THE HARBOURMASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 15

THE HARBOURMASTER.

NAVY'S INVALUABLE AID.

UNEXCELLED PROMPTITUDE BED OF NAPIER HARBOUR. [BY WIRELESS.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER, Saturday. One of the busiest men in Napier since the clay of the earthquake has been Captain White Parsons, harbourmaster. When the first shock occurred lie was on board the Veronica with Commander Morgan, and from 1 that moment until lato on Wednesday night lie had not time to sit down once for a meal. To-day Captain White Parsons gave some interesting details of the manner in which the earthquake litis affected the port. He also 6 paid high tribute to the work of the Navy.

"It is impossible to say exactly what 11 io presence of the Veronica meant, not only lo the town of Napier but to the entire province," said Captain White Parsons. " From the moment the first shake occurred Napier was completely severed- from the outside world, but the sloop was there to provido communication, enabling the true position of affairs to bo mado known and requests for assistance sent. Originally I received advice that the Veronica would arrive at Napier at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, but later Commander Morgan advised that ho would arrive early in the morning. This change of plans was a pure act of Providence. "I boarded the Veronica at 7 a.m., and the ship berthed safely in the inner harbour at 7.50 a.m. All the official calls had been arranged for 3 o'clock that afternoon, but Commander Morgan decided to pay some calls during the morning. 1 went on board at 10.45 a.m, and was talking to the commander in his cabin when suddenly we heard a terrific explosion. Both of us thought tlio ship's magazine had gone, but when we rushed on deck a terrible sight greeted us. Master of Situation. The corrugated iron walls of the stores on the wharf were bursting asunder and disgorging bales of wool. The railway lines were twisting and bending under our eyes, and, with a crashing sound, the wharf a few yards in front of us gave way and fell into the harbour. The bed of the sea rose beneath us and the stern wires gave way. After a while the land subsided at;d the sloop floated again, enabling us to pull into the wharf.

" From that moment Commander Morgan was completo master of the situation. Ho at once took charge of the port. Summing up the true position in a flash, he made arrangements to land parties of men from the ship with the medical supplies available, foodstuffs and materials to help in the rescue work. The sight of the bluejackets in the streets did much to restore the morale. Work Throughout Night. " The Northumberland and the Taranaki, which were also in port, lived up to the best traditions of the merchant service. Cadets from the Northumberland and officers and men from the Taranaki landed shortly after the naval parties, and all did magnificent work in assisting the firemen, who flung themsolves into action almost beforo most people had realised what had happened. The men worked throughout the night. All this work was organised by Commander Morgan, to whom the entire country owes a debt of gratitutde."

Captain Parsons said lhat owing to tlio earthquake the bed of the harbour had risen iivo feel, to date. Actually the riso had been greater, but subsidences had sinco occurred. The final position would not bo known for sonic days, as he was still waiting developments.

Ocean-going steamers were now anchored off the breakwater in not loss than six fathoms. However, the Glasgow Wharf, inside the breakwater, had suffered only through the shattering of a few beams and in tho meantime provided berthing accommodation for ships with a draught up to 23 feet.

SPECIAL POLICE UNARMED.

EQUIPMENT A TORCH.

[by TELEGRAPir.—.SPECIAL REPORTER. ] NAPIER, Sunday.

" It has been reported that tho special constables enrolled yesterday are armed and this is contrary to facts," said SeniorSergeant Lopdell this morning. The police ridicule the idea of patrols being armed. "Tho only equipment issued is a torch," said the senior-sergeant. "Marines on picket duty at the bonded stores have ball ammunition in their possession, but liono ill the magazines of their rifles."