NAPIER’S FIRES NOW OUT

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 7

NAPIER’S FIRES NOW OUT

. PROCESS OF EVACUATION SEARCH FDR BODIES CONTINUES. GRAVE DANGER OF DISEASEBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 6. After .» night of wind, rain, scores of ehakee and three lots of heavy it is again fine, states the Press Association agent at Napier. Women and children by the hundreds are being evacuated and many people will receive unexpected guests. It is considered advisable for health reasons to clear the town. The military, naval and police forces are co-operating out organisation is not apparent in any degree. The search 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 deep, reaching to the sea. The number of people under this cannot be guessed and no attempt will be made to clear the road for some time. No further deaths are reported but several people are missing. 5 This may bo caused because the family hn* left home and the missing are unable to locate friends. At the time of writing, it is just 43 hours since the. shock but it seems like weeks. The Mayor, who wept through Messines, says the shambles there “had nothing on Napier.” Many men and wonjen are turning grey and all are in a state of anguish, many fearing that thev have been spared only for -i worse fate in the form of disease; hence the evacuation. MOST SAFES LEFT OPEN. With the destruction of all Government offices, all lawyers’ offices and banks, nothing but chaos stares all -P the face. Owing to the lack of wamino’ the strongroom doors were left open and all deeds and securities have gone up in smoke. One office alone lost securities covering £3,500,000. Ihe first shock was so sudden that all made for the open and when the return was made open doors could not be closed and the fire followed so closely on tne stunned people that all was lost. Those able to act naturally turned to helping the injured. Nelson Park, bf 20 acres, la emothered with tents. Sanitary ar ' rangements are not yet enforced, opt work is in progress, hindered to a degree by visitors. Although hundreds of people are thronging the school .where the post office has been established asking tor telegrams, very few are living in houses and many are camped in all available open spaces, including the cemetery where tombstones are used as beds. This prevents the delivery of messages and inquirers from outside cannot expect early replies to their telegramsThe fires are all completely out. Mopey here is useless because there is nothing to buy. Meat and bread are beip» distributed and 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 to burst. People were takiper water from gutters for all kinds of uses. , Under Ministers of the Crown, citizens and officials of the navy and military are organising as quickly 36 possible, but progress is slow. The problem is so enormous that it is difficult to see any advancement being made, but slowly and surely order will be established. . „ Armed guards were picketed at all parts of the town last 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 a declaration of martial law had a wholesome effect, but so far no guch steps have been found, necessary. The place is crowded with police arid members of the various forces. Benzine supplies have been made thus assisting in rapid transport. MANY PITIFUL SIGHTS.

Unwashed men and women, pitiful wrecks, are standing at most places xyhere the wrecking parties are at work. As a general statement if can be said that the average resident is beyond helping yet. They are stupified and helpless. Strangers can be picked out by their shaven faces and clean clothes. Supplies and stores are arriving from Wellington and the distribution is perhaps on the liberal side. Although confirmation has not been given, it is reported that a reef of rocks has appeared at sea just north Of Coote Road. It has never been seen before. The breakers are several yards. further away from the sea wall than formerly. In some roads cars have completely disappeared in rents. The appearance of aeroplanes .in massed formation over the town seemed to create a feeling of confidence.

The bottom corner of the harbour is undoubtedly raised and even the smallest lighters cannot enter. T^ l ® y? r " ohica is imprisoned at the wharf. Shipping is advised that all harbour lights are P but bf action. The Dunedin and Diomede are anchored Several miles out from the usual anchorage and other vessels still further out to sea. The breakwater is reported to be raised two feet but is being used as the printing office of the combined papers, which have issued morning and evening a sheet of instructions and a list of dead and injured. . This afternoon the stench in places was awful and this alone should be sufficient to discourage sightseers from adding'to the town’s proolems. Almost every third person is wearing a bandage of some sort.