WAITING IN VAIN

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 112, 5 February 1931, Page 10

WAITING IN VAIN

Refugees at Wellington A SMALL BAND Some Poignant Scenes A poignant scene occurred at Thorndon railway station last evening when the Napier express made a late arrival. For some time men and women had been waiting, anxiously expectant of friends and relatives, Only a few tired and strained-looking travellers, however, stepped off the long train. They formed a few quiet groups that soon dispersed almost In silence, but not before inquiries had been made of total strangers concerning expected passengers whose faces were missing. The fate of some was established all too definitely and the inquirers quickly turned away. “She is gone.” “He is gone,” was the dull repetition of one young man surrounded by questioners. A few still hopeful stragglers were the last to follow the small band of passengers. Streets Picketed. "People in Napier are not entirely homeless,” replied a refugee upon being questioned as to the accommodation available. Except in isolated cases, he said, all the wooden buildings in the residential area were intact. Up to yesterday, when large supplies began pouring in from all sides, the main problem was not accommodation but food. That was due to the complete destruction of the business part of the town. Yesterday morning, when he left, the devastated business portion of Napier was being patrolled by police and naval pickets, and no one was being allowed to approach. A young man resident in Wellington who.was spending a holiday at Napier at the time of the earthquake said he was in the office of the Marine Department when the shock occurred. Those people in the building rushed to the door, where falling bricks and a screening cloud o£ dust repelled them. They stayed inside the building in preference to the danger of the street. When the dust had cleared, dead bodies of a man and two women were seen on the footpath in front of the office. The fear of a tidal wave spread quickly, so that many people ran to the hills for safety. Water was pouring down from the hills from a broken reservoir. Scarcely a person slept indoors on Tuesday night for fear of further earthquakes. Women’s Narrow Escape. Looking dazed and shocked to the depths of their being, two women refugees who arrived on the express train told, in a slow faltering way, as though even speech were an effort, of how they had just escaped being caught in their hotise when the rear part of the house collapsed. When the ’quake came they at first did not realise what was happening. Fortunately they were in the front part of the house at the time, but they began to rush to the back door in a frenzied, hysterical effort to get outside. Then the back chimney came down, and with it the whole of the rear portion of the house, and they were compelled to turn about and reach safety through the front door.

Scenes in the town itself, they said, were horrifying—people were buried deep down in piles of bricks, and to them it seemed that rescue was hopeless. MINISTERS ON SPOT Word from Mr. Masters AMPLE MEDICAL AID ' Six Ministers of the Crown are now in the devastated area. The Hons. Ransom, Cobbe, Stallworthy, and Masters, who left Wellington on Tuesday, have been reinforced by the Minister of Public Works. Hon. W. B. Taverner, and the Minister of Education, Hon. H. Atmore, who left yesterday morning. As soon as telegraphic communication was established with Napier yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister received the following advice from Mr. Masters,: —“A camp has been established at the racecourse. and medical arrangements are well in hand. Three camps have been established for the injured and homeless, and satisfactory arrangements are under way. Citizens’ committees met at Napier and Hastings, at which Ministers attended. lam satisfied that everything possible is being done to relieve the situation. H.M.S. Dunedin and other ships are co-operating, and rendering valuable service. “Ample medical attention is available. The public is bearing its trial in splendid spirit. “Inquest held at Napier at two o’clock to-day. The main road to Wairoa is considerably damaged and settlers are short of food. Arrangements are being made to meet immediate requirements.’ Hydro-electric Power. Advice was also received by the Prime Minister from the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department. Mr. F. W. Furkert. that Waikaremoana would he supplying Gisborne and Wairoa with power last night. Power would be supplied to Napier from Mangahao. AERIAL MAILS Services Yesterday Aerial mail services between Wellington and the stricken areas were run yesterday. A machine left Rongotai early in the afternoon for Hastings, and another machine, bearing mail from Hawke’s Bay, was to be flown to Wellington from Dannevirke. It is not known whether these services will be continued to-day. Messrs. G. G. Wallace and C. M. Duthie, of the Wellington Aero Club, left Rongotai at 5.27 a.m. yesterday carrying telegrams, but Mr, Duthie was forced down at Dannevirke with a leaking petrol tank. Mr. G. G. Wallace is expected back this morning with telegrams for Wellington. OFFER FROM REFORM Mr. Coates Leaves for Scene By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 4. An offer of co-operation has been made by the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, to the Prime Minister: In this hour of disaster and sorrow for our fellow-citizens in Napier and elsewhere, my party and 1 send to you and through you to those who are left and those who are sutterijig our sincere sympathy and deep concern. We will . he glad to help you In providing measures and men for the relief and help of all those who have suffered. Mr. Coates left Auckland to-night to visit the scene of the earthquake.