Dannevirke’s Fine Work

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5573, 11 February 1931, Page 8

Dannevirke’s Fine Work

To the Editor. Sir, —In view of the disquieting reports that have been prevalent that Dannevirke had had "many injured" (vide the "Dominion" of Saturday—map reference) I write to inform you of the true facts. No resident of Dannevirke or district has sustained any injury, consequent upon the earthquake. The shake brought down about a dozen chimneys and disturbed to a lesser extent some interior plaster, but the damage has not been serious and has now been mostly repaired. It can be described as lying outside the earthquake affected area. Dannevirke and district have been among the most active iu lending every possible help to the stricken towns. After the first intimation had been received of the tragic happenings further north, cars rushed through immediately to the disaster, principally to Napier, in succouring the distressed and in evacuating the inhabitants who were desirous of quitting the locality. In response to a wire received late on Wednesday afternoon from the Hon. Mr. Ransom, soliciting our assistance in accommodating women and children refugees for two or three weeks, over 120 cars were despatched up to noon on Thursday to Napier. These cars, accommodated to full capacity, brought over 500 refugees to Dan'ncvirko that evening. The Relief organisation, established by the Mayor of Dannevirke, with the splendid and spontaneous cooperation of residents from Dannevirke and district, was responsible in these refugees being registered, fed, and billeted with private families the same night. It should be mentioned that residents, not only in the borough and immediate surroundings, but from 30 miles distant, sent in their cars at a moment’s notice, supplied all their own petrol, food for meals for thousands, and worked from early morning till midnight upon relief work. The staffs at the registration and inquiry depot, refreshment depot, food depot and clothing depot, and assisting in traffic control duty, worked assiduously all day and far into the night, some remaining on duty till the morning. The refreshment depot providing a free meal to all through cars to Palmerston North deserves the highest praise, as they were working at top pressure all through tho night to give tea and food to occupants of the continuous stream of cars passing without cessation. They must have served thousands, the whole work and provisions being supplied gratuitously from Dannevirke and district. Every available car and truck responded to the call again on Friday, and by the evening the number of refugees in Dannevirke were registered at 700, in addition to many who had been conveyed by friends to private homes, without registering in billets. In addition, many car owners conveyed through to Palmerston North, passengers who desired to go there. Had those in charge locally received any official intimation re transport from Napier, they might perhaps have given a better controlled service, but no indication was given as to how many cars were wanted, or if indeed, cars were desired, and, in the absence of any authoritative statement being issued, they had to interpret requirements as they saw they were needed. There arc now over 1000 people

billeted upon residents of Dannevirke and district, which has not yet reached saturation point, some still coming in to billets ready for them. The Relief organisation, organised by the Mayor, the Town Clerk and a capable executive of local residents, together with tho co-operation of the Salvation Army, has controlled the situation efficiently, in every way, but great credit must be given to the magnificent response from the inhabitants of Dannevirke and district, to every request for assistance. They have refused nothing that was asked of them. They have offered more than was required in transport, billets and assistance, while food, has been pouring iu to assist in feeding our enhanced population. —I am, etc., • M. D. SMITH (Mayor).