RESTORATION OF ORDER

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 11

RESTORATION OF ORDER

“NAPiIER IS NOT WIPED OUT”

PEOPLE DETERMINE TO REBUILD.

mXyor REVIEWS 'THE POSITION.

Sjr Telegraph.—Press Association. ■ Napier, Last Night. - The Mayor of Napier, Mr. J. Vigor Brown, ib day made the following statement to the people of New Zealand regarding the earthquake, at. Napier. .' “The calamity came with terrifying suddenness and it has to -be realised that the whole of the devastation was in ( a matter of seconds. The work° of succouring the injured -and those trapped in fading buildings commenced immediately and many people risked their lives in rendering aid. The whole of the first day was occupied in the removal of injured from the debris and the iinprovision of hospitals and in giving the necessary attention to the injured. . "Disiister Imd ’followed disaster. Fire broke out almost immediately after the earthquake and a large proportion of the available workers was diverted to an attempt to combat the outbreaks. In spite of this all the injured .were accommodated in some way during the day and a commencement was made with arrangements for the distribution of foodstuffs. Food and hot drinks were available within five hours. - Transport to deal with water supplies, urgent matters in connection with sanitation and, most important of all, medical and nursing help for the injured were promptly arranged. Committees were at the police station and elsewhere on the evening of the . earthquake. Arrangements were made' in the afternoon and evening for food to be supplied to various depots. ' 'ASSISTANCE OF THE NAVY. “It is impossible sufficiently to emphasise, the wonderful manner in which the commander, officers and men of the Veronica assisted in these activities. But for them our troubles would have been immeasurably greater. They got to work immediately and helped, to instil confidence into the populace. Later, their efforts were supplemented by the arrival of the Dunedin and Diomede, and the navy continues to render assistance to Napier in its hour of need. The doctors and nurses and all those associated with them did wonderful work under conditions that were exceedingly difficult. . “It Is Impossible to express in this statement the gratitude due to all who aided the work of succour. Casualties were treated in the most humane and careful way. The Government has done magnificent work. Ministers of the Crown and departmental officers were quiclcly on the scene and soon made available in conjunction with other organisations thousands of pairs of blankets, tents, bread, meat and other food. “The Government is at our back in giving help. It has taken up the position that the disaster is a national one and is treating it as such. At the time of the upheaval the steamers Taranaki and Northumberland were in the bay and sent men arid supplies ashore when they were sorely needed. The police, as always, were right in amongst the troubles and did their difficult work very tactfully. One has to remember 'that at times like this hundreds are hysterical and great tact had to be displayed in the direction Of matters by these in authority. *“A great many people have sent messages asking for information about relatives and friends. It has been impossible to get information in a large number of cases as the people enquired for have left their homes and their whereabout? are not known. Casualty cases were removed to various hospitals in the outlying districts and it was impossible at'first to get any information at all. Everyone was engaged in essential work and what might appear as possible neglect could not be avoided. WORKING DAY AND NIGHT. “Every endeavour is being made to restore things to normal. Many are working night and day. The Post and Telegraph Department has done wonders, 0 the men working night and day forwarding all communications as quickly as possible. I must assure the people who have not received replies to telegrams that the telegraph authorities have done all.that is possible for human beings to jd> j

’'Some people outside the district have formed their own ideas of what is being done and what should be done, but we who are here know all about it and can assure the public that while masonry and debris was still falling attention was being given these details at great personal risk to those carrying out the work. . . '“I also wish to state that Napier is not -wiped out. We are at present rebuilding a tobacco factory at Port Ahuriri. Portion of it had to be pulled down and this morning men are removing the debris and starting immediately to rebuild the factory, which employs from 200 to- 300 hands. Many other businesses have already made financial arrangements to rebuild their premises. As soon as the debris, which is considerable, is removed buildings will be gone on with. Napier willl soon be rebuilt. “It. will be appreciated that in this short statement I am unable to express adequately thanks to the many organisations and to the hundreds of people who have assisted our people here and in other centres. May I convey to them the gratitude of Napier and its citizens for all they have done and are doing for us a ”-