REFUGEES ARRIVE IN CAMP

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1929, Page 2

REFUGEES ARRIVE IN CAMP

PEOPLE FROM MARCIA.

PERILOUS AND UNNERVING ■ JOURNEY. MURCHISON, June 23. Admitted by all to he the most pathetic sight they ever saw the residents of Murchison stood by silently when thirty-one residents of Maruia arrived here this afternoon. There was no cheering, no demonstration of any kind, but warm handshakes and quietly spoken greetings were exchanged. The men of Murchison stood by with tears in their eves, for t|ie scene was one to play on the emotjons of the strongest. Motor-cars had been sent out to meet the rescued and tfle rescuers and they were brought over the last three miles -of their journey by this means of transport. As they got out of cars some of the women and children had, to he supported. Caked with mud from head to foot, their eyes olearv and red from loss of sleep and constant anxiety, they were a sorry sight. Mrs M’Wha, who has. refused to leave Murchison til] her sons, who had gone out with the rescue party, returned, had hot water ready and a hot wash was provided immediately the people arrived. In an open shed nil removed as much mud ns possible, and dry socks were issued by the emergency committee. Mr Dave Mann, who has toiled in a canvas cook-house over an open fire night and day for a week, had a good hot three course meal ready for them and it was appreciated by all. CRIPPLE CARRIED IN CHAIR. The lecue party of fourteen left Murchison before dawn on Friday morning to bring these people in and another party went out with stimulants and medical supplies this morning to' meet them on the road. The rescue party went to the homes of the people and the farthest point reached was twenty-seven miles from Murchison. They gathered up the people, and early yesterday morning started out on the return journey, bringing with them all the inhabitants of the valley. One old man, Mr O’Brien, is a cripple, and he had to be carried in a chair for a portion of the distance, being able to walk only over roaded sections. Four of the rescue party carried his chair on poles over slips and through rough mountain tracks. Eight children of ages from three to twelve were in the party, and these with the exception of the youngest two, who were carried all the way by the rescuers, walked the greater part of the distance. A man of 76 years, Mr Roberts, and his wife walked the whole distance, climbing spurs and sliding faces and manfully keeping up with the younger people. Mrs O’Brien made a pathetic picture, arriving at the camp with no stockings, her legs covered with mud and her possessions in a swag on her back. HILLSIDE SLIPS AWAY. The party slept last night at M’Mahon’s hut, eight miles from Murchison, on a hush track. The women were inside and the men lay on the open ground outside with a big woodfire to give some heat. Some rest was obtained until 3 a.m. when all were awakened by this morning’s big shake. When the shock had nearly subsided the whole hillside half a mile from the camp, slipped away, giving those who were out in the open a terrible fright. Little sleep was obtained from then on, all waiting anxiously for dawn. Before this came they had to go through another big shake, and again heard rocks and landslides occur around them. This experience was terrifying,' for no one know hut that portion of the hill on which they were camped might be caught by the all destroying force and swept away.

FIVE HOURS TO COVER FIVE MILES.

The last five miles to the waiting motor-ears took as many hours to cover, and it was a truly patheticlooking party that arrived at the camp wet and haggard, the children blue with cold.

The rescued could speak in nothing hut glowing terms of the rescue

partv. One rnn'ii, Mr Bagley, carried a 90-lb. pack, and yet when it came to a particularly steep face ol rock and torn and twisted trees he took a child on top of the pack and clambered to the summit of the rise. The party were loth to talk <)i then experiences during a week ol horror, hut the description of one until fits it. “it was hell,” was all lie would

say. Members of the party reported that four farms were linder water. Most of the farmers were able to let their stock go and fend for themselves, hut at Gibson’s, where fatalities occurred last Monday, nineteen pedigree cows were caught in a huge outburst Horn the hillside.

WILL NEVER CO BACK. Most of the people declare that they will never enter the valley again. Mrs James, who came out with her husband and four young children, said she would not go hack under any circumstances. It was' too terrifying, and the grim associations of the valley could not be erased from her mind. She intended going to a relative’s place, and her husband would go back later and bring out the stock. As for the farm, it was mostly under water, and the rest would he abandoned.

Heavy rain began to fall soon after the last car-load of refugees was brought into Murchison, and this added to the discomforts of those who had made such a perilous and unnerving trip. Rain is what the emergency committee is most afraid of, as, if moisture gets into the hills, grave danger exists of the only road outlet to Nelson being blocked. The road is cut along hillsides, and in places already seems to be in a precarious condition. In view of this. Mr Bert Spiers, the local garage proprietor, who is in charge of all the available transport in the district, arranged for a special train to run to-da.v from Nelson to Glenhope, and refugees and many others who wished to go were packed into cars and lorries and taken there. They will,arrive at Nelson late to-night.

There still are about twenty families in the Tutaki district, and a rescue party left to-day to bring them out. The distance is only eight miles, but a track has to be cut through slips and over moving faces, and it may be to-morrow before the people* arrive at the relief camp. A wonderful spirit of endurance is being shown by refugees and rescuers, and words cannot express the admiration in which they are held by all who come into contact with them. All day long ’quakes continue, some being of greater force than others.