CHANGE IN CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 13

CHANGE IN CONTROL.

COMMISSION AT NAPIER.

DUTIES COMMENCE TO-DAY. PROBLEMS TO BE FACED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.3 HASTINGS, Tuesday. The Commission of Management will officially take over the affairs of Napier borough to-morrow. The chairman of the commission, Mr. J. S. Barton,'S.M., and Mr. L. B. Campbell, public works engineer, have already visited the town and viewed the problem in an informal way before returning to Wellington to discuss the details with the Government.

It is apparent that Mr. Barton has been in close touch with the Ministers at Wellington and there are indications that lie has the basis of a scheme worked out that is likely to meet with the approval of the Napier Borough Council. It is thought the council will continue to carry out many of its present undertakings, particularly public utilities, and that the commission will deal with all earthquake matters-and exercise general supervision to avoid overlapping.

It is estimated that the rates for the year will total £65,000, of which only £15,000 has been collected, and ifc is expected that the commission will consider the collection of the remainder with other financial problems.

ACTS OF HEROISM.

PLEA FOR RECOGNITION.

RECORDS TO BE COMPILED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HASTINGS, Tuesday.

Men and women in Hastings and Napier performed deeds which, had they occurred in the army at the war, would have been considered worthy of the highest decorations, and a place among the treasured traditions, says Mr. W. A. G. Penlington, principal of the Hastings High School and a former major in the Rifle Brigade in the Great War, who, in a letter to the press, makes,a plea for the recognition of deeds of valour during the earthquake. "There were many instances of people risking their lives for the sake of others," says Mr. Penlington. "In some cases they sustained serious injuries in doing so, and in several instances they met death. No doubt the cases should be brought to the notice of the Royal Humane Society."

The Mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. Roach, has asked Mr. Penlington to supervise the compilation .of records of acts of heroism such as he had referred to.

CHILDREN AT MOTUIIfI.

SUNSHINE LEAGUE'S WORK. TRIBUTE TO ORGANISATION. [H\- TELEGRAPH.—OWN COS RESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, met the executive of the Community Sunshine Association yesterday in connection with the camp of earthquake refugee children at Motuihi. The Minister expressed his deep appreciation of the admirable manner in which the Sunshine Association was looking after the refugee orphan children, and the nurses, at Motuihi. The telegraphed offer of the association, when the misery of the disaster was poignant, to take as guests up to 200 children and others, had come as a veritable Godsend. The response of the people of Auckland to the needs of the children in the way of_ gifts of cash, food and clothes to the association was admirable. The organisation and spirit of the camp was a ci'edifc to the association, whose generous work was appreciated by the Government.

TELEPHONES AT NAPIER.

RESTORATION OF SERVICES.

PROGRESS BY ENGINEERS. The manual telephone exchange at present, working in Napier is connected to 100 subscribers, with an additional 300 waiting for connection. According to Mr. H. R. Hounsell, telegraph engineer, provision is being made for 300 more subscribers, making 700 in all. Difficultv is being experienced in finding switchboard accommodation for these in the meantime. As far as the telephone, cables are. concerned, out of 3600 pairs of wires, only 150 pairs have been found jo he fault/thus far, 50 of these being in Napier South anad the others feeding Westshore. Bay View, Taradale and Greenmeadows. The cables along the Westshore Road and the GreenmeadowsTaradale Road have been badly damaged and it will be some time before they can be repaired. The toll lines ueie practically undamaged and the service has been established for some time. Questioned regarding the possibility ot Napier having another automatic exchange in the future, Mr. Hounsell said nothing had yet been decided as to what was to be done in this respect, It all hinged largely upon the condition of the post office building. ISLAND VOLCANO.

activity reported.

TIME OF THE EARTHQUAKE.

SYDNEY, March 10,

Mr. E. Robertson, owner of a trading station and plantation at Tanna, an island situated to the south of the New Hebrides, 120 miles from Vila, arrived af, Sydney by the Makambo. He said:— We received the news of the New Zea land earthquake by wireless, but no disturbance was felt. The lahoi volcano, 2000 ft hi<*h, was active and presenter! a wonderful sight at night. It had not been active previously for some years.

BRIDGE AT WAIROA.

RECONSTRUCTION SOUGHT.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

A request that the bridge at Wairoa which was destroyed by the earthquake should be.rebuilt as soon as possible was made to the Hon. R. Masters to-day by a, deputation representing the Wairoa Borough Council and the Wairoa County Council. , , , j It was pointed out' that the bridge was on the main highway, and that the whole of the traffic from the district came over the structure. Mr. Masters replied that the representations would be conveyed to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W Forbes and the Minister of Public Woiks, the Hon. W. B. Taverner. The Government was anxious that all the affected districts j.hould return to normal as soon as possible.