ORDER EMERGING FROM CHAOS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 6 February 1931, Page 5

ORDER EMERGING FROM CHAOS

Relief Progress in Devastated Area DEMOLITION OF DANGEROUS WRECKAGE BEGUN Grim Toll of Deaths Continually Added To Grave though the news from the stricken Hawke s Baj Bay area continues to he, it is apparent that giadually oiclei is emerging from chaos and that all possible measuies aie being taken for the relief of sufferers and for the recovery of the dead. In Napier the work of evacuating women and children has been proceeding apace, and injured from all parts of the district have been sent for treatment to outside hospitals. Hour by hour the death-roll continues to mount and, as indicated in telegrams from Napier and Hastings, it will be a long time, possibly a month, before the exact number of dead can be ascertained. Already upwards of 200 deaths have been lepoited and in numerous instances the identity of the victims cannot be established. The lists of the injured are similarly far fiom complete, additions being made hourly. A comprehensive survey of the districts by air discloses the disturbing fact that Hawke’s Bay has undergone a vast upheaval. The country has altered in character and the coastline is changed. Shakes have been continuing since the first disastrous one, culminating in a fairly severe one last night, but no furthei is reported, although the effect has been to add to the of mind of the people. Nobly the people of the Dominion have responded to the call for assistance and offers of accommodation, with donations of clothing, food and money have been received from all sources. Expressions of sympathy have been forthcoming from overseas and sums of money have already been forwarded in addition to relief lists being opened.

RECOVERED ALIVE TWO NAPIER WOMEN. HOPK FOR. OTHERS. XAIMER, Te)>. b. Two women have been recovered alive one at tbe Tecnmcal school and one at tne hospital. There is hope lor two others. ANXIETY IN ENGLAND SUERS AT COMMUNICATION. LONDON, Eeb. 4. Requests for the use of the wireless telephone to New Zealand poured into the Rost Office, but the circuit is not considered good enough for communication. The officials carrying out the test experiments conversed for 20 minutes with Wellington to-day and were told that the estimated death-roll was 300 and that the whole Dominion was in mourning. HELP FROM ABROAD AX ARREAI. Sr GUESTED, hi UDE.S Or DISASTER. WELLINGTON, Eeb. 6. „-Y suggestion that the real extent ol ti>e disaster should oe made known abroad by the Ernne Minister and tnat offers ox help .should be invited was put forward at a meeting of the Earthquake Relief Committee ise* up at a big public meeting yesterday. Air G. Shirtclifte said that the holocaust in the Hawke’s Bay district was so appalling and unprecedented that he doubted very much if New Zealand alone was capable oi dealing with the situation. He suggested, therefore, that the nature of the disaster be made known to other countries, at least to the British Dominions, England and the United States, and that the Prime Minister be asked to make known the facts and that help would be gratefully accepted. It seemed to him that they would want over half a million pounds. Voices: More than that. The Mayor, Mr G. A. Troup: It will take over a million of money. ‘‘We could ask the Prime Minister,” said Air Shirtcliffe, “to make the truth known and to arrange that any money sent should be transferable to New Zealand free of exchange. Aly joint is to seize the opportunity to | getting help from outside for what is a national disaster, at least from the Old Country, the Dominions and the' United States.” Mr AT. F. Luekie thought the suggestion a good one, as the catastrophe was probably the biggest that line! ever occurred within the British Empire. The chairman: Except Jamaica. Air Walter Nash, AI.P., opposed making an appeal to outside countries. | “It should he left to themselves to of-j for,” he said, “but I don’t think that| anything in the nature of an appeal j should go beyond our own shores.” Air Toogoocl did not think they should close their doors to help from other countries. ‘ ‘The impression should not be given that we do not favour accepting rnonev from abroad,” said ATr R. Sample, AI.P. “I agree with the last speaker and oppose my colleague, _Mr Nash. Wo have on other occasions sent money to other countries under similar circumstances, notably to Japan, and it is unwise to underrate the disaster. No words of mine can explain how had it is. Business men up there do not know whether they are going or coming; they are faced with stark ruin. We must help the business men to build up the place again, so I consider it would he wrong to say we are not prepared to receive money from outside.” In explanation Air Nash stated that he was not opposed to receiving money from outside, hut in* did not think a deliberate appeal should he made to other countries.

