SHAKES LESSENING

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 February 1931, Page 5

SHAKES LESSENING

NAPIER REHABILITATION WARSHIPS READY TO LEAVE EXTRICATING THE VERONICA HEP AIR GANGS QN HOUSES. (By Tolograpb —Pros 3 Association.) NAPIER, Eeb. 9. Since a violent shake this morning there have been no shocks beyond a few minor tremors. The weather was fine and the sea is little rougher than normal. The temperature is mild. All three warships are preparing to leave. The Diomede is to escort the Veronica to Auckland, as it is feared the hull of the Veronica lias been strained. It is proposed to take the Veronica out istern first with the aid of tugs. These two ships are due to sail to-morrow. The Dunedin is to leave on Wednesday on the way to England to refit. The departure of the warships is indicative that the civil authorities are fully capable of controlling the situation.

More street lights are benig used tonight, the water services are being extended and repair gangs are extending their operations, the first work being to make all the houses weatherproof.

LAND OFFICE RECORDS LOST DEPARTMENT’C ARRANGEMENTS. WELLINGTON. Feb. 9. The Minister of Lands (Hon. E. A. Ransom) stated to-day that owing to the destruction of the office, of the Hawke’s Bay land district it had been necessary to make special arrangements for holding land sales and ballots which had been scheduled for that district. The loss of the district office records would of course, disorganise the_ business of the department in that district but as soon as it was possible to do so arrangements would be made to reestablish the office. The sale by auction of seaside sections; in the township of To Awhanga extension No. 4, which had been fixed for February 16 at Napier, had definitely been cancelled. In the case of five sections of dairyinn- land comprising the Rylands settlement, situated three miles from Waipukurau, applications were being diverted to Dannevirfle. The date up to which -rmlications would he received had been extended to March 2. Fresh arrangements had been made ■•.-carding the ballot for the Okarae block near Dannevirke, and applications would be received bv the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Dannevirke, ’in to 4 o’clock on March 2.

MELBOURNE’S HELP NEWSPAPER LIST OPENED. MELBOURNE, Feb. S. The “Argus” and “Australasian” proprietors have launched a fund for the New Zealand earthquake sufferers. be list is headed by a gift of £250 by Sir John and Lady Higgins.

DISTRICT RELIEF FUNDS. BOROUGH COUNCIL LIST. TOTAL OVER £350. Including a donation of £IOO made by the South Taranaki Electric Power Board the subscriptions received at the Hawera Borough Council offices towards the earthquake relief fund totalled at noon to-day £351 10s 3d.

1 REBUILDING OF NAPIER | DETERMINATION OF CITIZENS. ; NAPIER, Fob. 9. “Notwithstanding the enormity ol the damage that lias wiped out the business area of Napier and considerably damaged a large portion of the residential property, the business men of Napier have determined not to rest until the town is one of the finest in the Dominion,” stated Mr. C. O. Morse, chairman of the Napier citizens’ relief committee, to-day. “Order nas now been established out of the chaos in which we were thrown by the upheaval, and the citizens’ relief committee is firmly established. Its organisation and work is already proceeding smoothly, effectively and rapidly.

“To those who came to our help we owe a very deep debt of gratitude, and to those who have offered help we say we accept it with profound thanks. We shall remember New Zealand's motto, ‘Onward,’ and hoped to be spared strength to carry that motto out in its entirety. To ail those around me who are working so energetically and unceasingly my sincerest thanks are due.”

Dr. Hughes, health officer at Hastings, states that from a health point of view the position is very satisfactory in that the 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 the water supply and the possibility of fly and other nuisances being created by tbe destruction of premises containing decomposed foodstuffs and through broken sanitary fittings.

