HOMELESS ANIMALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 14

HOMELESS ANIMALS.

MANY PATHETIC SIGHTS.

DOGS SIT AMONG RUINS.

LIBERATION OF CANARIES.

FOWLS USED FOR FOOD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER. Sunday. The earthquake has had a remarkable effect on animals. Tho most striking feature is tho number of canaries liberated. Eight have flown on board the Veronica and refuse to leave. One was noticed to-day vainly trying to fly through a glass window of tho Caledonian Hotel. It entirely disregarded the open window alongside and fluttered round the closed window until exhausted. Horses aro wandering in a dazed condition about the roads. Even a sharp crack has no effect upon them.

Many fowls have been liberated And are wandering aimlessly about the vacated houses. At many places tho fowls are still locked in, and parties are collecting them and using them as food for the refugees. Tho dogs will not leave the houses and numbers are standing on the verandahs among the remains. Many remains of cats and dogs are seen, while at tho port a draught horse dropped dead in the middle of the road.

TOUCHING DEVOTION.

SEARCH FOR RELATIVES WALKS OF SIXTY MILES. [by telegraph.—special reporter.] NAPIER, Saturda-y. Two cases of touching devotion during the earthquake are recorded. The first instance is that of Mr. C. Gill, of Mohaka, at present an inmate of tho field hospital. His wife was shopping in Napier when the earthquake occurred. Although he was alone with his four children, ho set out at daybreak on Wednesday morning to walk to Napier, a distance of 60 miles.

Mr. Gill reached here last night, his shoes completely worn out and his feet shockingly lacerated an swollen. His nerves have gone and it was some time before he could explain what he wanted. A search was made for his wife and she was eventually located in the maternity tent. She had been in Beck's shop at the time of the earthquake and had been rescued by an assistant. The condition. of both is now satisfactory. The second case is that of a young man named Gadden, who was staying at Waikaremoana when the earthquake occurred. He had two sisters staying at the Grand Hotel, Hastings. Reports came through that Hastings was wiped out so he and a Mr. Murphy set out to walk the 60 miles to Napier. A great part of the road was heavily scarred with fissures. It is on this portion of the road that the whole of the Devil's Elbow Valley has fallen in. They reached Napier and got a ride to Hastings to have the glorious satisfaction of finding that Mr. Gadden's sisters had escaped unscathed. ,

LIFE ON THE ISLAND

ORDEAL BEING FORGOTTEN. THIRTY MORE BOYS ARRIVE. Another party of about 30 children reached Auckland by train yesterday morning, this time from Eskdalo. They were all boys from the farm section of the Hawkc's Bay Orphans' Home. Most of the boys were working in the fields when the top storey of their school house collapsed, consequently none was hurt.

With the contingent which arriyed on Saturday morning to be accommodated at Motuihi, the camp now houses nearly 100 of the little refugees. All are settling down quite happily, and, according to Miss Mountfort, matron of the Hawke's Bay Home, are quickly forgetting the ordeal through which they passed.

" It is so beautiful here and tho children are thinking it all very marvellous after the terror of the last few days," remarked Miss Mountfort over the tolephone from the camp last evening.

The Sunshine Association had bfen arranging everything wonderfully, added tho matron. An abundance of clothing given by sympathisers had enabled the children to be fitted out so completely that Miss Mountfort had been able to dispense with the soiled uniforms in which tho children had arrived. This was practically all they had for clothing. So generous has been the response to the Sunshine Association's appeal for food, clothing and money, that it is probable, in the opinion of association members, that no expense will fall upon the State for the conduct of the camp.

BABY OF THE CAMP.

LITTLE GIRL FROM NAPIER,

" Goldilocks " is the name which might well be given to the tiniest refugee who has gone to live nt the Alotuihi camp with the children evacuate i irom .the Haw he's Bay Children's Home, Napier. The child, aged 3£, was sleeping contentedly, it thumb in her- mouth, her golden curls tumbling on a pillow, when a Herald photographer visited Motuihi yesterday. The baby is one of a family of four which had been received into the shelter of the Napier home.

RECREATION FACILITIES.

MOVEMENT AT NAPIER. FREE ENTERTAINMENTS PLANNED [ny TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] PALMEKSTON NORTH, Sunday. Facilities for providing recreation for the workers and residents left in Napier are being provided by the Reliof Oommittee, acting on the suggestion of Mr. F. W. Furkert, engineer in chief to the Public Works Department. He .pointed out the desirability of a cinema projector being secured immediately and one twill probably be installed in the Drill Hall for tho free entertainment of the public. Local clergymen have been invited to assist in providing further means of recreation. A number of billiard tables in abandoned houses will bo brought into the town.