EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 10

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

ADMINISTRATION OF FUND. JUDICIOUS EXPENDITURE. INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Saturday. Every care is being taken by the Napier Relief Committee to see that the publicly-subscribed funds at its disposal are being expended judiciously. An assurance to this effect has been given by the chairman of the committee, Mr. W. Harvey. He said that the committee had many claims before it for goods which had been commandeered during the emergency period or for other services rendered during that time, but before any payment was made steps were taken to see whether the claims were just ones. This very often entailed a great deal of investigation, the advice of various officials controlling the different branches of relief being obtained, while the services of the police were sometimes called in to assist in the investigations, especially in the cases where goods which have" been claimed for have been stolen in the first place.

TARADALE TOWER

COST OF REPAIRS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Saturday. An estimate of between £250 and £300 has been received by the Taradale Town Board as the cost of straightening the Taradale War Memorial, which, after the 'quake, was left at a perilous angle. At last night's meeting of the board an offer of £5 was received from the Taradale Returned Soldiers' Association towards the cost, together with a request for the work to be carried out, if possible, before Anzac Day. The chairman, Mr. R. D. Kelly, stated that the work would be one for skilled labour, and special plant would have to be brought to the district to carry 6ut the work. It was not a matter for the town board alone, but really for the whole district. The secretary had replied to the association that the board had the matter in hand and had brought the position to the notice of the Government. It was also pointed out to the association that there were many more urgent works w'.ich needed prior attention. Mr. G. Brown stated that a practical man had estimated the work at £70 by lotting the memorial fall back instead of lifting it to its former position. The chairman stated that he would not feel like giving the work unless there was some guarantee that the work would be successful. The views of the district engineer are also to be sought in the matter.

REPAIRS TO CHIMNEYS

WORK IN NAPIER AND DISTRICT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Saturday. Since the earthquake the Public Works Department has repaired 700 chimneys in Napier and the surrounding districts. Many Napier residents who have not yet returned to the town are labouring under the misapprehension that the Department has been repairing their chimneys without an application having first been received, and that, when they return to their homes, the chimneys will be in good order. In addition to 700 chimneys repaired by the Public Works Department there have been, of course, a large number done privately, and it would be difficult to estimate how many have been repaired in Napier since the earthquake.

NELSON PARK CAMP

PEOPLE UNDER CANVAS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) NAPIER, Saturday. The population of Nelson Park camp, which is admirably supervised by members of the Permanent Staff of the Defence Force, has fallen steadily, though, if the instruction to return is obeved, the number will almost certainly rise". In the first days after the earthquake the camp population touched 3000, and the number of persons obtaining meals there was between 3500 and 4000. By February 22 the number under canvas was 1500, and on Saturday last the number had fallen to 200 adults and SO children. The majority were people who were unable to pay rent, and it is expected that 'quite 00 per cent will remain in camp through the winter. There is ample accommodation, for there are scores of tents standing empty.

EARTHQUAKE BILE

COMMISSIONER'S ADVICE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. Mr. J. S. Barton, chairman of the Napier Commission, has gone to Wellington in connection with the business of °the committee set up by Parliament to consider the Earthquake Bill.