“1 take this opportunity,” said Dr. Hughes, “of contradicting any false rumours which have been circulated regarding outbreaks of disease and to state definitely that there is not one case of disease to create any alarm in the borough.” Sister Dillon, in charge of the mortuary depot, has asked that the following report be circulated: “Within an hour of the earthquake the mortuary hospital was established and by the end of the day nearly 50 bodies had been cared for. They were checked by the records officer and police and numbered by a sister. The number was attached to the coffin, which the graveside officials also checked. Relatives and friends only were allowed to view the bodies for identification. It must be understood that some bodies were beyond identification. “Words fail to express the fine depth of courtesy, gentleness and reverence shown by the police in handling the dead. Magnificent work was done by all the undertakers, who worked day and night. After midday on [Saturday no more dead were received. The clergy report that all burials were properly conducted and the graves were being properly tended.” The Hastings borough engineer stated that the water supply was quite satisfactory and the sewerage was functioning well. At the daily meeting of the Hastings citizens’ committee Mr. W. J. Rogers, Mayor of Wanganui, offered the practical assistance of his town.

Colonel Holderness reported that it had been arranged witli Commissioner Wohlmaim to have the volunteer picket carry on until next Wednesday, when more police would be available. There would be 40 police in uniform to take care of the outside residential area and there would also be 20 civilian police.

RECORDS AT KET.BURN NUMEROUS AFTER-SHOCKS. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. Five after-shocks were recorded at Kelburn on Saturday, two of which 'were classed as moderate and others as slight. Fjive were recorded on Sunday; one at 1.44 p.m. was heavy and was felt locally, and one at 10.10 p.m. was sharp and was also felt locally. A moderate shock was recorded at 8.42 this morning.

THREE MONTHS IN GAOL RECEIVING LOOTED GOODS. WAIROA, Feb. 9. At the Police Court this morning Justices sentenced John Burt to three months in the Gisborne gaol for receiving looted property, issuing a warning that further cases would be more severely dealt with. Another ease was adjourned. DAMAGE IN MOHAKA NO LOSS OF LIFE. WAIROA, Feb. 9. Mohaka township was badly shaken by last week’s earthquake. Buildings were damaged and several collapsed. Acres of farmlands were destroyed, but there was no Joss of life. PROGRESS OF THE INJURED PALMERSTON NORTH ADMISSIONS PALMERSTON N., Feb. 9. The condition of the patients from the earthquake area in Palmerston North remains practically unchanged. The following patients have been admitted to the convent hospital: Abbott, H:, 7Q4 Karamu Road, Hastings, hospital transfer—satisfactory. Berry. Miss F., 84 McGrath Street, Napier, bruised thigh. Carnice, Sister, Greenwood, Convent, Napier, bruised thigh—satisfactory. Davey, H. 2 Wellesley Road, Napier North, cardiac—satisfactory. Downey, Alfred, S Miller Street, Napier, head injury—satisfactory. Dunn, F., 12 Harding Road, Napier, hospital transfer —fairly satisfactory. Gardiner, A. E., 5 Shakespeare Road, Napier, shock —fairly satisfactory. Hill, Mrs. C., 49 Shakespeare Aoad, Napier, shock —fairly satisfactory Hopkins, Mrs., Napier Hospital transfer. Johnston, Phyllis, 5S Harding Street. Napier, abdominal pain—satis-

factory. Knight, W., Maraekakaho, Napier, .shock.—..satisfactory. Lo Bass, A., Winifred Street, Napier. chronic paralysis—satisfactory. Lloyd, F. S., Nelson Crescent, Napier, head injury—satisfactory. Manson, Mr, 5S Marine Parade, Napier, shook—satisfactory. Martin, Margaret, Childs Street, Napier, ear trouble—satisfactory. McCormick, Mrs, Napier South, ear trouble—satisfactory. Patmore, W. D., Midland Hotel, Napier, shock and abrasions—satisfactory. Pockett, J., 7. Paradise Road, Napier, head injuries—very satisfactory. Watkins, M., 26 Main Street, Napier, sprained ankle—satisfactory.

Williams, T. W., 1 Thistle Street, Napier South, hospital transfer, satisfactory—gone out to friends.

RACE MEETING ABANDONED NAPIER PARK CLUB DECISION. ”NAPIER, Jan. 9. The Napier Park Racing Club has decided to abandon the Cup meeting to have been held on March 6 and 7. The buildings, w'hich are at present being used as the headquarters of the Napier Hospital, were not damaged by the earthquake.

TOURISTS NOT DETERRED

AMERICANS REACH WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, Feb. 9

On the Makiira, which arrived from San Francisco to-day, are two parties of American tourists, one conducted by Sir. J. L. Wheeler and the other by Mr. Charles Stewart, of Los Angeles. It is the latter’s first visit. He belongs to the Crisswell Tour Company.

