THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1929, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE

LYELL EVACUATED. DEATH FROM INJURIES. MAILS RECOVERED. {By Telegraph—Brew* Association). REEFTON, June 23. Lveil was evacuated on Sunday, all residents coming to Rectfton. Shocks were severe yesterday at Reef ton at 2.48 a.m., 6.10 a.m. and 9.5 a.m. The road to Lyell subsided bodily at Dellavelova’s, fully eighty feet, for a distance of two hundred yards. The telegraph poles are standing in posi* tion. I Thomas Welsh, injured in a slip on l yell road, died at Reefton Hospital last night. Sixteen, of nineteen bags of mails from Newman’s car near Lyell, were recovered yesterday. MURCHISON REPORT. MILDER. CONDITIONS. WELLINGTON, June 24. The Acting-Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has receiver the following message from the Postmaster at Murchison": “ Sunday, 5 p.m. Minor shocks . and detonations continue, olf a much milder character than ‘last night. . . The rivers are running slightly above normal, due to a heavy shower of rain this afternoon, but it is clearing rapidly now. Matakitaki river is reported to be getting away nicely now. Refugees from Maruia Valley, Matakitaki Valley and Murchison are leaving here for Nelson, this afternoon per car and special train.” ' A FURTHER REPORT. ALL RESIDENTS WTHDRAWN. WELLINGTON, June 24. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has received the following from the Postmaster at Murvchison last night: “Position is unchanged. Slight tremors and detonations continue. Rain has set in but it looks like clearing again. The rivers are still normal, and I do not anticipate any sudden change. The following valleys have been evacuated by all residents—Maruia Valley, Upper Matakitaki Valley, Matiri Valley, Newton Flat, Fern Flat, Four River Plains and Six Mile. It is hoped to'withdraw all residents from the last valley,;- Tutaki,, to-mor-row. . Over fifty refugees left Murchison by special train for Nelson to-clay, mostly from Maruia. All is well here.” GREY DISTRICT NEWS. THE MINES REOPEN. 1 GREYMOUTH,. June 24. j There were no serious tremors today. .The schools reopened. The at- j tendance was about half normal, due probably to the heavy rain and electrical storms. All mines are working. 1 At Blackball mine, twelve men < only out of 84 started. At the State mine, Rewamii, 80 1 men are absent out of 200. At the James State mine 12 are 1 absent out of 80. , 1 The train wont across the Black- 1 ball bridge this morning and return- < ed as scheduled. (

AT BLENHEIM. BLENHEIM, Juno 24. A violent, Ion" cfrawn ’quake vt.s felt here at three o’clock on Sunday morning and a further heavy shake at 6.5 a.m. In all five shocks were experienced. No damage is reported. DEATH FROM ACCIDENT. CHRISTCHURCH, June 24. J. W. Nicholls, lecturer at St. Andrew’s College, died yesterday. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday suffering from serious injuries after being knocked down by a motor ear. The motorist did not stop after the accident. ROYAL SYMPATHY. WELLINGTON, June 24. The Governor-General has received the following message from ’.their Majesties:— The Queen and 1 have learnt with much concern of the earthquake disaster in New Zealand. Our warm sympathy goes out to all those who have suffered bereavement and deso-

lation. . Sir Charles Fergusson. on behalf of the bereaved and other suffe'rers is sending a reply, thanking their Majesties for their gracious message and sympathy.

earthquake relief. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S DONATION. COMMITTEE TO RE SET UP. WELLINGTON. June 24. Vhe Prime Minister yesterday received from the Governor-General a cheque for £SO from Lady Alice Fergusson and himself for the earthquake relief fund. Appeals for assistance, financial and otherwise, for the earthquake sufferers arc*, meeting with a handsome response. The creation of a special fund is announced by the Prime Minister, who will to-day appoint a special committee to administer it. The Prime Minister stated he had received a communication from the Mayor of Christ-