F.—l.

Savings-bank Facilities. It is a matter for congratulation that the whole of the savings-bank records were saved. The circumstances of many refugees from the earthquake area rendered it necessary to make special arrangements to enable them to operate on their savings-bank accounts. On the sth February, it was arranged to pay at Palmerston North (where the principal refugee camp was established)' and Wellington on demand in urgent cases sums up to £10 on production of pass-books. In cases in which money was not required urgently, applications for withdrawals up to the full amount at credit were accepted and transmitted to Napier or Hastings by post. Any refugee desiring to transfer his account from the Napier to any other district was permitted to do so, the fee for the service being waived. Furthermore, all pass-books lost as a result of the earthquake were replaced free. Stores and Motor Transport. A very important factor in the early restoration of the Department's services was the prompt manner in which it was possible to despatch stores and material from Wellington. Of great importance was the part played by the Department's motor fleet and staff ; and the advantage in an emergency of having one central garage for Government vehicles was clearly demonstrated. A car was on its way to Hawke's Bay by 2 p.m. on the day of the earthquake. By 2.30 a.m. the following day nine vehicles from the central Government garage controlled by the Post and Telegraph Department, in Wellington were en route to Napier, and during the day which followed the number engaged on the work increased to fourteen. During the first few days of the earthquake period, chauffeurs and vehicles were held in readiness to proceed to Hawke's Bay at a moment's notice at any hour of the day or night. Many of the vehicles sent to Hastings and Napier did not immediately return to Wellington, but were utilized for the transport of medical supplies, provisions, water, and camp equipment for the inhabitants of Napier and Hastings, and thereafter for various departmental purposes in the affected area. Four departmental vehicles stationed at Napier were destroyed in the fire following the earthquake. Franking Privileges and Free Telephones. For the purpose of facilitating relief work, the Mayors of Napier and Hastings, the Member of Parliament for Napier, and Earthquake Relief Committees in several places were authorized to send inland telegrams free. The Y.M.C.A., which undertook particularly the work of dealing with inquiries for persons in the earthquake area, were authorized to send telegraphic replies free. Thirty-six telephones were installed free of charge in premises occupied for relief purposes in several towns in the Dominion. Staff. It is gratifying to record that no departmental officer was killed in the earthquake. It is recorded with regret, however, that Mr. F. C. McArthur, Telegraphist, died of shock shortly after making his exit from the Napier post-office building, and that Mr. H. P. Hopkins, Exchange-clerk, Waipawa, was severely injured. It is impossible to exaggerate the value of the services rendered by officers under terrifying circumstances. For many days earthquake tremors continued alarmingly ; and the mental strain under which officers laboured in performing long and strenuous hours of duty, in separation from their families, in many cases in the hours of darkness, will be appreciated. A number of officers, at no small risk to themselves, were instrumental in saving departmental records and property. With the severance of communications, an immediate and extremely heavy burden fell on the Department's line maintenance and construction staff, while the large volume of telegraphic traffic placed an unprecedented burden on the telegraph staffs in the area, staffs which were reinforced to the fullest extent by officers from other branches not so hard pressed. As soon as the required arrangements could be made the Department arranged for the relief of officers for a week's special leave ; and, in this way many were enabled to rejoin their evacuated families and to obtain much needed rest. To meet their own desires many were permanently transferred from the area, and a number were granted temporary transfers. At many offices outside the affected area officers were also required to perform arduous and lengthy hours of duty in effecting the transmission of telegrams and toll traffic to and from Hawke's Bay. They cheerfully worked at high pressure until traffic assumed normal proportions. Owing to the absence of accommodation at Napier and Hastings, it devolved upon the Department to provide bunk-house accommodation and meals for officers, particularly those on the relief staffs, and arrangements to this end were promptly made, a minimum charge for the service being made. Services rendered to Department. The utmost assistance was given by the Public Works, Defence, and Railways Departments in readily making available supplies required for the various operations of the Department in the disturbed area, and by the last-mentioned Department in providing rapid transport. In many directions the officers of these Departments co-operated splendidly with the Department's officers in accelerating post and telegraph restoration work. It is also desired to acknowledge the assistance rendered to the Department by many residents of the affected area and others in the delivery of telegrams and in a number of other ways in restoring and maintaining departmental facilities; also, the valuable services rendered by the organizations which provided food and in different ways attended to the well-being of officers in the earthquake area, and by those local residents who assisted in providing these services.

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