THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1929, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE

ENGINEER’S INSPECTION.’ Lily Telegraph, Per Press Association.] , NELSON, July, 1. The .Public Works District Engineer, T. May, has returned to Nelson after making an inspection, on foot, of tlie Alurehison-Reefton highway. ■ May was accompanied by Addison and Johnston, off the railway survey party, and T. iucWlia of Murchison. The route taken was along Matakitaki, Warbeek and Warwick rivers. s> The party did not proceed past Warwick Junction for it was ascertained that the road from there outwards was practically undam.aged. Conditions were passible for the [ inspection trip and snow fell steadily for three of the four days during which the party,was!out. , I Starting from Goran bridge on Wednesday morning they stayed on Wednesday night in the deserted Mnmotli Hotel at Upper Matakitaki. On Thursday they reached upper Maruia, which has not been evacuated by settlers. Dealing with the effect of the"earthquake on the route travelled by highway, it may be said that between six mile and eight mile creeks apparently was the focus point of. the faults in the country. The earthquake damage was very extensive. The road had been almost‘‘Completely obliterated, and the country so badly shaken that it would be useless attempting to reinstate the road along it original alignment. Surveys tor a deviation are now in hand. According to Mr May’s observations the damage gradually lessens beyond the Eight Mile creek and is confined mainly to the shaking off 'of the ends of the spurs, the dropping of the outer edges of the road and fissures where swampy groujid had been traversed. A few slips have occurred on the Saddle between Warbeek and Warwick rivers. A party of settlers’ lias been started under'Warwick Thompson, of Upper Maruia, clearing the road from Sberianeah hack towards Murchison. They will probably work to the top of the saddle, a distance of about 4, miles. Settlers aFe now beginning to return to Upper Matakitaki' and as soon as sufficient are availably, the clearing of the road in 'that area will.be put in hand. The damae from the Six Mile to Eight Mile creeks, however will hire to be made good from tlite end. This work cannot he attempted, sqid Mr May, until there is a reasonable prospect of Lhe road being maintained between Glejihope and Murchison.

On the. Glenhope-Murchison section, between Owen and Doctor’s Creek, considerable slips hav© occurred, and it lvill probably he several days before the road can be re-opened for through .vehicular traffic. ■ The removal of settlers from the? district was referred to by Mr. May, and he states that there was mr legitimate excuse for the evacuation of; quite considerable areas, and ,tliat immediate steps should b©. taken for the settlers in those areas to return. • > i There is no reason: at■ all, said ; Mr May, why the bulk of those with homes in Murchison should not return and carry on with the complete rehabilitation of the district at the present time. 1 The Public Works Department is obtaining information as quickly as possible as to the cost of opening up pack tracks to areas in which settlers are now residing, and also similar information in connection with those areas to which settlers are likely to return in the near future. t •Meanwhile, however, the Department’s energies are being concentrated on opening and maintaining the maip. lines of .communication. . ARCHITECTS ENQUIRING. NELSON, July 1. , C. Reginald Ford (Auckland), H. F. Butcher (Wellington City Council Tdwi)--Planner) and Mitchell, a committee es-.' tablished some months ago by-the New Zealand Institute l of Architects, to* consider the question of the construction of buildings as a result of earthquakes, who arrived in Nelson oh Sat-* urday in company with Dr C. TE. Adams, Government seisiho’ogist, have already inspected many buildings and are going on to Murchison 10-. morrow to complete their inquiries. M. Ongley and H.' E. Fyfo, of the Geological Department, Wellington, have also arrived in Nelson and will accompany the party. . Mr Fori visited San Francisco after the big earthquake there and made a study of conditions. . