Assorted documents in a folder numbered 18 and titled: Press. The documents relate to the Hawke's Bay earthquake and include letters, press releases, memos, newspaper advertisements and radio broadcasts.

One two-page typed draft copy and three carbon copies of an interview with the Chairman of the Citizens' Relief Committee, Mr Morse. In the interview Mr Morse has discussed damage caused to the town and the Napier business area, damage to infrastructure and essential services to citizens, and the proposed rehabilitation and reconstruction of the town. Amendments to the draft are handwritten in ink. Mentioned is the government's representative, The Honourable Mr Masters.

Two carbon copies dated 27 February 1931, addressed to the Editor requesting the insertion of an advertisement in the next issue of the paper. The quoted advertisement is from C O Morse of the Napier Citizens' Control Committee. The advertisement is regarding charges incurred for food or rations. It also requests that employees authorise deductions to be made by employers and forwarded to the Secretary's office.

A letter dated 26 February 1931 to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph in Napier, from C O Morse of the Earthquake Relief Committee. The letter requests the quoted advertisement be inserted in the next issue of the paper. The advertisement is regarding charges incurred for food or rations. Attached to the letter is a handwritten message requesting employees on wages to authorise their employers to make the necessary deductions from wages sheets and forward the amount collected to the Secretary's office. The message requests the co-operation of employers. The letter has annotations and is signed by C O Morse.

Two pages referring to advertisements placed by the Napier Relief Committee and the Hawke's Bay County Relief Committee regarding charges incurred for food supplied to citizens not directly in need of relief. One page has amendments in coloured pencil.

A message dated 9 March 1931 on a New Zealand Post telegraphs form. The message is to 2YA broadcasting station in Wellington requesting the broadcast of an advertisement. The advertisement is a request for the loan of Perfection cookers for Napier inhabitants. The advertisement was placed by the Chairman of the Earthquake Relief Committee, C O Morse. Mentioned is made of Mr H C Thompson, Secretary of the gas company.

A message dated 11 March 1931 on a New Zealand Post telegraphs form. The message is to 2YA broadcasting station in Wellington with a broadcast request for the loan of Perfection ovens to Napier residents. It states that the Union Steam Ship Company will transport free of charge, any ovens sent to their stores in Wellington. The message is from Morse, Chairman of the Citizens Control Committee. Mentioned is made of Mr H C Thompson, Secretary of the gas company.

A typed advertisement dated 4 March 1931 and signed by C O Morse, Chairman of the Napier Relief Committee. The advertisement provides instructions for people wishing to make their houses habitable. An annotation indicates it was to be placed in the Herald, Telegraph and Tribune.

One page with headings reading: Copy, Press file and Labour Department.
The message is from the officer in charge, E W Alwood and is dated 16 February 1931. It relates to difficulties in securing labour for the clearing of camps and the necessary use of outside men. It includes a list of numbers registered, local men registered, placed in employment to date and received calls. Mentioned is made of Major Nicholls.

One page headed: Napier Earthquake Control Committee. Information supplied is from the Executive Office on 14 February 1931. Subjects are numbered 1 to 6 and are as follows: Benzine; Washing of Clothes; Removal of Business Houses from Napier; Retention of Outside Engineers; Flood Menace and Demolition. Mention is made of Mr Creagh; Dr McKibbin; Mr Howell; Mr Hart, Wellington City engineer; Mr Deem; Mr Fish, a temporary staff member of the Wellington City Corporation; Mr Carmichael; Mr Thompson; Mr Hay, engineer of the Hawke's Bay Rivers Board and Mr Edgeley.

Two carbon copy pages annotated as press copies and dated 16 February 1931, from Major General R Young of the general headquarters of the New Zealand Military Forces at Nelson Park camp in Napier, to the Chairman of the Napier Citizens' Earthquake Control Committee. The author writes that he is visiting Palmerston North, Hastings and Napier and is under instructions from the Honourable Minister of Defence to confer with local committees for the purpose of eliminating unnecessary expenses associated with organisation work. Numbered 1 to 4 are: Registration; Evacuation of Refugees; Repatriation and Food Control. Mention is made of Mr Edgeley and Dr McKibbin.