The visitors say they are not deterred by the ’quake, news of which reached them by radio, and will carry out their tour. They extend sympathy to New Zealand and all who have suffered as a consequence of the disaster. They are sure people in the States will help if need be.

PLIGHT NOT FORGOTTEN KARAMEA SETTLERS’ AID. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. The Karamea settlers have not forgotten their tribulations in the Murchison ’quake and this morning there arrived by the scow Fairburn a generous gift of goods for the Hawke’s Bay area—butter, potatoes, cabbages and sundries. HELP FOR REFUGEES MATERNITT CASES PROVIDED FOR. WELLINGTON, Feb. '9. Provision for pre-maternity eases among the earthquake refugees is now available in Wellington through the kindness of Lady Bell, who has placed her home at Lowry Bay, with servants and staff, at the disposal of the authorities for use as a hospital.

In making an nnouncement to this effect Captain Mrs Galloway, New Zealand secretary of the Red Cross, said that there was accommodation for 16 patients at Lady Bell’s home. Five were already in residence. At the request of the Health Degartment- Sister Lewis, of the Red ross Society, who has been at Napier since the disaster, will remain there as matron of the auxiliary hospital. This was announced this evening by Captain Galloway. As a gift from the British Red Cross Society to the New" Zealand Red Cross in connection with the. Hawke’s Bay disaster, the sum of £IOOO has been placed at the disposal of the High Commissioner in. London. A cable announcing this gift was received to-day by Captain Galloway. It reads as follows: “Have to-day placed at the disposal of the High Commissioner in London the sum of £IOOO as a gift from the British Red Cross to the New Zealand Red Cross on behalf of the sufferers in the recent earthquake.”

A cable has been received by the New Zealand Red Cross from the Italian Red Cross Society expressing its sympathy- with the sufferers.

‘ ‘ EARTH ’ S GROWING PAINS ’ ’ OPINIONS OF A SCIENTIST. LlrnueU l J resa Association —By ICjctno Tele graph Copyright.) SYDNEY, Feb. 9. Father O’Leary, director of the Riverview Observatory, Sydney, and ail eminent seismologist, declares that it was known there would be an earthquake in the Napier region. What seismologists did not know was whether it would come this year or a thousand years hence. These events were the earth’s growing pains. He went on to relate the origin of earthquakes, and said that if there were no New Zealand, then the eastcoast of Australia would be in the earthquake zone, for the deepening Pacific would be delivering upward thrusts at the Australian coast. Thus New Zealand was acting as a buffer, for which Australians should be thankful.

“Napier,’’ he added, “need fear no more upheavals of any magnitude for a hundred years or more. The recent convulsion was so great that obviously there must be long subterranean preparation and long pressure on the pitch crust before another big movement can occur. But let Napier rebuild wisely.” •

SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE

BUILDINGS LIFE CONCERTINAS. NAPIER, Ffeb. 0. The shipping company’s wool store at Port Ahuriri is like most others—it is like a concertina and is being held up by the thousands of bales of wool stored in it. The bales are exposed to the weather. It is difficult to ascertain the position of the large station properties, but wooden houses should not be damaged beyond repair. Between the railway and the coast, even in Napier, there is no wooden structure which has been destroyed, but those on the hillsides in some cases have slipped and become badly strained. The condition of Mr. T. H. Lowry’s residence is reported to be fairly good. No serious damage has been done, as far as can be ascertained, more than 20 miles from Napier in a westerly direction. The worst damage is the fall of chimneys and broken china. The country, of course, is badly cracked and torn about on the hillsides, but the damase lessens as Napier is left behind. AH the telegraphists .on duty since the shock have been given an opportunity of taking a week’s holiday, and it is suggested that the same privilege should be extended, where possible to oolice and other publio officers who have done service not only to the people but also to the country which will never he forgotten by the present generation. Harris’ hat and cap factory has announced that the 1 mil diner is to be renaired immediately and that work will start as soon as. possible. Other firms are to follow suit. The plant for the “Daily Telegraph” arrived to-day and is being installed in temporary premises. Publication is to start in a few vs. The “Hawke’s Bay Herald” will secure the loan of a building and plant to enable it to produce a daily morning paper once the “Telegraph” is ready to start. . . All organisations such as Salvationists, Y.M.C.A Red Cross, .Automobile Association and church bodies still doing service for the afflicted people. Pending the reopening of the banks no money is available except to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank, who are allowed to withdraw up to £lO. Sewer inspection, is in progress, but it is anticipated l this will be the largest and most difficult task of all.