within the next few days and will be taken to Motuihi Island, where they will be cared for at the camp of the Community Sunshine Association. These children will not only be cared for at the camp but their education will be carried on, since teachers are being provided for this purpose. NAPIER HOTEL COLLAPSE TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES. PALMERSTON N., Feb. 5. A thrilling account of the collapse of the Masonic Hotel building in Napier is given by a young lady who arrived in a dishevelled state in Palmerston North late last night. Her clothing was torn, her hair filled with pieces of plaster and debris, but she appeared to bo wholly oblivious to the fact.

“1 was near the kitchen when the shake came.” she said. “Immediately the building cracked and huge blocks of masonry came crashing in all directions. I ran to the nearest door, where I found another girl. We oould got no further, but crouched down as the huge building crashed about our ears. Our nostrils and months were full of a substance resembling putty from the dust of the plaster. “A shaft of light came through a narrow gap and we pushed and struggled until we were able to clamber out into safety. It was a fearful experience. We saw huge pillars of five feet thick drop like carrots and we seemed to be fighting uphill through heaving masses of dehris for hours. The earthquakes sounded like a constant discharge of cannon under out feet. “Another of the girls in the tearoom reached a side door, when she was trapped. She was pulled out still alive, hut we scarcely recognised her; she seemed to have been turned into a different person in that horrible catastrophe. A sister of the girl, who was visiting her from Auckland, was with a friend in a flat when the earthouake occurred. The place seemed to have been bit violently by a. shell,” stated the girl. “I ran to the door, but could see nothing. T found tbat my friend, who had been in a bath, had been thrown out by the first shock. She caught up a coat and tried to get downstairs. hut. was nearly thrown down. Finally wc managed to crawl into the road.”

Mr Toogood proposed: “That. the Prime Minister lie apprised that in the opinion of this meeting any offers of help from outside countries should he gladly accepted.” On the suggestion of Mr Shirtcliffe an addition was made to the motion that Mr Forbes make known the real extent of the disaster. This was approved and the motion was carried. VESSEL AT AUCKLAND HUNDRED CHILDREN' EXPECTED. AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. » The motor ship Taranaki reached Auckland from Nanier to-night. She brought approximately 20 refugees, in addition to a contingent of nurses and several doctors who left Auckland, on the Dunedin on Tuesday in response to a. call for assistance. r About I(K> children from the cartlin quake area will arrive at Aucklan

NAPIEiR, Feb. 5, Reports from the. country .behind Napier indicate that the whole contour of large areas 'particularly on tile sea coast between Napier and M a iron, has been altered as a result of the earthquake. Aerial views of this country make it clear that the shake has created havoc in certain-parts, although no loss of life has been definitely reported. It is stated; by a. pilot who has arrived at Napier after a trip along the East Coast that not a river between \\ airoa and Napier was seen entering the sea through its original mouth. Every one was blocked, but it could not bo seen how the water was finding an outlet. It is not thought that flooding will occur, as the rivers will no doubt find other outlets. News from Gisborne and the surrounding areas is very sparse. Here, in fact, tile wbpie district is cut oft from civilisation except by road. Official information has been received at the various headquarters, but the great majority of the 'people are unaware if what is going on outside, although it is known that assistance is being liberally provided. For this the people are very greateful. Gisborne, however, still remains an unknown quantity as far as specific reports arc concerned. The pilot also reported that the coastline has been affected seriously, and it is reported by him that in parts the coast has risen no less, than 40 or 50 feet. It appears that other parts i of the coast have been similarly affect-; ed and investigations made at Napier show that the coast in this vicinity has suffered apart from the great changes to the inner harbour. The coast to the south was altered. Distant views of Cape Kidnappers made through field glasses from Napier Parade this morning show that apparently part of the end has fallen into the sea, and to all appearances the two faces in j rout have disappeared leaving the rookery right in front and fuhy exposed. In addition, the little island further to isea known as the Sugarloaf, is stated to have risen considerably. Further back, in toward Napier, whole cliff faces have dropped into the sea, and similar occurrences are reported from the north of Napier. Some distance in from Ca'pe Kidnappers is a small settlement known as Haunioana, and it is reported from there that the land has risen. It appears from a view through glasses thatmuch more land! has become visible than was the case previously, and one woman who has (jived off Napier Parade lor thirty years stated this morning that she was certain these changes had been brought about. . . Further inland behind Napier it is reported that much damage has lieen caused to the country side. Great fissures have appeared in places, but no definite reports have been received except from those who have made a laborious trip through the area. Oars are unable to get tlirougli to Gisborne, and-one uncorroborated report stated that settlers in the back country are in need of assistance. Supplementing the first reports concerning the changes wrought by the earthquake at Port Ahuriri, Napier’s outlet by sea, a visit to the port shows clearly that the upheaval has effected a serious alteration to the bed of the inner harbour. However, as the result of surveys made by the crew of H.M.S. Veronica this morning, it is stated that the inner harbour will still be access:hie for the type and size of boats that have used it in the past. The surveys ‘revealed that onlly two feet of water has been lost at the actual entrance, but the inner part above the wharves has been left high and dry, even at high tide, as it was this morning.

