HOMES FOR REFUGEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 14

HOMES FOR REFUGEES.

AUCKLAND'S SHAKE. PARTIES COMING BY TRAIN. CHILDREN FOR MOTUIHL HUNDRED AT WEEK-END. GOOD RESPONSE BY PUBLIC. Sad and subdued, with tears not far away, the first parties of refugees to reach Auckland by train arrived in the city by the two expresses from the south yesterday morning. Only too glad to accept the invitation of friends in Auckland, many sufferers joined the northbound expresses at Palmerston North. Three carriages were added to the earlier train, and were comfortably filled with families, chiefly from Hastings. The limited express, which arrived more than an hour late, also had its quota. "We have had practically no sleep since Monday night," said one woman carrying a liltlo' child. Her voice was hesitant and tears came as she spoke. Old and infirm, another woman was helped to a waiting cab by a taxi-driver. Men had little to say and seemed bewildered to see tall buildings intact and the usual traffic in the streets. And so the people are coming to a refuge of peace and crder." Local organisation was being perfected yesterday by the Citizens' Earthquake Belief Cortimittee. Unfortunately, owing to the fact that no forward advice was eent to Auckland there was nobody t« meet a party which arrived by train early' yesterday morning. Until hurried measures could bo taken to send them to the available accommodation there was a pitiful scene at the station.

The committee was very concerned that such a position should have arisen and in order to avoid any repetition despatched the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour by aeroplane yesterday afternoon to Palmerston North and Napier to arrange for proper advices to be forwarded. At present, apart from the 100 children who are expected during the week-end, the only party known to be on the way is one of 25 who are due this

morning. , The committee has been inundated with offers of accommodation for refugees and the offers are being classified. The first children from the earthquake area will reach Auckland to-day. A party of 70, accompanied by a staff oi' seven, will arrive by 'train early this morning, and 30 more and a staff of four will follow to-morrow. Immediately after their arrival they will be given breakfast and taken to Motuihi Island, where they will be cared for at the camp of the Community Sunshine Association. Arrangements on Motuihi Island were completed yesterday- when supplies of ( green vegetable's and other provisions and medical supplies were shipped to the island with a staff of 11, including Dr. .Walls and two nurses. Teaching facilities are being provided and some staff for this purpose is accompanying the children.

A magnificent response has been made by the public in the donation of provisions for the camp. At present the association iis more embarrassed for ready cash. A REMARKABLE VIEW. PICTURE FROM THE AIR. SOME PROMINENT BUILDINGS. By far the most comprehensive view of the damage wrought by the earthquake in Napier is afforded by the striking aerial photograph published on page 8. Looking at the ruins in the central business area it .is hard to 'magine that where there is now only a mere shell and, in some cases, nothing at all to bo seen, there were, on Tuesday morning, substantial buildings. The old post office, a wooden building, stood at the corner of Browning Street and Shakespeare Road. Two chimneys at the apex of the triangle formed by these roads, are all that is left of it. The largo structure adjoining its ruins on the right was the Government Buildings, where the Customs, Ci'own Lands and other Departments were housed. 'J'ho two other buildings in the triangle, at the end of Browning Street, were those of the Napier Telephone Exchange and the Bay Education Board.

Right opposite these two buildings was St. John's Anglican Pro-Cathedral. From the air there is now nothing to be seen of this fine brick edifice.

Passing along Browning Street toward the Marino Parade there arc the ruins of the Bank of l\ew Zealand at the Hastings Street corner, Hannah's Buildings on tho opposite corner, and tho Athenaeum nt the Hcrschel Street corner, while fronting the Marino Parade is the Supreme Court. On the right corner from the Court is the Ilawke's Bay Club.

On the Marine Parade, at the Tennyson Street end, is the collapsed band rotunda, and immediately behind it the wreck of the, Masonic Hotel. Far down Tennyson Street, on the right-hand side }'j' s t t-' le group of trees, the Municipal fh eat re can be .seen. The Public Trust Office on the other side of (he street appears intact.

On the left side of Emerson Street, down from Hastings Street, there were the premises of McGnier's. Blytlm's and How and U endinmg. The Criterion Hotel stood on th«=s right corner. The large concrete building on the Sickens Street corner of Hastings Street is the new post office. On the other side of the road ,s the Caledonian Hotel. Jhe huge budding still standing, further down Dickens Street, on the riihtband side, is that of Dalgety's. NEW IDENTIFICATIONS. DEATHS ALREADY REPORTED [By TELEOaAPU.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] Th« l » Hastings, Friday. ■ Mta Dori, Otr, ol S n ' BS , Mr S ': »«riw» AlbeS p, Til 27 ' Gre ™"