RELIEF FUND ADMINISTRATION

personnel of committee,

APPEAL FROM PRIME MINISTEu

WELLINGTON, Feb. 0. Concerning liis appeal to the people of New Zealand for financial assistance to relieve as far as possible the desperate plight of sufferers from the earthquake catastrophe m Hawke s Eav the Prime Minister announces that as*'the result of a meeting of Cabinet it lias been decided that the personnel of the Central Committee to administer the relief fund will be as follows: The Prime Minister (chairman), Hon. E. A. Ransom (Minister of Lands), the Rio-ht Hon. J. G. Coates (leader of the Opposition), Mr H. E. Holland (leader of the Labour Party), Mr .E. Barnard, M.P. (Napier), Mr H. M. Campbell, M.P. (Hawke’s Bay) Mr A. E. .luu, M.P. (Waipawa), Mr W. D. Lvsnar, M.P. (Gisborne), representing the districts affected by the earthquake, Christchurch, and Dunedin, .Major A. 11. Bathurst (military secretary of Ills Excellency the GovernorGeneral). the Public Trustee, engineer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, the Under-Secretary of Lands and the Valuer-General. Five members of the committee will constitute a quorum, and the Public Trustee will be the executive officer of the committee.

Following the experience of the administration of the Murchison earthquake fund, a small executive sub-com-mittee resident in Wellington will be set up, including the Public Trustee, m order that relief work may be properly co-ordinated and the best possible use made of the fund subscribed. It is requested that subscriptions from all sources be paid into any branch of the Bank of New Zealand for the credit of the public account, and the bank receipt forwarded to the secretary to the Treasury, Wellington, under cover of a letter setting out the details of the contribution.

If amounts cannot conveniently be paid into the Bank of New Zealand they may be remitted direct to the Treasury or paid into the post office, m order that the fund may earn the nnximum amount of interest which the Public Trustee has agreed to allow, o; per cent, on the daily balance from its inception. It is- requested that moneys subscribed be paid to the public account, or remitted to the Treasury as fast as received. A list of all such re. ceipts will be issued to the Press for publication. In regard to the distribution and use of the funds, stated the Prime Alinister, the intention is that, the Central Committee should, as m the case of the previous earthquake, work in co-opera-tion with local committees to be set up in the afflicted‘areas. The constitution of the local committees it is proposed to leave to the people concerned, except that, to facilitate the work, it is desired that the local representative of the Public Trust Office and Public Works and Lands and Valuation Departments be made ex-officio members of all committees. The Public Trust officers will undertake all secretarial and accounting work.

The fund will be administered by Public Trustee as the executive officer of the central committee. All accounts in connection with the fund will be audited by the Controller and AuditorGeneral. No organisation or administrative costs will be charged to the relief fund; that is to say, all money subscribed by the people will be directly applied in the relief of the sufferers from the earthquake.

In order that there may be as little delay as possible in applying moneys to the purposes for which they are subscribed, it is proposed to convene a meeting of the central committee immediately to determine details in respect to the administration of the fund and to delegate The necessary powers to the executive sub committee and local committees, said the Prime Minister. •Mr Forbes added that for the immediate relief of urgent cases of distress some grants are being made from the Consolidated Fund. These moneys will be administered by the local com mittee of those centres on the principles above outlined. After allowing for the settlement of all reasonable claims on the West Coast earthquake relief fund it is anticipated that a balance of about £IO.OOO will remain. This balance could reasonably be transferred to the nawko 's Bay relief fund, and a meeting of the central committee of the West Coast fund will be called immediately to consider the matter.

