RESTORING RUINED TOWNS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 12

RESTORING RUINED TOWNS.

ir* ■— i. ■■ i ■ Activities commenced. ROYAL GIFTS TO FUNDS. DOMINION DAY OF MOURNING. L*; More earthquakes have occurred in the affected areas, including two fairly :1 sharp shocks yesterday afternoon and two in the evening. Material damage to S buildings was negligible, but a further portion of the Bluff Hill, Napier, was '% dislodged. The fresh disturbances caused some alarm. Buildings in Hastings I rocked ominously and the walls of already partly demolished structures fell. Every available man was engaged in Napier on Saturday, in a great effort § to make order out of chaos, and to restore the water, drainage and lighting services. '•§ The Mayor of Napier issued a message to the people of New Zealand, paying S glowing tributes to the help of the Navy and hundreds of other workers. Napier !§ i 8 not wiped out," he says, and indicates that arrangements have been made already •i for rebuilding a number of business premises. His message makes it clear, H also, that the people have the will to win through. Thousands of refugees have assembled in the camps at Palmerston North, and the number of new arrivals is now steadily dwindling. Among those who have come to Auckland are children who have been sent to the Sunshine Camp at Motuihi Island. All the refugees tell of nerve-wracking experiences. Royal sympathy with the Dominion was expressed in striking fashion yesterday, when notification was received of donations to the relief funds from Their Majesties the King and Queen. Yesterday was observed as a national day of mourning throughout Ne The deaths officially reported from Napier now number4o3, including eight persons whose identity has not been established. Eleven names of earthquake victims not previously published appear to-day.