RESTORING NAPIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 13

RESTORING NAPIER.

PLANS FOR FUTURE. !

COMMISSION IN CONTROL. MAYOR HANDS OVER REINS. IMPROVED TOWN ANTICIPATED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPEdAL REPORTER.] HASTINGS, Wednesday, There was a feeling of renewed confi" dence in Napier to-day when it # was learned that the commission of management had taken charge of the borough affairs and would direct the rebuilding of the town. The. council met for the purpose of the formal handing over. The Mayor said all were more than satisfied with the personnel of the commission.' They felt they were fortunate in having the services of men of such experience and ability. Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M t , chairman of the commission, .in taking over, said the council was now out of office, and could only be reinstated at the will of the Government, but he asked that the various committees continue to function, as they would bo of great assistance to tho commission, and their help would lead to speed in executive acts and 'decisions. The commission would know nothing about local differences of opinion, its only principle being that for the greatest good. He conceived that their first duty was tho restoration of services, which was relieved by tho extent to which this work had been carried out by the council. Question of Borough Finances. The provision of temporary shops was well in hand, and tho next task was tho question of borough finances. After that would be the rehabilitation of business buildings. First they would have to bo assured of the stability of the land on which it wa3 proposed to build, and of the cessation of the earthquakes. They would need the assurance of experts that they could go on. Given this, and standardised building regulations embodying the lessons of the earthquake, as well as the financial assistance that the Government would give, they could go ahead, with the co-operation of the community. Mr. Barton said he thought that with all businesses getting an equal start, they could possibly apply a betterment principle in connection with town improvements that was not possible before in New Zealand. ' With all the preliminaries cleared up, he thought they migjit begin on the market site owned by the corporation, and known as the Criterion Block, enabling the borough to get in first with a good type of shop. At this point he would be glad of the co-operation of the Town Planning Board. Great Work Ahead. Mr. L. B. Campbell, the other member of the commission, said it would be his duty to support Mr. Barton in his keen desire to help.the community in the great work. Their task was not so much to replace Napier as it had been, but to aim at the proper building of the town for the position it should occupy in Hawke's Bay. Mr. J. W. .Mawson, Director of Townplanning, who was present, gave an assurance that there was no town that had suffered a disaster such as Napier that had not emerged healthier, more convenient and. more prosperous. The town clerk and borough staff will be retained to assist the commission. While all are convinced that a definite step toward the rebuilding of the town has been taken, there has been a slackening of the demolition and clearing work. There have been 50 lorries, two mechanical shovels and between 300 and 400 men removing wreckage, but this was stopped to-day, and is likely to be suspended until the commission picks up the threads. The building of temporary shops is proceeding, and tho erection of 60 municipal shops at Clive Square will be completed about the week-end.

GENEROUS DONATIONS.

GROWTH OF HERALD FUND.

TOTAL NOW OVER £13,000

Sympathy with the sufferers :in the Hawke's Bay earthquake continues to express itself in practical form, a:nd. many donations, amounting in all to well over £SO, were added to the Herald :fund yesterday. Many donations were the result of combined efforts in which numbers of individuals assisted. A sum of £lO 18s, raised afc a dance, has been ear-marked for the Motuihi Camp. The following are the latest donations:—

£. e. d. Amount previously acknowledged 13,291 6 0 Batley earthquake fund for Napier district . . . . 15 0 0 Proceeds of dance. Mrs. Thompson's Orchestra, Ohura. For Sunshine Camp, Motuihi Island .... ... . • 10 18 0 Anonymous, Taumnrunui .. 710 0 Staff of Irving Clark, 1 Ltd., Auckland ... . • 612 0 Proceeds from Waimiha Picture and Dance Social .. .. 5 7 2 Picnio fund donation Waimiha. School Children. £5; Turoto Valley settlers for Sunshine Camp, Motuihi Island, £2 6s Gd; J. Mo., Anonymous £1 Is each; Children of Hoe-o-Tainui Sunday School, £}; Glenbrook residents additional donations and pupils of Tutekehua School Kohukohu, 15s each; Hard Up, ss; E.P., 2s; G. W. G.» Canada. Is 9d. Total, £13,34S 18s sd. LEVY UPON ODDFELLOWS. AUCKLAND DISTRICT HELP. A decision to impose a levy of Is each on Auckland district members o!t the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows to provide relief for members of the order in the, earthquake district, was reached at the annual conference of Manchester Unity Oddfellows at Otahuhn yesterday. The money will first be sent to the central body at Wellington and later made available in Hawke's Bay.

LONDON SUBSCRIPTIONS. FUND NOW EXCEEDS £43,800. LONDON, March 10. The London fund for the Bufferers by the Hawke's Bay earthquake now totala £43,834. NORFOLK ISLAND. RESIDENTS' SUBSCRIPTIONS. t (Received March 12, 12.35 a.m.) j N SYDNEY. March «• Norfold Island residents subbed £125 to the Hawke's Bay cajh This sum is to be forwa^ de l„ uill th( , iSS SiSS? h/m iUnd ' W. Forbes, immediately..