QUAKE DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1929, Page 6

QUAKE DAMAGE

koads blocked north of 'MURCHISON. [By,;Telegraph { Per’ Press' Association.]; WEIXING-TQN.,;, June 24. • The Acting-Secretary ,of- the General Post Office advises that the Chief Postmaster at Nelson reports: “That, owing to slips and, washouts between Murchison and Glcnhope, -the, final batch of refugees cannot be evacuated.” ■■ " ' ‘ At 7.50 p.m. the Postmaster at Murchison reports: “Detonations and slight shakes continue. The rivers show a slight fresh. There is no danger. “The Tutaki residents, numbering about 50, are all in the Murchison camp. They hope to proceed to Nelson to-morrow, with others, totalling about 70.

“The weather is showery and cold, with snow on the high levels. Slips on the road have blocked transport today. A big gang of men are starting early in the morning to clear them.”

LAST REFUGEES,

TO GO NORTH TO-DAY,

NELSON, June 24

The latest news regarding Murchison is that the Railway Department tonight received word from Murchison that sixty or more refugees would be through to Glenhopo by four to-mor-row afternoon. A special train will he sent to collect them. Hon Mr Coates and Mr G. C. Black, M.P. left by the Arahura today for Westport.

MAIIUIA REFUGEES

REEFTON, June 24

Over sixty refugees arrived at Reelton to-day from the Upper Alarum and Matakitaki, in addition to the Lvell residents.

After i having, had terrible experiences, many of the refugees had to walk twenty miles over big hill-sides and slips. The only clothes they have are what they stand up in. Local residents are supplying their wants. Assistance is urgently needed. There were no shocks ol earthquake at Reefton to-day beyojul slight tremors.

AIARUIA DESTRUCTION

REFUGEES’ AWFUL ORDEAL.

REEFTON, June 24

The party of Mutukitaki refugees, numbering twenty men, accompanied by their wives and children, who arrived in Reefton to-day, had a gruelling trip by motor lorries and cars amidst heavy showers or rain, aocoJapan iesd by thunder and heavy winds. Thus most of the refugees were wet, but were nevertheless pleased to he out of the Afntakitaki Valley. Ibe party reached Station Creek last evening, being transferred over the Alarum Saddle by Messrs W. Lester and I. and R. Palmer; the latter and Mr J. Butt making the road clear for traffic. The party were put up at the Public Hall, Airs Morris’s, and Air AV. Lester’s.

During the night ATessrs Vic- Manly and J. Black amused the homeless residents with music, and dancing and games were indulged in to relieve the monotony. The party constituted about sixty members in all, and the i;est, who are at present at Air AV. fdackndder’s, at Springs Junction, will be brought in to Reefton to-day ny the service cars.

Sergeant Fryer is making arrangements for the housing of the refugees and ready assistance has been offered by the hotels and residents of Reefton, who have undertaken to accommodate them. The party seem to lie bright and cheerful, but many aie still very shaky after their awful exper-

REPORTS OF HAPPENINGS CONDITIONS AT MURCHISON ON ARRIVAL OF RESIDENTS —o — WESTPORT DAMAGE

PRODIGIOUS BILL

ienee of a week in the region that is practically the seat of the trouble.

“OLD MAN OF THE DULLER’S” DEMISE.

Air J. Black, who is a member of the party, states that the “Old Alan of the Buller” slipped away at 3.15 a.m. on Sunday. Air Black’s residence, ,which is near the locality, is all riddled as well as. other houses. Fie states that not a thing is left standing or whole in the houses at Afntakitaki. Tike places were left as they remained since the big shock. In one house a new table bad the legs shaken off it, and by that it must have been an unenviable experience for the settlers there.

Air Black states that unless you were an eye witness you could, or would, never believe the happenings in that locality. H reports that most of them had only four hours’ sleep since .nonday last. The Lyell and Matakitaki are now deserted. The noises- at the latter place are heard every ten minutes. Messrs Harvey, Roberts, Thomas O’Brien and the rest of the residents of the mid-Afaruia had a trying time, being practically locked in, with the hills slipping around them. They are now also safe in Reefton.

Some twenty of the refugee.* have been put up at Airs J. Osbourne’s .dobe Hotel, and the 20 refugees from Lyell, who arrived last night, were taken in by Airs 1. Stallnrd, at Dawson’s Hotel, Air W. J. Barry’s New Commercial Hotel and. Mr A. Chettle’s Exchange Hotel.

WELLINGTON, June 24

Contributions to the relief fund include Bing Harris £IOO, Leylam! Motors £IOO, Cadbury and Fry’s £52 .10s:

The Anglican Boys’ Home, Lower Hutt, offers free accommodation for ten boys, aged 8 to 12 years, irrespective of denomination.

LOCAL BODY GRANTS

AYELLINGTON, Juno '24

Sir J. AVard stated that the Government intends to introduce legislai urn in the coming session to validate any c'ntrihnti-ms made by local bodies to earthquake relief funds.

FOR. PUBLIC AVORKS

WELLINGTON, June 24

No accurate idea is available at oroseiit how much the work of reconstruction in the devastated areas is likely to cost, but it is certain that the Bill will be a prodigious one and anything up to half a million or more may be required. The cost of repairing the public buildings will necessarily be a charge on the estimates and officers of the Public Works Department are now engaged in reporting on all the departmental buildings affected.

