THE EARTHQUAKE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 July 1929, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE

MURCHISON COUNTY DAMAGE DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON MINISTERS Mr G. C. Black, M.P., accompanied of Mr Stewart (County Chairman) and Mr Fraser (County Clerk) will proceed to Wellington to-night to interview the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works on earthquake damage in Miirchison County. SLOW RELIEF FEELING AT WESTPORT INQUISITORIAL FORMS (By Telegraph—Press Association) WESTPORT, This Day. In reference to a statement by Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., concerning a Press Association message from' Westport, it looks as if there were an omission in transmission, as the message handed in to the Westport office read as follows: I "In face of this the Central Committee asks that the local committee put their money .into the general fund so that it may be put out at interest." ,' • .A statement of receipts and texpenditure presented to Saturday's meeting of'the Buller Relief Committee showed payments totalling only £705 16s Id. This included £4OO 7s 5d for the relief of. Seddonville residents arising out of tile floods, yet a rough estimate of private damage, excluding certain parts of the district from which no estimates have yet been received, was £82,000. The purport of the message was to show how slowly relief was being afford- ' ed, and further"to show that owing to the searching questions concerning financial circumstances sufferers by the earthquake are asked to answer in the forms issued by the Central Committee many . of: them, hard hit though they be, would rather shoulder their burdens than ask for one penny from the relief funds.

11 REFUGEES'THANKS TO PEOPLE OF OHRISTCHURCH (Br T«l«cp»ph—Special to "The Mail") CHRISTCHURCH, 22nd July. .Before he returned to the Matakitaki valley, one of the refugees who has been billeted in Christchurch left ". ■" with the "Sun," on behalf of his fel-low-settlers, the following message of thanks: "The Matakitaki settlers . ■ -who came to Christchurch for refuge, 1 would like to thank the Mayor and citizens for the splendid way they were looked after, and for the many kindv ' nesses received during their stay here. ~.' ..Everything possible was done for their comfort by the Mayor and committee, whose courtesy and consideration were unlimited. -Words fail when we try to thank the people who came forward and : offered . the hospitality of their, .' homes to strangers in distress. We always thought the West Coast held •v.' a high place for homely welcome, but v the treatment received in Christchurch

' cannot be equalled anywhere. From first to last we were treated as honoured guests, and now we are going back to make a fresh 1 start. The rest and respite while we.were here has heartened us, i and we leave Christchurch .With regret. Our only wish is that at 1 Borfe iV 'fu^uce +! :inay haveither, pleasure of returning the hospitality and welcome accorded us here in Christchurch to any whose travels bring ..them to our district. Again we thank j you all for the splendid treatment re-ceived,-and in bidding farewell to Christchurch we carry witlfus pleasant memories and new friendships which time .will fail to efface.—For, and on behalf of tbe Matakitaki valley people, goodbye and kia ora." A CORBY VALE SETTLER'S DEATH (Br T»l«crapfa—Frera Association) WESTPORT, This Day. The death took place in the district : hospital yesterday alternoon of Mr Fred Patz, aged 52, of Corbyyale, who had a most trying time during the earthquakes and looked quite a wreck when he'reached Westport. He served in the ninth reinforcements. REPLY TO CRITICISM (By Talatraph—Praw Association) AUCKLAND, 21st July. The Minister of Education (Hon. H. Atmore), who is a member of the earthquake relief committee, said . to-day that the statement made by Mr M. E. Lyons,' of Christchurch, that the system of distributing money by the com- | mittee was "the quintessence of circumlocution," was ill-timed. An officer of the Treasury Department had been sent from Wellington, and was now travelling through the affected district carrying out investigations 'prior to relief measures on a large scale being undertaken. In view of the fact that the relief committee had not yet entered upon the major part of the task with which it was entrusted it was somewhat early for strong criticism of . its methods to be made. ' CENTRAL FUND OVER £75,000 (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Central Earthquake Fund is now over £75,000. Whanjirei r-nd district contributions to the 'Northern Advocate" earthquake fund exceed £7OO.