HEAVY FALL OF EARTH

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1929, Page 3

HEAVY FALL OF EARTH

DAMAGE IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Juno 24. With a thunderous crash and rumbling* many tons of concrete and hundreds of cubic yards of earth were hurtled on to the rear of a house and the timber yard of Dick and Company in Church Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. Falls have occurred previously in this steep area, but not on such a big scale as this one It is stated that after the earthquake a big crack appeared in a letoining wall, the collapse of which was not unexpected. The collapse took place While folk were in bed, and although from the size of the slip it is fortunate no one was injured, at the same time had it occurred in the daytime it is possible lives would have been lost. As it is Dick and Company estimate their financial loss at not less than £6<Xf. A shed overhangs the slip, and the remaining part of the wall also threatens danger. The removal of both has been ordered by the City Engineer. The shed had stored in it a quantity of household articles, ohinawaro and linen, and this was salvaged on Sunday through the roof, which was reached by ropes. . The >. back'Walls of No. 7, Church Street, are badly buckled by the mass behind and the whole building is strained forward oil its foundations. The occupants got a severe fright and a shaking. Exit by the rear was blocked. A great block of concrete weighing seven tons on the damaged roof of Dicks big timber rack presents a difficult problem for removal. Just above the slide stands a threostore.v apartment house.