CHANGED COASTLINE

SIGNS OF GREAT UPLIFT

ALTERED RIVER. COURSES

WORK HAMPERED SIGHTSEERS IN THIS WAY APPEAL FROM NAPIER. The work of clearing the streets and buildings at Napier is. being considerably hampered by an influx of visitors, states Hon. It. Masters, one of the Ministers in the devastated area. In a telegram to the Primei Minister, Mr Masters asked him to issue an appeal to the country that no one visit Napier at present unless it is absolutely essential. Mr Masters, states : “Work of clearing up streets and buildings at Napier considerably hampered by influx of visitors. Further, owing to lack of water and shortage of supplies of food, these people are making their presence felt in regard to such supplies. Would be glad if you would make appeal to the country asking that, unless absolutely essential, no one should at present visit Napier but, if they should do so, they should bo compelled to] bring their own food supplies. ] “If those who are anxious to come: here from sight-seeing point of view! had true realisation of the position, 1 feel sure they would postpone their visit knowing the help it would be to the community and to those who are engaged in the work of restoration. “I am sending this appeal to you with flic full approval of the Citizens; Committee, after consideration this i (Thursday) morning, in control. I am confident appeal from you in this direction will have desired effect.” REFUGEES ON THE WAY. PARTS' EXPECTED AT HAW ERA. Official advice was received -by the Mayor (Mr E. A. Pacey) this morning that ample accommodation had been provided at Palmerston North for refugees from the Napier area and that they were being well provided for. It was stated assisting in the matter of billeting refugees was not yet required from other centres. Private advice was also received I that Mr. R. Syme had left Palmer,l ston North for Hawera with a lorry load of refugees and would arrive here about 2.30 p.m. Although nothing was known officially of their coming • arrangements wore made by the Hawera, Relief Committee for their re- . eeption and distribution to various id homes.

RADIO’S PINE WORK operators in stricken towns. With fire raging near him, from time to time, Mr. G. Tyler, an amateur wireless transmitter ot Napier, kept up a continuous contact with, the outside world. His main outfit oat of commission, lie established a makeshift on a packing case and sent out his signals, which came through steadily and strongly until his batteries failed at 1.30 yesterday aftemon. Station ZL2GK, of Lyall Bay (Mr. S. R. Perkin), was the first amateur transmitter to establish contact with. Napier direct, and the post office forthwith used hits station as the official post office station, where 2GB (Capt. W. G. Ashbridge) and 2GK kept a continuous contact with Napier. Two and a-half hours after his battery failure, Air. Tyler was again on the air, but in the meantime 2FF (Mr. O. T. C. Hand), of Gisborne, connected with 2BE. of Hastings, and then with Mr. Kyle. 2AX, of Palmerston North, with whom his contact continued! from noon of Tuesday onward. The postal officials at Gisborne used 2FF to pass their..communications through to Palmerston and AVellington. Station 2BE 1 of Hastings (Mr. J. Mill), with a temporarily-established outfit, after liis communication with Gisborne, picked up ZLW (Wellington) and contact has continued unchecked. Contact will be mainained and augmented till the post office regular service becomes operative once more. In the meantime the service is working successfully.

