HUGE TASK BEGUN.

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

HUGE TASK BEGUN.

RESTORING ORDER.

ALL HANDS AT WORK.

NO JOB REFUSED.

CLEARING THE STREETS.

DRAINAGE AND WATER. [tit TEi.EonAnr. —special reportetc. 1 NAPIER, Sunday. Practically the whole of Napier's man power was organised on Saturday for the reconstruction effort and many men are privately employed. Many others are en gaged upon relief and transport duties The bulk of the remainder, including scores of men who are bereaved, have fallen in for duty. Tt was a stimulating sight to see a constant queue at the labour oflico, a waterfront residence, onrolling for duty. "Any chance of a job," says a youth. "What sort?" "Anything." That is the common spirit Bv Saturday afternoon 800 names were on tho roll and such was tho efficiency of the organisation, nndcr the immediate direction of Mr. P. Dinnie, district Public Works engineer, that no man volunteering for street clearing, road repairing or water servico restoration waited long before being sent to a task. In addition to tho duties mentioned there arc large numbers on traffic control and employed as special constables, mainly for night patrolling. It is not an uncommon thing to see a lawyer directing traffic at intersections, an elderly family man, with soft hands, shovelling bricks; an accountant, in singlot and torn pants, driving a lorry; a dentist and a banker cracking concrete blocks; a youth with a public school voice swinging a pick; and to hear a man, who looks like a choirmaster, asking for a heavy pair of boots for work in a drain. Numbers of road workers are engaged miles away and have to bo provided with tents.

Stroet by street tho water is being turned on, after every visiblo leak in tho mains has been repaired. This means an inspection of tho taps in each residence — a hugo task, in view of the limited number of plumbers. Engineers aro surveying tho lower levels to determine the effect of the upheaval upon the drainage system, and one realises how necessary is this job when one sees a wido area of tidal basin completely dry. Formerly the tide covered it, and since tho earthquake at has not been submerged. Power is available and tho work of restoring light is being rushed. Tho whole effort reflects tho highest credit upon tho organisers and upon tho spirit of selfhelp of tho people.

SOLDIERS RENDER AID.

PARTY FROM TRENTHAM MODEL CAMP ERECTED. [BY WIRELESS.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER, Saturday. A party of men from tho New Zealand Staff Corps at Trentham arrived at Napier early on Wednesday morning and sinco then havo been working like galley slaves but, like the Navy, with complete absenco of fuss and show. All told there are about 50 officers and men from tho permanent forces in Napier. Iho party is under tho command of Major Nichols, of general headquarters.

The majority of the men were on parade at Trentham when they received the first news of the earthquake, at four o'clock on Tuesday afternoon. The parade was immediately dismissed and the men set to work loading gear on a, special train. Nothing was overlooked. Over 1000 blankets, 500 tents, cooking materials and tools were loaded at a moment's notice, and at, 7.30 p.m. the party set out on the journey to Napier. Tho trip to Waipukurau was without incident, and at the railhead tho party loaded gear and themselves embarked on about 40 lorries, arriving at Napier about six o'clock on Thursday morning. More than one expression of relief was heard as tho lorries, laden with khakiclad figures, passed through the ruined streets.

One party was sent to Greenmeadows racecourse, where the men worked all day helping the doctors and nurses in attending to the wounded. More men wero sent to help in organising the supply of foodstuffs, and the remainder repaired to Nelson' Park, where they havo sinco, been joined by moro parties. At Nelson Park the soldiers have dono wonderful work, for this is practically the centre for the refugees from the whole of tho Napior district. Within three days the soldiers havo erected • model camp for tho refugees An instance of tho manner in which the men of tho permanent forces aro working was provided on Thursday night. After a scvero tremor at nine o'clock a minor panic developed in soveral quarters of the city, and hundreds of people rushed to Nelson Park. The men had been told they could turn in early after a heavy day's work, but all wore on hand to provide assistanco for those who needed it. Among thoso who sought safety at the park were numbers of mothers with babies, and moro than one army man was seen nursing ,i baby while a companion took tho mother away for medical attention.

INCIDENT AT HOSPITAL.

ORDEAL OF PATIENT. OPERATION THREE DAYS BEFORE. [by telegraph.—-special reporter.] NAPIER, Saturday. A patient in the Napior Hospital, Mr. A. D. Thomas, of fastings, had been operated on for appendicitis three days beforo tho earthquake. When the shock occurred, ho crawled half-way out of the debris, and a nurse carried him tho rest of the way. Ho is now in the field hospital at Napier, and his condition is reported Ui be satisfactory.