The Prime Minister said he felt sure, that the response to the appeal tor funds would be generous. It was hoped that the organisation outlined would enable unfortunate sufferers to receive benefit from those funds with the least possible delay. Although it must be re. cognised that the collecting and collating of the details of losses suffered will lie a work of some magnitude, immediate needs of sufferers in the meantime will receive prompt attention. ORGANISATION AT HASTINGS SCHOOLS RESUMING IN WEEK. FURTHER. SHAKES REPORTED HASTINGS, Feb. 9. Organisation is running smoothly with practically no over-lapping and citizens are now falling into the new order of tilings. Officers state that a. steady supply of the necessaries of life is. coming to hand and that these are being disposed of with complete satisfaction. There is no need or want. Mr. Maddison, chairman of the Hawkes Bay Education Board, announced that board officers had established old wooden buildings at the Central School, Napier. General assemblages of school children at the various schools in Hastings have been called for next Monday. All classes will be held in the open air.

The clearance of; debris is being oonductexl by at least I I naiiys and rapid progress is being made in tin’s direction. The electric light service is complete, there remaining few buildings likely to cause danger to the supply ol street lights. The partially restored Y.M.C.A. at Hastings is continuing to receive numerous inquiries as to missing friends and the staff is kept busy. Untiring efforts are being made to locate all per-l sons mentioned in the messages and hundreds of reassuring telegrams have been despatched in reply.

At 9.48 a.m. on Sunday the town was violently shaken by a. ’quake probable equal in. intensity to the second ’quake on Tuesday evening. There were seven ’quakes during the early hours of the morning, but all of them were accepted calmly by the residents, who are in a perfectly calm state. Further shakes, even if violent, can do little harm. The public are warned to accept only those lists of dead issued as official. The following have been erroneously reported dead: Mrs Rov McLennan, Havelock North, injured, but doing

well; Mrs Tu-oliy, Pepper Street, Hastings, uninjured; Mrs J. A. Ross, wife of the- proprietor of the Grand Hotel, Hastings; and Mrs All Wing, uninj u red. T 1 ie following is an official and newly reported Hastings death: Gordon Grant, chemist, Hastings, died of injuries.

NO MORE FOR LONG TIME

IMMUNISATION OF DISTRICT. NAPIER, Feb. 0. Dr. Henderson, director of geological survey, and Dr. Marshall, of the. Public Works Department, to-day issued the following report: “Geological opinion is based upon experience gained in previous earthquakes not only in New Zealand, but in all parts of the world. Speaking on this basis, therefore, it can be definitely stated the course of the present disturbance is decidedly past, and although numerous shakes and tremors may he recurring, they will not approach in magnitude the first very severe shakes, but will gradually diminish on the average from now onwards. A long period of earthquakes in this particular area is most unlikely, and we think it can he stated that this locality will he relatively immune from earthquakes for a long period of years.” RELIEF WORK AT HAWERA ORG AN USING R ESO URGES. REPORTS TO COMMITTEE Details of the organisation of earthquake relief measures were given further consideration at a meeting of the general committee at Hawera, held in the Borough Council Chamers yesterday afternoon. Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., presided over an attendance of

Explanation was given of the system under which arrivals at Hawera pro-1 needed first to the bureau at the Pres- j byterian Hull, where the allocation of; homes to which they were to go was made and the method of food supply j from that sub-committee's headquar-: ters at the Women’s Chib and the) supply of clothing from the Red Cross j Society rooms in High Street. i Reporting cm behalf of the clothing sub-committee, Mrs S. R. Veitch said that since Friday 25 families had been] equipped from the Ried Cross rooms. A total of 98 had been billeted, including five, who arrived during the day, replied Miss A. B. Johnstone, on behalf of the? billeting committee. A number had passed on to. other destinations' and th© number remaining in the town and its environs was SO. EXECUTIVE ACTIVITIES:. The secretary (Mr A. K. Fysou reported on the visit made by himself in company with the Mayor and Messrs E. P. Uox and H. G. Dickie, of the executive, to the relief camps at Palmerston North. Highly favourable opinions had been formed of the emergency accommodation and the clothing and food arrangements. The only important provision lacking in tile camps were facilities for hot baths. To provide that convenience parties were taken by cars from the camps to hotels in the town. Assurance that at present there was no need for transporting the people in the camps to places as far afield as Hawera was given by the authorities of the camp. At present offers of accommodation were open at Bulls, Redding, and Marton, to which centre none from the camp had been despatched. A small number had gone to Wanganui, and further accommodation was also available there, while up to 4000 could be placed in Palmerston North itself. The authorities, had, however, given the further assurance that advice would he given immediately further accommodation was required in the Hawera district.

