HASTINGS SANITATION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 33, 9 February 1931, Page 10

HASTINGS SANITATION

VERY SATISFACTORY

REVERENCE FOR DEAD

(.By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, This Day. Mr. Hughes, health officer, states that from a health point of view the position is very satisfactory in that necessary services 'are being maintained as in normal times. The earthquake has not unnaturally given rise to special conditions necessitating special precautions to be taken in regard to water supplies, and the possibility of fly and other nuisances being created by the destruction of premises containing decomposed foodstuffs, and through broken sanitary fittings. Dr. Hughes contradicts any false rumours which, have been circulated regarding outbreaks of disease, and states definitely that there is not one case of disease to create any alarm in the borough of Hastings. Dr.'Hughes went on to state that the greatest credit was due to the Borough Council authorities for the nianner in which they immediately dealt with the situation, and he greatly appreciates the invaluable assistance given him in all directions. ■ i Sister T'illon, who is in charge of the mortuary depot at Hastings, has asked that the following report be circulated: "Within an hour of the earthquake a mortuary hospital was established, and by the end of the day nearly fifty bodieß bad been eared for. /I'hey were cheeked by the records oflicer and the police, ami numbered by a sister, the police checking the numbers. Also a number was attached, to each cofi'in, -which the graveside officials also checked. Eelations and friends only were alVowed to view the bodies for identification.- It must be understood that some bodies were beyond possibility of identification. AVords fail to express'the tine depth of courtesy, gentleness, and reverence shown by the police in handling' the'dead. Magnificent work was done by all undertakers, who worked day and night. The clergy report that .all burials were properly conducted, and that the graves are being properly tended." • , : ' The Hastings borough engineer, Mr. C. Evans, states that the water supply is quite satisfactory, and that lOOlbs pressure is obtainable to-day. f The sewerage is functioning quite well, there Tjeing only one small sub-station tc be repaired. At the daily meeting of the Hastings Citizens' Committee'this morning, Mr. AY. J. Rogers, Mayor of Wanganui, offered' the practical assistance of his town. He congratulated the committee on its splendid organisation, and discussed matters of finance and the supply of foodstuffs. Colonel H. Holderness reported that it had been found impossible to get any outside police assistance immediately, but there would be numbers of constables from other towns arriving here daily. Meantime it had been arranged with Commissioner Wohlmann to have volunteer pickets carry on until next Wednesday at least, when the position will be reviewed. The Commissioner gave an assurance that an officer and eighteen constables would come to1 the district immediately, and control the streets, which would ■ then be handed over. The visiting force is to bo attached to the force of twenty-two military officers, seven of whom are permanent officers of the Defence Department. This would mean that there would be a force of forty police in uniform. They will take care of the outside residential area. It is expected that by Wednesday many residents will have returned to Hastings, and there will be moro life in the residential area. Uniformed men were much in evidence in the streets last evening, and they did much to inspire confidence, to say nothing of being the means of smoothing the nerves of the womenfolk by their presence nearby.