Letters, handwritten notes, telegrams and memoranda related to Private Property Missing or Commandeered by the Napier Earthquake Relief Committee and other associated earthquake relief departments. The documents are bound in the top left corner with cardboard covers. The number 62 is stamped on the front cover, with the title: a) Private Property Missing or Commandeered: Enquiries; b) Government and Private property held by Residents: See Separate File for: Declarations relating to b); Note: All further correspondence regarding collection of outstanding tents dealt with on Nelson Park Camp file 31 July 1931.

The documents include:

Copy of letter from Secretary to the District Engineer, Public Works Department, Napier, dated 29 June 1931, regarding the Mr A A Wake's tent.

Copy of letter from W Harvey, Chairman, Napier Earthquake Relief Committee, to the Advertising Managers of the Daily Telegraph, Hawke's Bay Herald and Tribune, dated 28 May 1931, regarding the insert advertisement attached; Copy of advertisement, dated 28 May 1931: Return of Tents.

Copy of letter from Secretary to the Officer in Charge, Defence Department, Napier, dated 5 June 1931, regarding the goods on loan from defence department: Mrs Gledhill, Whakatu, has three blankets; Letter from Mrs Gledhill, Whakatu, to W Harvey, dated 30 May 1931, regarding the blankets.

Copy of letter from Secretary to Mr K L Bunn, 412N Nelson Street, Hastings, dated 18 June 1931, regarding a Public Works Department tent.

Copy of letter from Secretary to the Camp Commandant, Nelson Park, Napier, dated 16 June 1931, regarding Mr A Fritchley, has a Public Works Department tent; Letter from Mr A Fritchley, 65 Georges Drive, Napier, to Sir, dated 14 June 1931, regarding the tent.

Copy of memorandum for the Stationmaster, Napier, from the Secretary, dated 6 June 1931, regarding no tents; Memorandum for Chairman, Earthquake Relief Committee, from Stationmaster's Office, New Zealand Railways, Napier, dated 30 May 1931, regarding searching for three tents and a hospital bed.

Copy of memorandum for the District Engineer, Public Works Department, Napier, from the Secretary, dated 2 June 1931, regarding the application for further use of Public Works Department tent by Mr K L Bunn; Copy of letter from Secretary, to Mr K L Bunn, 412N Nelson Street, Hastings, dated 2 June 1931, regarding the approved extension of tent loan; Letter from Doctor R L Kitchen, 405 Market Street, Hastings, to Whom it May Concern, dated 30 May 1931, regarding the Mr K L Bunn and family unwell, tent required; Letter from Social Welfare Officer, Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, Drill Hall, Hastings, to Public Works Department, Napier, dated 30 May 1931, regarding Mr K L Bunn's wife not in a fit state to return indoors, requests tent.

Memo for File, dated 2 June 1931: Government and Private Property Held by Residents: house to house canvass to collect tents.

Letter from Managing Secretary, Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, dated 20 May 1931, regarding the Drill Hall has 20 mattresses, 38 pillows.

Copy of letter from the Secretary to Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, dated 16 May 1931, regarding the Coote Road Drill Hall has miscellaneous goods for distribution.

Memo for File, undated: Unclaimed Property: Coote Road Drill Hall has miscellaneous goods to be transferred to Artillery Drill Hall.

Memo for File, dated 8 May 1931: Defence and Other Equipment on Loan to Residents: residents camped on borough reserves to be given notice to return equipment. Two pages.

Letter from Town Clerk, Napier Borough Council, to the Chairman, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 2 May 1931, regarding the Defence equipment on loan to refugees.

Copy of Memorandum for the Inspector of Police, Napier, from the Secretary, dated 6 May 1931, regarding the Unclaimed Property; Memorandum for the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, from Inspector of Police, New Zealand Police, Napier, dated 30 April 1931, regarding the Unclaimed Property: property found on streets handed to Police including clothing, suit cases, cash, jewellery, purses, motor tyre and rim, tube and bicycles.