Mr Dickie supported the report given by the secretary. Fortunately, said Mr Gic-kie, weather conditions had been ideal and no inconvenience had been encountered through inclement conditios. He expressed appreciation of the fine organisation effected at Palmerston North. SYSTEA[ COMMENDED. Replying to a question, Mr Dickie said that plans as to the final dispersal of the people in the camps were not yet finalised. The system of organisation there was, however, highly efficient and it was essential that the dispersal of people should be conducted through it. Mr Cox said the committee which visited Palmerston North had been unanimously of the opinion that the Mayor of Palmerston, North (Mr A. J. Graham) had been right in the opinion that, unless they were going to friends, there should be no hurried distribution of the people from the concentration camps. An indication that the conditions provided at Palmerston North were meeting with the approval of the people from the earthquake area, was given in the experience of an offer from Wanganui to billet 100 people. A special train was arranged far transport. but only 11 people came forward to take advantage of the opportunity to leave the camp. Consequently the special train' did not run and transport was ollered on the next day’s mail train. During a discussion with reference to the provision of relief measures at Hawera, the Rev. R. E. Evans paid tribute to the work carried out through the combined efforts of the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union, the lied Cross Society, the Women’s Nat’lV ’j d , 1 t'e wrv e, Pluuket Society, the 'J-y-fk and the Hairera Women’s C.luli. Members of the various organisations bail worked early and late and rendered greatly appreciated service, said Air Evans. CLOTHING COMMITTEE. lo further the system of organisation it was decided that a committee consisting of the Mayoress and representatives ol the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, the Red Cross ■Sodety, the Plunket Society, the U.0.T.l and the Women’s National Reserve be appointed to adminster the relief clothing depot. Referring to the five parties which had been accommodated ut the Ohawc Beach, the Rev. Evans explained that 10 children had that day been taken bv Mr Findlay to the Tokaora School, where they would attend during their stay at Ohawe.

„ It wa«_ pointed out that a telephone. No. 2.397, had been installed at the Presbyterian Hall and it was decided to advice the Palmerston North authorities that ’phono communication coulif be made cither at the bureau or at the office of the general committee secretary, Air A. K. Fyson, and that refreshments would he available at the' bureau to parlies passing through Ha-1 worn. i DONATION OF CLOTHING. Messrs McGruer Bone and Co., Ltd., have donated clothing and goods to the value of £2O to the Red Cross committee for distribution as required to refugees billeted locally.

ORGANISATION OF RELIEF

GOOD WORK INI HAWKE’S BAY HASTINGS, Feb. 9. The New Zealand Air Force, which formally took over two days ago the aerial transport services between Hastings and other districts, bus done and is doing work of incalculable value. Fifteen pilots working in relief are (lying to various parts of the- North Island, but more particularly to Wellington, Auckland, Waiioa and Gisborne.

The official service has averaged -15 flying hours a day since it began, and on one day it flew 65 hours. The average daily mileage is 3000 miles. The ’planes take letters, mails, telegrams and passengers and have done especially valuable work in carrying medical and other urgent supplies, also officials on urgent business. • Some of the urgently necessary plant carried consisted of a water chloriding plant and wireless, transmitting and receiving plant, which was installed at the Hastings aerodrome. Returned soldiers are playing an important part in the air service and, in. t act, every other relief source, while I the territorials are also giving most I useful, services. , One of the most useful functions of ] the air service is the carrying of tele-j grams from Hastings and Napier to Wellington feu- transmission. 'Without this relief the telegraph operators would have been completely overwhelmed. One of th© ’planes carried 2100 telegrams; to Wellington in a single load. Maoris also have been prominent in : the. relief work. The ’quake was. scarce-] Iv over when a large party of properly organised Maoris formed a working; gang, appeared in the town and immediately set. about sharing the work of clearing the debris and digging out the dead and injured, women joining with the men in this splendid service. The whole cf the Maori organisation \ is under the control of, the Maori Wei-' fare League, and members set an example which impressed everybody. They, were imbued with the spirit of cheer-j fulness and self-sacrifice and their help, in this time of need is not likely to be forgotten readily.

