in theatrical life, and comes from. Sydney representing the New Zealand Association in Australia, of which he is an honorary member, in the hope that his efforts will ho of use in raising money for the rehabilitation of the earthquake sufferers. Air Ward added that he had retired from business, and had the time and the inclination to help in gratitude for the 11(1 years of assistance and association in the business he was

He said : “I have come over here to do anything 1 can. I have certain ideas which have been very successful in Australia. After T have observed the conditions here, T may bo able to adapt them, so that they will he helpful in raising money for the present peed.” On the voyage over he got to

work among the passengers and crew of the Alarama, and as a result £7O was collected for the earthquake funds. He got £4O from the crew and £3O from the passengers. DEATH ROLL. NAPIER. February 12. Supplementary death ro'Jl: —Afiss Dorothy .McLean, 42, sister of Dr. AleLean of Wellington. AlcCarthy .Joseph Henry Blackburn. An elderly lady a hospital patient, has a son at Waipukurau. Alemdes Alina Evelyn, aged 20 years, a hospital patient of Napier. The unidentified remains now total twenty-six. The identity of Kyle, previously reported dead, is now completely established.