Letter from Camp Quartermaster, General Headquarters, New Zealand Military Forces, Wellington, to Mr C Morse, Citizens' Control Committee, Napier, dated 5 May 1931, regarding the tent issued to Mrs A Nicol; Order to Supply Form, Napier Citizens' Relief Committee, dated 5 May 1931: supply tent to Mrs Nicol.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to Mr H T V Banks, 7 Macdonald Street, Napier, dated 27 April 1931, regarding the missing ducks and fowl possibly at Park Island; Pass to enter Napier to search goods, issued by Geo Hunt, Mayor, Waipawa Borough Council, dated 10 February 1931; Letter from Mr H T V Banks, 7 Macdonald Street, Napier, to The Chairman, Earthquake Relief Committee, dated 22 April 1931, regarding: swag of fowls and ducks disappeared from premises outrageous; he had returned to Napier to collect his birds and take them to Waipawa where his wife, with child, and five other children had relocated. Three pages.

Copy of letter from Chairman, to J S Barton, Commissioner, Napier Borough Council, Napier, dated 24 April 1931, regarding the Defence equipment on loan to refugees; difficulty at Nelson Park Camp of keeping track of loans as people constantly moving between Siberia Camp, Napier Foreshore, Georges Drive, West Shore and Riverbend Road; recommended therefore to close down camps. Two pages.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to Mrs F Hutchinson, Omatua, Rissington, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the tent; Letter from Mrs F Hutchinson, Omatua, Rissington, to the Earthquake Control Committee, dated 20 March 1931, regarding the tent on loan for the Woodwards.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to Lieutenant Davies, Nelson Park Camp, Napier, undated, regarding the borrowed tents: Mr J H McDonald, Basil Road, Taradale; Mr J W Johnston, 23 Wellesley Road, Napier; Letter from Mr J H McDonald, Basil Road, Taradale, to the Secretary, Napier Relief Committee, dated 7 April 1931, regarding the two tents; Mr J W Johnston, 23 Wellesley Road, Napier to W Harvey, Napier, dated 6 June 1931, regarding the tents.

Copy of letter from Headquarters, Nelson Park Camp, to the Secretary, Relief Committee, Napier, dated 20 April 1931, regarding the Collection of Defence Equipment on Loan to Refugees: two main classes of refugees, indigent class with no home, need to be relocated to Nelson Park Camp; and those with houses being repaired; 1300 tents distributed throughout region, need collecting.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to Mrs R Short, Auckland, dated 23 April 1931, regarding the unclaimed items stored at Drill Hall; Letter from Mrs R Short, Auckland, to W Harvey, Relief Committee, dated 18 April 1931, regarding the articles of furniture, silver, linen, floor coverings, clothing and cash removed from her home, but owing to injuries and ill health unable to return to Napier.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to the Inspector of Police, Napier, dated 21 April 1931, regarding the deposit unclaimed property in Coote Road Drill Hall.

Letter from Chief Postmaster, Post and Telegraph Department, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 10 April 1931, regarding the action taken.

Memorandum from Mr Coad, Napier, to Hastings, regarding the Hawke's Bay Earthquake Relief Fund, regarding the forms for declaration of borrowed property.

Two copies of Public Notice, Hawke's Bay Earthquake: goods or chattels not their own property must declare same within seven days; obtain form from any Post Office; Receiving depots listed; labelled goods to be returned to claimant; Copy of letter from Secretary to Daily Telegraph, Hawke's Bay Herald and Tribune, dated 7 April 1931, regarding the copy of advertisement for printing; Draft, Public Notice, Hawke's Bay Earthquake.

Copy of Notices: Local, Wednesday 8 April 1931: people with goods or chattels not their own property must declare same with a form from the Post Office; Local, Saturday 11th instant: reminder that people with goods or chattels not their own property must declare same with a form from the Post Office.

Memorandum for the Chief Postmaster, Napier, from Secretary, dated 7 April 1931, regarding the supply of forms for declaration.