TEMPOR AR Y POLICE SERVICE Major W. A. G. Penlington said that uniformed police would h© in power in the residential area until the people's I nerves had settled down. He added I that excellent work had been done by his force of picket and impromptu] police, the greater part of whom were ex-service men and ex-territorials. Some j form of recognition of their service’s should he given, he said, and he suggested that when they were disbanded preference should ho given them when calling on employees*for rebuilding and. clearing. A;s an alternative he sug-| getsed that they/ be given pay or some form of gratuity. i Mr L. J. Campbell, Public Works' Department, reported to-day that lie had complete authority to undertake the. clearing of debris from the. streets, j A start had been made and 40 trucks and 120 men selected locally were employed. He would work in co-operation with the committee) and eliminate any possibility of overlapping in his department. A registration committee was formed to sec that every man in the borough capable of doing work had offered his services. At the present time the policy of the committee was to. give no food supplies unless it was earned by participation in relief works. Such is the spirit among the men of the town, however, that such a regulation | is almost superfluous, j Iti was clear that the people are now j definitely of .one mind in rebuilding i Hastings. Several business places have re-opened and others are well on the | way to resuming. The Hawke’s Bay 1 Education Board’s decision that openair classes will he resumed at various | ■schools in and about Hastings on Monday morning had a beneficial effect on | the feelings of th© womenfolk and was glaillv welcomed.

The emergency hospital at the Hastings! racecourse, where over 1001) cases ol injury were dealt with during the first two or three days last week, was in full operation two hours after the first shake on Tuesday morning. Between .1.30 and 0 p.m. on that day a total of GL anaesthetic operations had been performed and every patient was given full anaesthesia. By three o’clock in the afternoon hot refreshments had been served to all patients and the staff, and by G o’clock evert patient and every worker lmd been given it substantial hot meal. SERVICE BY AEROPLANES TW ENT’Y MACH I NWS ENGAGED. WELLINGTON, Feb. 9. The part played by officers of the New Zealand Air Force and other pilots in connection with the earthquake disaster has not been a small one. Pilots and organisers both in the devastated area and at centres of dispatch have worked day: and night in an endeavour to give relief to those in need. On tfiei day of the tragedy two aeroplanes with club pilots at the controls left the Rongotai aerodrome, for Hastings, and at the same, time pilots at Wigram, and Hobsonville aerodromes were told to prepare for any emergency as the medical supplies at Hastings were all gone. Arrangements were made at Wellington for supplies to bo went and on Wednesday morning two aeroplanes were loaded and dispatched from Rongotai. Tw.oi more machines wore sent- from Wigram aerodrome to lend assistance in the stricken area. Other aeroplanes laden with drugs followed at varying intervals. Two machines from Wigram were engaged in carrying supplies to isolated districts. One aeroplane with medical supplies and a doctor on board made the trip to Waikaro (35 miles north of Napier). where- blocked rivers and fallen cliff faces bad cut off all communication. In several cases where it was impossible to land supplies- were dropped by means of home-made parachutes. Where required nurses were conveyed to the scene of the disaster by means of aeroplanes.

The Geologist Department at Wellington has been given a complete, survey by air of all slips throughout the district. A regular mail service was run between Gisborne, Napier and Hastings. and telegrams by thousands were dispatched all over the Dominion by means of air services. The ground engineers have been kept very busy making minor repairs. Since Tuesday 20 'planes belonging to. the New Zealand Air Force and aero clubs have been continuously operating between the devastated area and Auckland and Wellington. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Ever since news came through from Hawke’s Bay. members of the St. Vincent do Raul Society in Hnwera have been working hard to provide relief. They received an urgent call from a hospital opened by the society ini Palmerston North and have sent three cases of clothing and other necessaries. . They have also provided food and i lothing to help the refugees at Ha-| wera and at Ohawe.