TERRIBLE WORK OF RESCUER (By Telegrapu —Press Association.) ‘ PALMERSTON N., Feb 5. The Mayor, Mr Graham, visited the ’quake area yesterday offering to help the Napier committee in charge Police Commissioner Wohlmann. Ibe committee gladly accepted the otter to billot refugees, and arrangements were thereupon made to send 400 to Palmerston. These have been arriving a dav by bus and train. So wonderful lias boon the response <ft the citizens that 3000 could he accommodated here if necessary. . Mi* Graham states that the Napiei committee has control of all aspects of the situation, such as sanitation, water, order and discipline. Ho also speaks highly of the organisation of the casualty stations. \Y. Girling, of Napier, who arrived in Palmerston North this afternoon, stated that he spent the night in the open in the Botanical Gardens after working all day on the nurses’ home and the hospital assisting to extricate nurses and others who had been trapped. The nurses’ home, a ferro-concrete building, collapsed like a pack of cards with, as far as is known on the night, 16 nurses besides the office staff, consisting of two young men and a young woman. The three later are in a hopeless position, being buried under the whole three stories. The nurses, however, were placed in u slightly better position, and it is thought that some, at least, could be saved. Altogether six have been extricated alive from the debris more or less severely hurt. One of the nurses was severely hurt. One of the nurses was pinned under a big concrete slab which had been a, portion of the wall, and it was found necessary to use crowbars, sledge hammers and levers. Man-o-warsmen assisted in this laborious job, which took a dozen men three hours before the nurse was finally freed. Another girl was trapped under a stairway behind the first-mentioned nurse and could not get free until her mate got out. The girls stoically' endured the long suspense crouched in discomfort and pain. When the sledge hammers got to work the girls suffered severely, but relief was given by using lovers.

ORGANISATION AT NAPIER

CONTROL WELL IN HAND

Three members of the staff had not been got out at 8.30 this morning. One of these was Air Shirley, a well-known musician, and another a lady assistant, Miss Thorne-George, who* was among those re nor tod in the list of dead*.

Mr Girling, a member of the staff of P.obiohns, Hindmarsli and Co., was unloading a lorry on the wharf at Port Ahurir when the upheaval occurred. The sensation was that of a terrific upthrust from underneath which lifted the boats up to the level of the wharf and threw' the Harbour Board’s shed •over on to the lorry. Air Girling sprinted along the wharf on, to the road and just, missed being buried but his bicycle still lies underneath yards of fallen bricks and cement.

The* wharves all the way along are *n a terrible state, being cracked and out of plumb and sunken in places. The boats all cleared out into the bay with '*« exception of the Veronica, ’ which stuck to her post and did noble service. Fire started in the upstairs portion of Robjohns. Hindmarsh and Co.’s twosto rev building at the port. The front and side had fallen out, and the wreck j was soon a blazing furnace which spread rapidly and consumed all in its path. All wholesale premises were destroyed besides several w'ool stores, the post office and oil depots. This morning the wind was* blowing in the opposite direction, fanning the flames into renewed activity and placing the residential porton in grave danger. A high wind developed from the west and the Cosmopolitan Club, one of the few remaining buildings in the stricken area, caught fire and was burning fiercely. The Trinity Methodist Church, one of the oldest buildings in Napier, is still standing and does not appear to have suffered much damage. Air Girling stated that between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. there were no fewer than 55 shocks and tremors. These were recorded in a novel manner by a boy who camped in the park. Every time a shake occurred he put a knot in a piece of string. Other shakes followed during the morning, including three very severe ones.

WRECK OF SEMINARY DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £50,000 WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. The* Provincial of the Alarist Order has been advised that the Greenmeadows Seminary is in ruins and is uninhabitable. The surviving students have been transferred to “Higliden,” just! out of Palmerston North. It is estimated that the damage to the seminary will amount to £50,000. The Privinc-ial. acknowledges the receipt of £I,OOO from Airs AlacCartlhy Reid. ( SYMPATHY FROM OVERSEAS AIESSAGES TO GOVERNOR. AVELLINGTON, Feb. 5. Hie following additional telegrams have been received by the GovernorGeneral : ' From the Governor of Victoria : “On behalf of the Government and people of A ictoria I ask Your Excellency to accept deepest sympathy in the disaster which has overtaken your people.’ From the Governor-General of the Union o! South Africa: “1 desire to express my very deep regrot at the news of the disastrous earthquake, andi my sincere sympathy is with all sufferers.” From the Duke of York: “The Duchess of York and I have heard with great.distress of the terrible earthquake. Please convey our deepest :sympathy to all those who suffered lin the disaster.-—Albert.”