Form: Hawke's Bay Earthquake Relief Committees Napier, Hastings, and Hawke's Bay County. To the Postmaster, I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare that the only goods and chattels not being my own property, and which I hold, are enumerated hereunder: Article; Distinguishing marks; Quantity; I understand that the goods or chattels (Tents, Blankets, et cetera) are on loan for an indefinite period, and are returnable on request. Signature; Address; Signature of Witness; Note: In the meantime, a loan voucher will be issued by the Department or body concerned, to which the holder will be responsible.

Copy of Public Notice, Hawke's Bay Earthquake: goods or chattels not their own property must declare same within seven days; obtain form from any Post Office; Receiving depots listed; labelled goods to be returned to claimant. Undated, two pages.

Copy of letter from Secretary, to G F Roach, Chairman Relief Committee, Hastings, and W Tucker, Chairman Hawke's Bay County Relief Committee, Whakatu, dated 7 April 1931, regarding the forms of declaration.

Letter from Chief Postmaster, Post and Telegraph Department, Napier, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 31 March 1931, regarding accepted packages for return to services in Napier.

Memorandum for the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, from District Engineer, Public Works Department, dated 30 March 1931, concurring with proposed notice.

Extracts from Minutes of Napier Committee Meeting on 27 March 1931: Persons in Possession of Various Goods not Owned by Them.

Extracts from Minutes of Napier Committee Meeting on 23 March 1931: Persons in Possession of Various Goods not Owned by Them.

Copy of telegram, urgent, from Kitching to Morse, dated 18 March 1931, regarding the suggested penalty for failure to notify possession of goods; 2000 refugees in Wellington; 462 in Dannevirke; 24 in Waipawa.

Handwritten note, undated.

Notice, Proclamation, Hawke's Bay Earthquake, undated.

Form of Declaration.

Letter from Chief Postmaster, Post and Telegraph Department, Napier, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 27 March 1931: Postal Department for receiving return of hired property.

Draft of Public Notice, Hawke's Bay earthquake.

Draft of Form of Declaration.

Letter from Geoff Roach, Mayor, Hastings Borough Council, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 26 March 1931: agreement with idea of advertising for missing goods.

Letter from the Station Master, New Zealand Railways, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 26 March 1931, confirming: will assist and support goods on loan decisions.

Card, receipt of letter, dated 24 March 1931, from B E J Brodie, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier.

Copy of Public Notice, Hawke's Bay Earthquake.

Copy of letter, from Secretary, to the County Clerk, Hawke's Bay County Council, Napier, 25 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Copy of letter, from Secretary, to the Camp Commandant, Nelson Park Camp, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Copy of letter, from Secretary, to G F Roach, Chairman Hastings Earthquake Relief Fund Committee, dated 24 March 1931: suggesting public notice to obtain return of loaned goods.

Copy of letter, from Secretary, to J S Barton, Commissioner Napier Borough Council, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Memorandum for the Stationmaster, from Secretary, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Memorandum for the Chief Postmaster, from Secretary, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Memorandum for the Resident Engineer, Public Works Department, from Secretary, dated 24 March 1931, regarding the draft of public notice attached.

Handwritten note, undated.

Telegram, from Kitching, to Morse, dated 18 March 1931, message: draft proclamation approved, suggest penalty for failure to notify possession.

Draft, Proclamation, Hawke's Bay earthquake, dated 18 March 1931.

Draft of Form of Declaration.

Copy of letter, from Secretary, to Mr T Whitley, 270A Hastings Street, Napier, dated 9 March 1931, regarding the extension ladders.

Letter from Mr T Whitley, 270A Hastings Street, Napier, to the Relief Committee, dated 21 February 1931, regarding the commandeered extension ladders.

Letter from Camp Commandant, New Zealand Defence Forces, Central Command, Nelson Park Camp, to the Secretary, Earthquake Relief Committee, Napier, dated 5 March 1931, regarding the private property commandeered after earthquake.