The members are still working and will have more supplies available wherever needed. They meet daily to work on these supplies. ’

EIX-M AN AT A RESIDENTS SAFE. Messrs F. R. L. Bennett, R. 1' • Blair and T. Armitage returned to Manaia on Saturday after having conveyed several loads of clothing and foodstuff's to the devastated areas. The last load was delivered at Hastings, where it was found that foodstuff's were more urgently needed than at Napier. The party ascertained that the following Manaia. residents were safe; Mr Ben Howell, Mils Plummer (formerly Airs Smith), Mr AV, Taylor and family, Mr Walter Stoddart and family, Mr Greaves and family, Airs Collins, Airs Martha Butler, Air T. AlcC.luggage. The Napier residents .sought for by request could not he located.

A HANDSOME LEAD ! £22,274 AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 9. The Christchurch Mayor’s fundi now totals £15,265 including a £IO,OOO grant from the city council and about £2IOO from a street appeal. The “Press” fund is £5504, the Commercial Travellers’ list £505, the suburban and country lists, not including Ashburton and Tiraaru, which ore centres for their districts, total about £IOOO The approximate total is £22.274.

Details are as follow: £ s. d. Jas. Everett 5 5 0 Mr and Mrs E. Dixon 5 5 0 H. G. Dickie 10 10 0 Mr and .Mrs J. E. Campbell 10 0 0 Mrs M. J. Campbell 5 0 0 Miss 1. Campbell i 0 0 M r and Mrs It. H. Lecce 10 10 0 Mrs and Miss Ginger 5 0 0 C. Fitzgerald 0 0 J. Bartlett i 0 0 Alex. Mitcliell i 0 0 'Mrs A. T. Wills - i 1 0 Mrs Mortlock, senr i 0 0 Rev. and Mrs Emmitt o o 0 E.P.M 5 0 0 Miss M. F. Ncwlanu 5 0 0 Mrs W. Mav 5 0 0 E. iCullinan : 2 o 0 F. H. Barnard 5 0 0 Mrs F. H. Barnard ! r> 0 0 M. K. Hall & >So,n r> 0 0 Mrs E. uowper 5 0 0 Mr ail'd Mrs Harrv Jenkins o 2 0 Adelaide Ballantine 1 0 0 C.A.M 2 0 0 i 1 0 Stewart Barker Radio Co. Ltd i 0 0 W. H. Brant 5 0 C. Hill 5 0 G. By rant 5 0 W. MeRobbie 10 0 J. W. Lash 5 0 0 Richard Tnompson 5 0 0 L. Beaurepaire D 0 W. Allen 5 0 J. Sturrock 2 10 0 H. S. Elliott o 10 0 Miss C. Hunter (matron Public Hospital) 10 0 0 Nurses, Public Hospital (exelusive of sisters) 5 0 0 South Taranaki Electric Power Board 100 0 0 Mrs Iv. A. Saunders 1 0 0 J Messrs Saunders 5 0 Church of Christ, Hawera 15 10 9 J. M. Nielsen 1 0 0 Mr and Mrs A. K. North 10 10 0 Mr and Mrs F. W. Horner 10 10 0 Mr and Mrs H. E. Cressev 5 0 0 Mr and Mrs W. G. To/.er 2 0 0 F. Ran - o 0 0 Sisters, Public Hospital 1 (1 0 0. S. Stivers ", r 0 W. May 10 10 0 •T. W. Ogle 5 0 0 Found 2 0 Normandy svmpatliiser and wife 1 0 0 L. R. Hamilton 5 5 0 T. H. Teesdalc 5 0 0 J. B. Murdoch 5 5 0 St. Paul’s Sunday School, Normanbv 2 0 0 R.M.H 1 0 0 Hawera- Bowling Club 3 3 0 Mr and Mrs E.J.H 10 0 Mr and Mrs H. N. Lester 3 3 0 Mrs J. E. Meuli 3 0 0 Astronomical Society 5 5 0 Mr and Mrs A. C. Ross ... 2 2 0 Geo. A. Burgess 2 2 0 Mrs G. A. Burgess 1 1 0 C. O. Ekdahl 3 0 0 M. and J. Rowe 1 0 0 Total £351 10 3