READY RESPONSE HELP FOR SUFFERERS. ' BIG DONATIONS MADE. \ J Responding quickly to the call for as- • Isistanee organisations of all kinds in • (Wellington have made comprehensive arrangements not only for the relief of 1 Refugees arriving in Wellington, butj ! for assisting in the repair work both | 'at Hastings and Napier. Ip. the conn- | trv, also, organisations have been form- ( ed to deal with relief work. Funds | have been opened l in nearly every town] tu,| donations are pouring in both, in the city and throughout the province. Included in the numerous donations that have been made to the relief funds is one of £2OOO by the Wellington. City Council. There -is also one off £IOOO b.v the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, which, in addition, has offered the services of its engineer and general manger. Mr. E. S. Hollands, to the power .boards in the devastated area, i Mr. J. T. Grose, general manager of the National Bank of New Zealand has received a cablegram from the London 'directors authorising a contribution of '£looo to the relief funds. A similar (donation has been made by the Bank Of New South Wales. The Wellington .Stock Exchange has voted £l5O for relief purposes. The directors of the Union Steam ■Shin Company yesterday voted £IOOO to the Prime Minister’s relief fund. In response to the Mayor’s request the Civic League lias undertaken to supervise the distribution of subscription lists for the various ratepayers’ associations in Wellington. The New Zealand Rugby Union voted £SOO for relief purposes last evening.

NAPIER, Fob. 5. Numerous miraculous escapes are reported by eye-witnesses. The shake threw out the whole front of the Masonic Hotel on the parade. The interior was laid bare and the crowd in the street saw a woman seated in an armchair near the edge of the third and top storey. She had to bend because the ceiling had caved in. She made as if to jump from the room, but she was dissuaded from this by shouts. In. obvious terror the woman sat in her precariously placed cltair until a fireman rescued her with u ladder. TELEGRAMS BY AIR ’PLANE’S BIG LOAD. WELLINGTON. Feb. 5. Tlie aeroplane with Pilot Officer Duthie and Mr. G. Wallace, of the Wellington Aero Club, aboard, which was delayed at Hastings, not Danncvirke, yesterday owing to a leak which developed in tlie benzine tank, arrived at liongotai about 8.40 this morning with eight bundles of telegrams. ( Flight-Lieutenant Burrell, who left I liongotai yesterday afternoon by ’plane, reached Hastings about 5.3 d p.in. : and spent the night there. j Flight-Lieutenant Stedman made another trip to the stricken area to-day, leaving liongotai early this morning for Hastings. PRISON COLLAPSES CONVICTS RESCUE, MATES. j SLEEP 1 IN THE OPEN. The walls of Napier prison collapsed and there was nothing to prevent the prisoners escaping. They behaved, however, in most exemplary manner. Two of them were seriously injured and were removed to hospital in the park, and five others slightly hurt had their wounds dressed on the spot. They had been buried in the fall of earth m the quarry. Other prisoners dug them out. Hearing there was a, woman buried up the street, they went and rescued her. She had a broken arm and was conveyed to hospital in a state of collapse. The prisoners returned in orderly manner to the prison, where they slept in the open and caused not the slightest anxiety to anyone. The prison was visited by the Prisons Controller, Mr. B. L. Dnllard, and the Public Service, Commissioner, Mr. P. VerschafFelt,. CASUALTIES AT HASTINGS BODIES RECOVERED YESTERDAY INQUIRIES AS TO MISSING. HASTINGS, Feb. b. The rollowing is tne onieiai list ol tlie bodies recovered to-uay: r.DllJti aiAR Y McIRUH, wife ol JL< ranic McLeod, \\ oodlands, South Road, Hastings. LEONARD SHACKLEFORD, Waipawa. YOlN'o MAH HONG, Chinese, LLeretauiiga Street, Hastings. DJitlS MAtff MUGCOTT, Pollen .■street, H oodvilie or bannevirke. CHAkLIS GORDON DRUMMOND, fOa aicuean ,■street, Hastings. SABINE MAI HrtXiUN, 007 Nelson Street, Hastings.

