CONDITIONS IMPROVED

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 5

CONDITIONS IMPROVED

THE POSITION AT NAPIER SLACKENING OF THE TREMORS. REINSTATEMENT OF SERVICES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ‘ Wellington, Feb. 7. A few slight shocks were felt this (Friday) afternoon, and if -the slackening of the tremors is any indication the conditions have improved, states a Press Association message from Napier. The weather is fine. The parks are now more than half evacuated, women, children. and unfit men being sent away. Fit men are being refused permission to depart. The police are calling for workers for the clearing of debris and patrols for night duty. There is no intention of introducing martial law and the police say on the contrary that such a step is neither necessary nor advisable :as all are behaving, splendidly. Reports of shootings are officially contradicted, also the statement that two women were rescued alive. An old man, aged 66, believed to 'be from the Old People’s Home, was to-day reported to be still alive. Although the information is from a reliable-source confirmation is lacking. The wonderful work done by volunteer workers will probably result in the pre-, vention of ~ an outbreak of the dreaded typhoid as at present the town is clean and indications point to the fight being successfully concluded.

The work of dismantling .dangerous buildings is proceeding with precision and debris is being'carted away. As an indication of the organisation it can be stated that all houses on the .flats;have been provided with iron for roof repairs, which is proceeding. The work of reorganising the National Tobacco Company’s building started to-day, 150 men being employed. The Daily Telegraph is to erect temporary premises as soon as possible. Both papers have issued a small sheet daily' since Wednesday, two editions being printed to-day. Another fairly strong shake occurred at 7.50 p.m. The trains have recommenced and the express train leaves in the morning for Wellington, but the passengers will bo mostly refugees, who Jiave been granted free transport. Owing to the fire station being burned the engines are stationed near salt water wells in various places. Whilst every house has been more or less seripusly damaged, most are habitable, but the nerves of the people refuse to permit their occupation. In most cases the people ate still sleeping out. Water is now more plentiful. The postal people have overcome the mail difficulties, but there arc ho letter deliveries owing to many being away from home. The Telegraph Departmentis now, operating almost normally. A money - order office ' has been opened where withdrawals are the only business being done. Electric light is available at the post office and the parks, and along the roads. leading to them, thus creating a great feeling' of security. Rumours are being spread . that refugees have been charged railway fares, but this is not true. Service cars and shipping have nlso carried refugees without a thought of charge. The rumour has arisen out of the fact that people making a hurried trip into the area have naturally been charged. Some people hatfe not hesitated to take advantage of the fact that fares have not been charged refugees and have endeavoured to make a free sight-seeing -trip. Two hundred and forty-three refugees and 43 cot cases arrived in Wellington yesterday by rail and sea. The Ruapehu disembarked about 10. The first divi. sion of the Napier express arrived at 8.30 p.m. The Lyttelton ferry was delayed to allow sound-bound passengers to connect. The seconded!vision arrived nt 11 p.m. There were 30 cot cases on board. A special hospital train arrived at 4.40 this morning with 30 cot cases and 63 refugees.

Colonel Ilolderness-. telegraphs to. the Press Association from Hastings as follows: “No sightseers or other unauthorised traffic will be admitted to this district. Sentries have closed the roads.” Commissioner Cunningham ■ lias returned. In his opinion further evaciition is not to be encouraged, except where it concerns people who have been unnerved. He thought rather that everyone should be encouraged to remain to do the work of putting homes in order, of clearing the debris and re-establishing businesses as rapidly as possible. He told the Mayor of ’ Wellington that if he had his way and the money for putting right the Army properties he would start on Monday morning, if only to set an example to others.