SCENES IN NAPIER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21254, 7 February 1931, Page 13

SCENES IN NAPIER.

SECRETS OF STREET DEBRIS. I .1 SEARCHING) FOR BODIES. 7 hopes of Reduced death--IROLL. Peb United ; Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 6. The Napier Press Association agent states that it is) hoped that the deaths in Napier •will not exceed 100. Continuing, he! says that after a night of wind and rait*. with scores of shakes, the weather is again fine. _ Women and children by hundreds are being evacuated, and many peopk; will receive unexpected guests. It is considered necessary for health reasons jto clear the town, and the military and! naval police force are co-operating, but organisation is not apparent to any degree. THE SEARCH FOR BODIES. The search j for bodies continues throughout the) city. The whole road, over a mile * long from Coote road to Battery road, is under debris, in some cases 30 yards ywide, reaching to_ the sea. The number oft people under , this cannot be guessed. No attempt can be made to clear the roadj for some time. No further 'deaths are reported, but several persona have not reported. This may be because the family has left its home and the missing are unable to locate their friends. ! At the time of writing it is just 48 hours since .tlie shock, but it seems like weeks, A major who went through Messines say, thatl that, shambles had nothing on Napier. j Many mem and women are turning grey. All ape in a state of anguish, many fearing! that they have only been spared for Ja j worse fate in the form of disease. Hence the evacuation. I ' , SECURITIES BURNED. With the j destruction of all Government offices, i all lawyers' offices, and the banks, nothiijg but chaos stares all in the face. Owing to the lack of warning the strongroom doors were left open, and all deeds and [securities have gone up in smoke. One office alone lost ■ securities covering £3j500,000. The first shock was so sudden that all made for the open, and when a return was made iShe open doors could not be closed. The fire followed so closely on the stunned,'people thalrall was lost, since those who iwere able to act naturally turned to helping the injured. CAMP? IN NELSON PARK. Nelson Park, ,of 20 acres, is smothered in tents. | Sanitary arrangements have not yet been enforced, but the work is in progress. The work is hindered to a degree by Visitors. Hundreds of people are thronging the school, where an’office has been 1 established, asking for telegrams. Vary few are living in; houses, and many I are camped in all available open spaces, including the cemetery, where the tombstones are used as beds. This scattering prevents the delivery of messaged, and inquirers from; outside cannot get) early- replies to their telegrams. | The fires! are all completely out. Money here is useless, because there is nothing to buy, the meat and bread being distributed. No! one will starve. Water is still a difficulty in some quarters, as the main receiving tank had to be emptied this morning to prevent disaster,- as it threatened jto burst. People ’ were. taking water from the guttfers for all kinds of uses. | i ■ .., .■ • . RELIEF ORGANISATION. Under Ministers of the Crown, the citizens) officials of the , navy and the military.are organising as quickly as possible, but progress is slow. The problem is so enormous jthat it is difficult to see the advancement made; but slowly and surely order is 'being established. Armed guards picketed all parts of the town last j night, and there is no_ chance now of -.any serious looting, which' was noticeable! in a small way. The-fact that a rumour (had been spread of- the declaration of ijiartial law had a wholesome effect, but, so far, no such step has been found necessary. The place i§ crowded with police and the members of the various forces. ' Benzine supplies have been made available, thus assisting in rapid transport. Unwashed men and women, pitiful wrecks, are standing at most places where the wrecking parties are at work. As .a general. statement it can be said that the average president is beyond helping yet. They are stupefied and helpless. Strangers can be picked out by their shaven faces and clean clothes. Stores! are arriving from Wellington, and their distribution is, perhaps, on the liberal side, but tiiis will soon right itself: ' VERONICA IMPRISONED. The bottom of the uner harbour is undoubtedly raised, and even the smallest lighters! cannot enter. The Veronica is imprisoned at the wharf. Shipping has been advised that all harbour lights are out of action. The Dunedin and Diomede are ancjhored several miles out from the usual anchorage, and other boats still further- out to sea. The breakwater is reported to be raised two feet, but this is not (jonfirmed. A reef of rocks has appeared at sea just north of Coate’s road. They! bad never been seen before. The breakers are several yards further away from the sea wall than formerly. CHARACTERISTIC SCENES. In some roads cars completely disappeared’ in rents. . The appearance of aeroplanes in massed formation over the town seemed to create a feeling of confidence. The only building left in the commercial area is being used as the printing office of the combined papers, which issue a morning and evening sheet of instructions and ‘list of the dead and injured. The burial of the dead is taking place this afternoon. ’ The stench in places is awful, inis alone jshould be sufficient to discourage sightseers from adding to the towns problems. Almost every third person is wearipg a bandage of some sort.

CONDITIONS IN NAPIER. NO: LACK OF NECESSITIES. EFFECTIVE RELIEF WORK PROCEEDING. (Pee United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, February 6. Although there were three severe shakes last night at Napier, most people got a good rest, especially after 2.30 a.m., when there was an absence of anything but mild tremors till 7.30, when another violent shake j startled the people. The town is now more safe as far as falling debris is concerned, and the organisation is working splendidly. There is plenty to eat at the camps, and most of the women and children have been evacuated, lessening the problem of possible disease. Water is available in fair quantities. The assistance rendered by outsiders has been wonderful, and greatly appreciated. Many statements of an alarmist nature circulated in Wellington are not true. There is no confusion worth mentioning, and the fatalities have been grossly exaggerated, although a full clearance has not been made. The burials total under GO, and it is hoped that not more than 40 bodies have yet to be recovered. ; Inquiring friends should not be anxious if no reply is received, even for 36 hours of .more. Telegrams cannot be delivered, and replies are held up by the traffic from those people who came to the telegraph office for possible telegrams. The conditions now are much better, and the organisation is providing food arid clothing for all. Whilst supplies are plentiful, it is not suggested that the flow should stop.

■ A private message to Dunedin stales that, though the Lands Office at Napier was wrecked, the members of the staff all got out safely. Amongst them was Sir John M'lntyre, who was recently transferred thither from Dunedin.