HUGE LAND SLIDE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1814, 21 July 1906, Page 3

HUGE LAND SLIDE.

HOUSE OVERWHELMED AND OCCUPANTS INJURED. THRILLING EXPERIENCES.

The general interruption of inland communication prevented earlier information being received of the thrilling experiences on Mr F. A. Tiffsn’s Te Data property, adjoining Arowhana station, ou Monday night. A land slide overwhelmed the house, injuring and imprisoning the occupants, who were Mr F.A, fpffen, the married couple, Mr and Mrs Merritt, and the shepherd. Timber and stones crashed through and wraoked the house, and later on the flood waters swept down and the occupants wero washed out amongst the debris, all being injured, and Mrs Merritt very painfully. After a great struggle they reached the wool-sbed, where they were found late on Tuesday morninn by Mr Michael O’Brien. The first intimation wa3 received in town by Mr W. D. Lysnar, a messenger having arrived in Wbatatutu late on Thursday night from Arowhana station, and who rang up to say that there bad boon a largo landslip, which bad fallen on to Mr F. A Tiffen’s house and wrecked it, the bonse being practically destroyed. The occupants bad considerable dimcuHv in getting clear of the wreckage, acid got away with very little clothing on them. The only place available near at hand was the wcolshed, which they succeeded in reaching. Mrs Merritt bad her ve( y badly torn at the ankle, and her condition was serious, while of the men Mr Tifien fared the worst. There were no bones brokf.D. ... 3 The wool bales and wool wore utilised for warmth, hut all suffered very much from tho cold, which was intGaso, there having been much snow lying about. Between 10 and 11 next mornlDg one of the station hands (O'Brien) came in, £e °“ tho oamp at the back, and found the injured peoplo in tho woolshed and gave them all the attention hocould._ He wen. back to the camp, and obtained food, bU-nkats and clothing. Although Arowhana station is only a mile awnv from tho shed they couia not cct across there owing to tho swollen state of tbo river lying between tho two places, and they did not raaoh tho station until Thursday morning. The house wrecked was a fine structure n f eight rooms, situated on a flat faoing tho Waipaoa river, with a hill behind it. The hill is not a very high one. Tnera are indications of an old slip in -ho locality, but that ougnt to have made tao place more scoute. Tho house was connected by telephone, but tho.suddennoas of tho wreck prevented eny message being 3 tbo injuries and the onfforing from Bold, tbeunfo'tuoates sofforod much discomfort through swallowing a good doal of the muddy water. Dr. Seat! was expected to reaoh Arowhana yesterday morning, but no furtbe. information will bo obtamable until to-

a9 The house wrecked bed reoently been sold to Mr F. W. Williams.