Arrangements for Evacuation.

Railway headquarters had set the wheels in motion for the possible evacuation, and carriages and other rolling-stock were being hurried to Hawke's Bay district from all parts of the North Island.

The arrangements made covered a possible evacuation of 15,000 to 20,000 people, and within twenty-four hours there were available 150 railway cars and 50 railway bogie wagons each with a capacity (in emergency) of 100 people or 20,000 people in all.

Schedules were prepared to enable trains to leave at short intervals and had the necessity arisen the whole of the population could have been removed from the danger zone in a short space of time.

The Railway Refreshment Branch had accumulated sufficient food and stores of various kinds to supply all possible demands that might be made upon it at Napier or Hastings. A main depot was established at Napier and subsidiary depots in other parts.

A number of the Department's experienced chefs and cooks were assembled at Napier, and cooking arrangements were adequate and satisfactory. Luckily, the weather remained fine.