MONEY FROM THE AIR

Northern Advocate, 12 February 1931, Page 6

MONEY FROM THE AIR

KOTO It CA 'S TIN i; o i FT

(jguo FASH FOR H ASTI NOS. j

AVIATOR’S PLEASANT TASK'. ■

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) ROTORUA, This Day.

The Mayor of Rolonia yesterday

handed Hie pilot of Rotorua Airways Ltd. the sum mf f-lIU in cash iVr immediate distribution among Urn suit--.

( .fs in 11 1 e earthquake area. The pilot loi't the Rotorua aerodrome at noon, ! t rriving' at Hastings an hour amt a half later. After some difnculty he located the Mayor of Hastings ar a meeting with the Prime -Minister, together ‘with other members ot Cabinet, in eonfocrnce. The pilot handed an envelope fo the Mayor, who, on opening it, was delighted with the aHion of the 'Rotorua people in handing s‘o large a donation in cash right to the centre of the stricken area. On the Mayor announcing to the meeting that Rotorua funds had been conveyed by air at Hie moment when they were sorely needed, a happy cheer was given. Rotorua’s action is very deeply appreciated in the Hastings district.

NO MORE FREE MEALS

SYSTEM TO BE ENDED

A STRICT RATIONING FOLICV.

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) HASTINGB, This Day. Concerned over the waste o( money

in the system of giving out free meals to everybody, the Hastings Citizens’ Committee has decided that the system is to cease. A stricter policy is to be embarked upon and food will only be provided for those who are destitute or who are. engaged ou demolition, volunteer or cleaning-up work. Staff-Sergeant Major O’Leary, who ■ played a very important part in Lie patrolling of the town immediately after the earthquake, has prepared a scheme for issuing ration cards, which was approved. A complete register of the people remaining in the town will be compiled, and those who are able to pay for food will be compelled to do so. Persons of means, who have no cash in their possession, will be debited with all food issued to them and their families.

It -was stated that a strict rationing scheme was only a duty to those who were so generously coming to tho aid of the people. Some concern is being felt at the practice of commandeering goods salvaged from the ruins. When the Citizens’ Committee was set up im mediately after the earthquake, it was decided to commandeer clothing, boots, motor accessories and food from tho demolished buildings and to take a full inventory for the benefit of the owners. The question now arises, however, of compensating the owners for goods commandeered and so distribut ed. This matter will be discussed with tlie Prime-Minister.

SEA BED RAISED.

MB PURKER T’B OPINION,

Interviewed on the subject at Wellington, Mr F. W. Furkert, Engineer-in-Cliief. to the Public Works Department, stated that there was no question ot the harbour being out of business. Tide Veronica, drawing L'. feet, had got out, and, although money would have to bo

spent, the harbour was still a harbour that eould be malic use of.

Tho breakwater was not damaged at all, with the exception, of a few cracks. The breakwater wharf was damaged, although not iri - ejfirably.

MEAT EIT TO BE SHIPPED,

CAUCASUS BEING- LOAD Fib

(Per Press Association. —Copyrleht.7 HASTINGS, Tuesday. Contrary toj.expectations, the biggest portion of the) meat Jit the three Hastings freezing "works —Whakatu, Pakipaki and Tomoana —is in excellent condition, and fit to be .shipped immediately. Only a yery small amount will have to be re-conditioned. Parcases are still being loaded for Wol-

lington.

JOTTINGS,

London “Punch,” according to cabled advice, publishes a dignified cartoon by -Sir Bernard Partridge entitled “An Empire Lamenting’,” de-. picting Britannia, .beside a half-masted Union .lack gazing compassionately

over the devastated city of Napier

<No compulsion is to be used in Napier iu connection with, iiinoculalion

against typhoid, but t lib ye ottering will be treated with T.A.t!. The fact ot

optional treatment- is indicative ot the splendid position ot the town front a health 'standpoint.

Two young Napier persons ware mar rit'd at Ihe Presbyterian. Manse in Vigour Prowu Street, Napier, on Saturday nigiiv. They 'were Mr George Harvey, second son of Mr and Mrs F. G. Harvey, of Ashley Gorge, GanP vb.ury, .and Miss Dorothy Helen Fiinn. eldest daughter of Airs B. A. Pliun, of Shakespeare Terrace,. The ceremony was'- performed by the Bov. H. A. Gould. Although the building containing the Municipal Bath was badly knocked about, the pool is intact, and is now being filled with sea water for .bathing purposes.

A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT,

THE PLUCK OF THE PEOPLE

A representative of the cate” interviewed a lady, who, with her children, has just come to Whangarei from Hastings.

She stated that on tho Tuesday she was at work in her home, her two children having gone to school, when she felt the shock. This came like a bump, and she rushed outside. Then, as did -everyone, she was constrained to sit down. Her first thought was for her children, and till they came homo and she learned they had been outside in the school grounds, and thus escaped injury, she was most anxious. The ’quake was followed by the noise of falling walls and screams. Living not far from Eoaeh 7 s building, the noise, to her, was appalling. “It was wonderful,” said the lady, “to see how people bore the shake. There were no tears, no complaints-! The greatest relief was experienced when the children returned safe and sound. Neighbours, some almost in j need-of assistance themselves, were helping one another. The housewives

rushed into their swaying houses and got cut pots and kettJes. They took the bricks from the fallen chimneys and built live places on the lawns and thou went on with their interrupted house work. Husbands joined their efforts, ami combined meals were prepared, The "wooden houses in Hastings were twisted and shaken, but, except for the chimneys, they were able to bo entered, and household ‘belongings in many cases were able to be obtained.

To ishow tho working of the housewives’ mind, on the Wednesday a leg of lamb had been obtained, and had boon boiled over one of these impromptu fireplaces, "when one of the joint managers determined on having some onion sauce. And onion sauce they did have! “What is the use of lamb,” said the energetic woman, “if we don’t, have, onion sauce*”

The refugee was very indignant at the reports of the utter disaster that were spread around. “I and all any friends were utterly ‘fed up’ with these reports. Many of them wore more than half untrue. To show the sang froid of some, a caller visited my house on the afternoon of the Tuesday, and was dressed up in full calling attire. -She said there had not been much damage done. The chimney had fallen into the middle of. her drawingroom, but she had merely come to sc© that we were all right.” As another instance of false reports, the refugee referred to a statement that a. wedding which was to have been held in the morning was solemnised among the ruins of the Havelock Church at -I pan. As a matter of fact, the church was all but undamaged. The aeroplane service was "wonderful. A school teacher had lost iu the Grand Hotel everything but what she stood up in. On the Wednesday she was aeroplancd to her home, and, iby return, she despatched socks and other tilings of which a friend’: - , husband stood in need. The worst place was Roach’s, Here the gas, turned on iu the tea rooms, it is supposed, put, the whole place on tire. But, wonderful to relate, just after Ilie crash, and while the ladies were waiting on tho lawns to see what was to eventuate, a young lady, a member of Roach's stall, flew by on her bicycle. -She had been flung down from, the upper storey, and had been unscra I died, but was fearfully distressed. A neighbour took her and made her lie down in a chair -on the lawn to recuperate. Though tremendous loss was sustained by most ot the people, yet they •.vere more pleased at being aide to save something out of the wrecks of their homes than worrying over their losses, “It was a fearful experience,” she stared, “but we have come through all right. My husband is still at work, and our home, shattered as it is, is still there.”