A carbon copy of a memorandum from the Chairman of the Central Earthquake Committee, G W Forbes to the Minister of Defence. The memorandum is from the Prime Minister's office in Wellington and is dated 13 February 1931. The memorandum is a request to arrange for General Young to proceed to Napier, Hastings and Palmerston in order to confer with committees about eliminating unnecessary expenses.

A copy of a two page report on water supply and sanitary drainage from J S Langton Deem of the Municipal Reconstruction Department in Napier to the Chairman of the Napier Citizens Control Committee. The report is dated 14 February 1931. Mention is made of Mr Charmichael; Dr McKibbin; Dr Telford; Dr Ritchie; Mr Fish and Mr Hart.

A carbon copy of a letter to the Chairman of the Central Relief Committee from T Fletcher Telford of the Health Department. The letter is dated 18 February 1931 and is regarding the installation of a sealed pan night-soil collection system in Napier Borough. The letter includes the location of collection areas, size and situation of privy buildings and arrangements for collection of the pans. It also states that assistance for the erection of privy buildings will be offered to those unable to erect them themselves. Mention is made of Mr Deem; Mr Corbett and Dr T R Ritchie.

A carbon copy of a letter dated 16 February 1931 from G Longton Deem [sic] of the Municipal Re-construction Department to the Chairman of the Napier Citizens Control Committee. The letter is further to an earlier letter and advises that architects H A Westerholm and W P Finch have offered their services as building inspectors acting under the direction of A E Williams.

A carbon copy page of a letter dated 2 March, to the editor of the Dominion in Wellington and the Manawatu Times in Palmerston North. The letter is a request to publish an enclosed statement about the position in Napier.

A carbon copy page dated 26 February 1931 to the Editor with a request to insert a quoted advertisement in the next issue of his paper. The advertisement is from the Chairman of the Relief Committee, C O Morse. A handwritten annotation to Mr Morse is dated 27 February 1931.

A press memorandum and three carbon copies dated 19 February 1931 from the Napier Citizens' Control Committee. The memorandum is regarding the re-opening of hotels.

A carbon copy of a letter to the Editor of the Dominion newspaper in Wellington from C O Morse. The letter is dated 18 February and is a request to publish an attached advertisement for claims against the Napier Citizens' Earthquake Relief Committee. The advertisement is attached with the letter and is headed: Claims. The letter is signed by C O Morse.

A carbon copy of a letter to the Editor of the Daily Telegraph in Hastings Street, Napier from C O Morse. The letter is dated 18 February 1931 and is a request to publish an attached advertisement for claims against the Napier Citizens' Earthquake Relief Committee. The advertisement is attached with the letter and is headed: Claims. The letter is signed by C O Morse.

Two copies of a letter headed: Water and Drainage Department and dated 13 February 1931. The letter is from Borough engineer W D Corbett to Mr R Girling Butcher and is a notification about the re-opening of the swimming pool at the Municipal baths and lists the hours of opening. It includes information about the hot baths.

A typed education report with one carbon copy dated 13 February 1931. The report is regarding an assembly to be held at Te Awa School, inspection and reconditioning of country schools and the evacuation of secondary and technical schools. The schools listed are: Clive, Clive Grange, Havelock North, Mangateretere, Meeanee, Pukahu and Puketapu.

A copy of a telegram to the Prime Minister from the Chairman of the Relief Committee, Morse, which refers to a message sent the previous day to radio station 2YA about the need to check travellers to Napier due to the numbers entering the town and becoming a charge on the food distribution organisation. It also mentions the need to broadcast information about damage to local bridges and the necessity for goods to be consigned by rail. The telegram is on a New Zealand Post Office Telegraphs form.

Two carbon copies of a memorandum dated 13 February 1931 from Brigadier R Greene at the Napier Relief headquarters. The memorandum is regarding issues associated with the Dickens Street used clothing distribution depot.

