CHAOTIC PLIGHT

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

CHAOTIC PLIGHT

Confusion at Napier PLENTY OF NURSES t . Lack of Definite Plan Napier is full of nurses and doctors who are giving the injured all the attention they require, but there is a lack of organised effort in dealing with the situation generally in that town, said Mr. Michael Styver, of Wellington, yesterday. Mr. Styver conveyed a party of nurses to Napier in his car on Tuesday, arriving there at 3.15 a.m. yesterday and returning to the city at dawn. Mr. Styver said there was a tremendous number of nurses at Napier—indeed, there were as many nurses as patients. Doctors were standing round on the racecourse because there was nothing for them to do. That was at 9 a.m. yesterday. By something of a miracle a water supply was again available, and attempts were being made to extinguish fires that were still burning. He did not think there was anybody, who needed attention, who was not being taken care of. . . . There seemed to be no organisation of any kind at Napier; nobody knew what was being done, n.r what should be done in any organised fashion. He even had difficulty in ascertaining where to take the nurses who were in his car. However, when he left at dawn a conference was in progress at the police station to organise the efforts that were being made. No proper estimate of the loss of life could be made at that juncture. An instance of what lack of organisation existed, said Mr. Styver, was the accidental discovery by policemen walking down one of the streets of Napier yesterday morning of three bodies under wreckage. There seemed no definite plan existent for the rescue of bodies. At Hastings it was reported to Mr. Styver that thirty bodies had been recovered and forty more were still in the ruins. The reason given why better progress had not been jnade with this work was the lack of crowbars and similar implements. Criticism Endorsed. Another Wellington resident had a somewhat similar tale to tell on arrival from the stricken area last evening. “When one first entered Hastings at an early hour this morning,” he said, “one was immediately impressed with the expedition with which gangs had got busy and got a most difficult position in hand. It can be authoritatively stated that not later than 2 p.m. yesterday afternoon effective relief measures had been organised. Looking along Heretaunga Street in the direction of Havelock all that could be seen was smouldering ruins, reminiscent of a wartime bomb attack. “Napier presented a much worse appearance than Hastings, all buildings in the vicinity of Hastings Street and Tennyson and Emerson Streets being reduced to smouldering ruins. “As late as 10 a.m. to-day fresh outbreaks of fire were occurring. One feature that an observer noted was the wide difference between the measures taken in Napier and Hastings to cope with the situation. In the last-named town everything appeared to be handled with complete thoroughness. Streets were adequately patrolled, partitioned off, and every assistance given anyone making inquiries. “At an early hour both business premises and residences were being boarded up and temporary repairs made. Most of this work is being done by volunteers. This activity does not appear to have spread to Napier, where patrolling, cleaning up and a general attempt at organisation seems to be somewhat lacking.” LACK OF IMPLEMENTS Rescuers Handicapped “When we left Napier in the morning it was absolutely impossible even to estimate the number of casualties. All that can really be said is that they run into well over the thousand mark.” said two travellers who arrived in Wellington by the New Plymouth express last evening, after having travelled from Napier to Palmerston Nogth by motor-car. Now that the first excitement was over, they said, the work of extricating people from the ruins of what had been stable, solid buildings was progressing in an orderly way. but the rescuers were greatly handicapped by a lack of proper implements, such as crowbars. Great trouble, also, was being experienced through a lack of water in the town, though tanks were being brought in and in many instances people were carrying it from creeks—wherever they could get it, in fact. Many people were camping along the foreshore, sleeping out on rugs, blankets or anything they could get. When the travellers left yesterday morning there were still occasional rumbles and in a great many cases people were leaving the town behind and making their way to Palmerston North and Wellington. “We were talking to one man who said he, his wife and three children were trapped in their home by falling debris,” the travellers said. “Four of them got out without much difficulty, but they could not locate one of their children. However, the child crawled out from a heap of bricks after being imprisoned for about two hours, unhurt.” REPORT DENIED Dr. Gilray Not Dead Reports were circulated in the Hawke’s Bay district yesterday that Dr. Gilray. of Napier, had lost his life in the earthquake. The report was definitely denied last evening by Dr. D. S. Milne, of Otaki who had parted company from Dr. Gilray at Napier just prior to bis return to Otaki. Dr. Millie said that he arrived nt Napier at midnight on Tuesday in company with -Dr. Chureh. of -Marton, and two nurses, and found that there was. ample medical assistance offering. There appeared to be more doctors than were required. When the earthquake occurred Dr. Gilray had just finished an operation He got the patient outside mid then went back to the assistance of others. lie later established a base about a mile from Napier on the seashore. At Hastings Dr. Milne was particular ly struck with the splendid organisation, all the casualties being treated in the commodious grandstand at the racecourse The same co-operation was not possible in Napier, and medical depots were scattered all over the town.