HOTEL INTERIOR EXPOSED,

WOMAN'S NARROW ESCAPE

Two females were recovered from lloaeii’s, Ltd., and are now interred. The remains of two bodies, unrecognisable and tlieir sex unknown, iiave also ceen recovered.

Deutiis voucnecl for by Mr. Harold Roach, of the firm of Roach’s, Ltd., and among the ruins of the firm’s premises, are as follow: MRS© G. JONES. MI&S GLADYS FARMERY. MiSS MAY BUCK. T. TONKIN. MIsS LINCOLN. MiSS ALLAWAY. Not Recovered. MJ S 3 ORR . MRS. SMITH. MOLLY WELLS. i Otherwise Vouched F'or: MRS. OLIVE FRANCIS ELLIS, care of A. H. Burr, Greenmeadows, Hastings, aged 27. (Vouched for by Miss Dunphy, a friend of deceased). mrs. e, f. McDonald. JACK McDONALD, aged about 20, son of Mrs. E. r. McDonald, Carlton Club Hotel, Hastings. The following property was taken from an unidentified female body taken from Roach’s, Ltd.: A pair of rimless spectacles, a gold wristlet watch with black band. F'rom information supplied by the police the following bodies were identified at tlie morgue: MRS. MARGARET THERESA O’NEILL, Hastings. CHARLES GORDON, aged 18, Hastings. GWEN BUTLER, aged 21. Havelock North.

The following is an additional list of Hastings missing as supplied by the police: 1 EIUC BADER, aged 15, 407 Nelson Street, Hastings .(perhaps listed previously in a list of missing). NORMAN JOHNSTON, Napier. L. FREDSBERG, aged 14, Hastings, believed by the mortuary authorities to be one of two unidentified. MRS. BEATRICE LAMBERT, 105 Gray’s Road, Hastings. The following are inquired for by l relatives: LEWIS GEORGE LOXFORD, aged 29, chiropractor, Hastings, and ! two sisters, respectively Sylvia j and Maria, ages 25 and 27—have not been seen since Tuesday morning; inquired for by brother at Wairoa. WILLIAM WHITE, late of Masterton, employee of Powdrell Bros., Hastings; ‘ inquired for by friends; came to Hastings from Masterton. GOVERNOR’S MESSAGE The Prime Minister has received! the following message from His E'xcelency the Governor-General: Distressed to hear latest figures of casualties and extent of destruction in Hawke’s Bay. Lady Bledis'joe and I will raise our joint donation to relief fund to £250. Much deplore my absence remote part of Dominion at time' of disaster. TELEGRAPH BUSINESS UNPRECEDENTED RUSH. The secretary of the General Post Office, Mr. McNamara, stated that at 230 p.m. yesterday the telegraphic traffic for Napier and Hastings was beiiur handled by direct circuits; and, in”addition, full use was being made of aeroplanes for the carriage of telegrams. There had been an umprecedentde rush of telegraph business and every available man was being used in an effort to cope with the position.

GISBORNE’S APPEAL ROAD TO NAPIER BLOCKED. REQUEST FOR STEAM FIR, SERVICE. GISBORNE, Feb. 5. Information received here states that the road to Napier is absolutely blocked and it, will take considerable time to restore communication. The Chamber of Commerce is aj>pealing to the Prime Minister to assist in the establishment of a steamer service to give Gisborne an outlet to the south. Letters and telegrams were despatched! for the south by ’..lane this morning through the courtesy of Geo. Nicholls, who flew to, Hastings. An i Auckland ’plane with telegrams arrived at 11 a.m. The steamer Rutike was despatched to Napier this morning. The custom authorities axe permitting only people whose business is of extreme urgency to travel by her. It is reported! that the vessel will bring back stranded passengers- and refugees. The “Herald” relief fund amounts to £353.