Two copies of a message on New Zealand Post Office Telegraphs forms, to 2YA in Wellington, with a request to broadcast a notice about a meeting regarding the demolition and clearing of sites and the proposed rebuilding of the town. The message indicates the day, time and location of the meeting. Both are dated 13 February 1931 and may be carbon copies.

Two carbon copies of a chemist's report from the Napier Relief headquarters at the Borough Council Chambers. The report is dated 13 February 1931 and is regarding the establishment of a chemist's dressing station arranged by Dr Biggs, to be staffed by all chemists and assistants. It describes the difficulties associated with this and refers to a statement by Doctor Shore advising that the dressing station had been discarded by the Department and Hospital Board.

Two carbon copies of a Labour Department report listing the numbers of those registered, placed in employment, unemployed and applicants. The report was produced by Eric Alwood of the Labour Department. It is dated 13 February 1931.

A copy of a letter to the manager of the Daily Telegraph in Napier with a request to acknowledge a donation received from Waipukurau. The letter is dated 21 February.

A message on a New Zealand Post Telegraphs form, to broadcasting station 2YA in Wellington and the Press Association. The message is from Morse, the Chairman of the Citizens' Committee and is regarding the need for people entering Napier by road or rail to be issued with permits due to the large numbers of unemployed entering the town. It states that only those on authorised or legitimate business will be permitted to enter.

A two page message on a New Zealand Post Telegraphs form, to the Press Association in Wellington. The message is from the Chairman of the Napier Citizens Earthquake Control Committee, C O Morse and offers thanks from the citizens of Napier for all the assistance provided to them. It sends a message of greetings to the citizens of Napier currently away from the area and to the children requesting them to acknowledge and appreciate all that is being done for them in their present surroundings.

A letter to the Chairman of the Citizens' Committee from the proprietors of the Evening Post, Blundell Brothers Limited in Wellington. The letter is dated 11 February 1931 and is regarding the distribution of copies of the Evening Post to refugees in Napier. The letter is signed on behalf of Blundell Brothers.

A carbon copy of a letter to Blundell Brothers Limited in Wellington acknowledging receipt of their letter, detailing arrangements made for the distribution of the Evening Post newspaper in Napier and offering thanks for their contribution.

Three copies of a message on New Zealand Post Office Telegraphs form, to broadcasting station 2YA in Wellington. The message is from the Secretary of the Napier Citizens Earthquake Control Committee, R Girling Butcher, regarding a previously broadcasted request for crumbtrays, salad servers and cheese dishes. Mr Girling Butcher states the position is prejudiced by such absurd requests and that the only official sources of information about Napier are from his office or the Prime Minister. All copies have handwritten corrections. The message is dated 13 February 1931.

A page dated 12 February 1931 and titled: Report - Pharmacy Board - Messrs Rickard and Burbery. The four points on the report relate to stock, Dressing Station services, decision-making and future services.

A three page memorandum on New Zealand Post Office Telegraphs forms dated 12 February 1931 to 2YA in Wellington, from Morse, Chairman of the Citizens' Committee. The memorandum is a request to broadcast the supplied information regarding the conditions in Napier. Information included is on the need for a public statement about the reorganisation of the town; water supply; gas; chimneys; sanitation; re-occupation of homes; permits and building inspections. It includes the need for a special request for assistance with River Protection Works damage.

A two-page message on a New Zealand Post Office Telegraphs forms dated 9 February 1931, to the Press association in Wellington. The message is from C O Morse, Chairman of the Napier Citizens Relief Committee. The message states the determination of the business men of Napier to rebuild the town and the establishment and progress of the Citizens' Relief Committee. It offers gratitude to those who have offered help and thanks to those working with him.

A carbon copy of a message for the Bulletin regarding the restriction of lighting of fires inside houses.

One page headed: For Information. The information is regarding the Northumberland which was authorised to proceed to Wairoa to investigate conditions. Authorisation to proceed was from C O Morse who was acting on a telegram from the Prime Minister. The message includes a summary transcript report from the Northumberland. Morse indicates that he has approved the Northumberland to return but due to the rising sea, the captain and and boat party have been isolated ashore. Morse states he is endeavouring to get them back by steamer.