RELIEF GRANTS.

FOR PRIVATE PEOPLE

WELLINGTON, June 24

In regard to relief for private people, the Prime Minister announced this afternoon that a Central Belief Organisation would he set up, consisting of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Under-Secretary for Lands ,the ALiyor of AVollington ard himself, or some other Minister of the Crown. There would he no objection to the Alayors of Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin being associated with the Central Organisation. They would not necessarily he required to attend meetings in Wellington, but they could ibe made acquainted with anything done. The central organisation would have authority to pay moneys into the I mid and to obtain full information for the guidance of those who would be responsible for placing those who bad suffered by the earthquake hack on the land, or into their homes

REFUGEES’ NEED OF CLOTHES

NELSON, Juno 24

Busy days are being experienced at the relief depot at the A T .M C.A. Clothing and hoots are being served out as speedily as possible. I here was a very ihig run on the men s, department. and it was dear that many of the applicants had been very severely hit. Men’s boots and trousers

are still in great demand. Some of the’‘settlers lruin the “valleys were three'days on their journey to Alurchison: DOGS HAVE TO BE SHOT. One of the ninny sad tasks to b-' undertaken before tbo settlers letr, was that of shooting the 'legs, which it was found impossible to bring out. In the circumstances, this was only an act of kindness, but it was a very hard one.

REPAIR WORK AT WESTPORT,

WESTPORT, June 24

Messrs Johnston (Public Yorks Engineer) and Laurenson (Harbour Engineer) made a- detailed examination to-day of the wharf and considr ering the severity of the shake and the pull of vessels, they find the the damage comparatively slight.

The Railway Department is putting skilled men on immediately to carry out accessary repair work. Public AVorks officers are removing all the dangerous parts of >ts hospital. and are also arranging for carrying out the necessary work involved in the preparation of temporary buildings for school children. Alild tremors have continued here throughout the day and _ to-night. Westport has experienced an electrical storm.

Good progress is being made by the Borough officials in restoring the water supply. A partial service was made available to the hospital.

WESTPORT WHARF

MUCH DAMAGE DONE

WESTPORT, June 24

According to All* J. McNair. District Railway Engineer, the damage that will ' take the longest time to repair so far as his Department is concerned is the railway wharf at Westport This has been badly strained at the seaward end, and before it can h 0 used again to its full canaeitv it will he necessary to (iiive a considerable number of new piles. Some of the old piles have been so severely damaged that it would be dangerous to think of carrying on operations until they are repaired, while others were completely ( smas'horl. He thought that the damage in this connection was due to the fact, that the steamers tied up alongside the wharf at the time of the ’quake subjected the piles to a strain opposite to that caused by the ’quake itself. Until the damage is repaired it will be possible to load only a 'limited number of vessels, probably about 50 per cent of the full number. This will bo unfortunate in that when the- mines start' working at capacity ntrain in order, it possible, to c\eitake the coal shortage only a limited number of colliers may be loaded. In order to expedite the work a gang of men is being sent, to Westport from Christchurch.

i__Al _

AIR COATES’S COMMENT

THE FINE SPIRIT DISPLAYED

r SpECTAu To The Guardian ]

NELSON, June 25

On return from his visit to Murchison which he made yesterday in company with Afr G. C. Black, the member for the district, Hon. J. G. Coates, after describing thfe localities inspected including the large Afatakitaki slip, said lie had had a good experience of the cannonades, which were said now to bo much less severe than in the first days following the ’quakes. After yesterday morning’s ’quake the settlers had decided on a general evacuation from the various valleys and the task those in charge of the arrangements were engaged on at the moment, was the evauation of all women and children and older residents and those suffering from illness. T'-n ’ 'Mis's were mostly standing when iie in.o e , , od i them, hut inside tl ere were scene s which were indescribable. Beds, '■■'••Mrs, blankets, crockery —Urbig was mixed up, as if all had been violently rolled over and over.

On the other hand the, fine spirit shown on all sides by every individual was something to make one proud to lielong to this country and be a member of the community. Food, transport, comforts, medical supplies and all services of that nature were under the direction of a committee, which had never left their posts and had toiled unceasingly day and night with no thought of self but with every consideration lor others.

Gangs of men were drawn from local residents and of moil on the Public Works. They had toiled incessantly to relieve and rescue those isolated. It was terribly hard on those affected, but it was fortunate for New Zealand as a whole that the phenomenon had been comparatively localised to about eighty miles, though many in other places had also suffered. One can readily understand the gloomv outlook of those who had lost their all, settlers whoso farms had been scoured disfigured and destroyed, hut: one remembers also the brave way with which they have faced their afflictions and the fine unselfish spirit shown. T am sure the public of New Zeeland will readily respond to the call for immediate assistance. These settlers are a great people. Game is not the word for it. They have the finest spirit of citizenship and have been put to the hardest test. They are living right up to the highest traditions of pioneers. .Mr Coates recalled the reply of one old settler when ordered out by the committee —“ I’ve been here for 44 years and Hell’s not going to shift me.”