RELIEF QUICKLY ORGANISED

Evening Star, Issue 20709, 4 February 1931, Page 4

RELIEF QUICKLY ORGANISED

GOVERNMENT TAKES CHARGE [SmUT. TO T3E ‘ STAlt.’] WELLINGTON, February 3, Late this afternoon an inspiring record of hastily arranged relief was available from official sources. Two Ministers of the Crown had left several hours earlier, and were in Palmerston North arranging lorry services to Jink up Napier with Omondville, the point to which it is possible to convey food supplies rapidly by rail. ‘ Mr Cobbe, Minister of Defence, and Mr Masters, another member of the Cabinet, left by car several hours later to superintend the relief arrangements on behadf of the Government. They had arranged that a special train from Trentliam camp should take to-night 500 tents, over 12,000 blankets, ten marquees, and a military staff to erect the tents and supervise food preparation and distribution. Mr Lindsay, head of the railways catering branch, accompanied the Ministers to arrange the collection of bulk supplies of food. Mr Cobbe stated that, in addition to the special train with military supplies, the Government would send more specials as the need was disclosed. PRIME MINISTER’S SYMPATHY “ Though we have not yet heard full particulars, this is evidently one of the greatest disasters New Zealand has ever known,” stated Mr Forbes, Prime Minister, to your cox-respondent to-

night. “ The Government wishes, on behalf of all the people of New Zealand, to express its sympathy with those who are suffering so severely, and it is endeavouring to give practical shape to this feeling by rendering every assistance which Ministers can think of. New Zealanders on a previous occasion quickly came to the aid of those who suffered by a similar calamity, and I feel I am expressing their feelings when I say they will make the same ready and prompt response again. Ministers have been despatched to organise shelter, relief, and food supply. The medical side has been fully covered, and when we know the full extent of the disaster wo will be able to frame further measures to alleviate hardship and suffering, a duty in which everyone will, 1 am sure, show the greatest readiness to co-operate.”

A MEDICAL UNIT

Dr Watt, in charge of the Health Department’s organisation, stated that there had boon constant messages from experienced persons offering assistance. The first need being medical officers and nurses, fifteen doctors, one medical student, and twenty-throe nurses had left Wellington at 5 o’clock by motors, accompanied by a quantity of hospital supplies from Wellington Hospital and the department’s stores, X-ray apparatus, and two Wellington ambulances. The Defence Department had a field hospital of 200 beds at Trenthnm, which was being got ready to transport to-morrow, if needed, together with a staff of orderlies.

RAILWAY SITUATION

The General Manager of Railways (Mr Sterling) late to-day was able to report that a special train of twentytwo large bogie trucks was at Trentham loading hiankcts._ tents, kitchen supplies, and other military equipment

{Later news on Page o.)J

from the Defence camp, which would! be sent immediately to Ormondville, the temporary railhead. “ This ' train will have precedence over all other, traffic, and ” (he added confidently)) “it will make the fastest run mtoi Hawke’s Bay ever achieved by the railways on that route.” Mr Sterling added that a breakdown train left Wew lington at 1 o’clock with heavy equipment to put restoration work in hand immediately under the supervision of the engineers who accompanied it. The Napier express, bound south, got as far as Kopua. 63 miles, when it was found undesirable to cross the Kopua viaduct, which had sunk. at one end,, the train returning to Takapau, where passengers would bo transhipped and brought to Wellington late to-niglu. A mixed train which had left Napier earlier, but would have been normally; overtaken by the express, was derailed neat Hatuma, but no casualties occurred. The Hastings station master,, who motored to Waipukurau to inform the department of the position, stated! that the railway between Napier and Hastings had broken down. Waitangil bridge bad subsided 4ft, and other bridges between Hastings and P.apapaki to the south had subsided. The line between Otane and Waipukurau was twisted. In the station master’s opinion the line between Hastings ami Waipukurau would not be fit for traffic for some days, but a local works train had been organised immediately. The earthquake was also felt severely in the central part of the Main Trunk, especiallj- at Ohakunc and Taihape, bun an inspection of the line disclosed that the only damage so far had been a bridge out of alignment between Karioi and Tangiwai. Trains will be able to pass over it at restricted speed. It could therefore be taken, concluded Mr Sterling, that rail communication between Auckland and Wellington could be maintained.

Among Government officials who ar< on the way to tho scene of the disaster are Mr Wohhuann (Commissioner of Police), accompanied by a squad of police, Mr Butcher (chief Inspector of explosives), and Mr Hugo (chief inspector ot fire brigades'). . , Tho following doctors have left Auckland ;—Dr H. In Gould, assistant medical superintendent at the Auckland Hospital; Dr J. C. Britton and Dr R. Maxwell, of the resident medical staff of the Auckland Hospital; Dr Hay, of the medical staff of the Auckland Mental Hospital; Dr Watson and Dr Robb,-ex-naval surgeons; Dr A. C. Purchas, Dr Noakes, and Dr Donald Mackenzie. The superintendent of the Auckland Trained Nurses’ Association received a call from Dr Maguire, asking for volunteers to proceed at once to the scene of the disaster. The nurses were at lunch, but within an hour fifteen had been chosen, had put a few travelling necessities together, and were speeding in taxis to the launch steps. A large quantity of first-aid stores was sent on board the warships from the Auckland Hospital, as well as a number of cooking stoves. The Defence Department despatched stretchers and surgical and medical stores. A portable X:ray plant was lent, together witli two -skilled operators to rise it.

38 DOCTORS SENT

The following medical assistance has been despatched to the scene of the disaster : .■. ' " From Auckland.—Five doctors and fifteen nurses arriving by naval vessel this morning. From Wellington.—Sevenj doctors and twenty-three nurses. From Gisborne. —Five doctors and «three nurses. From Palmerston North.—Eight doctors 'and ten nurses. From adjacent towns.—Thirteen doctors and twenty-four nurses.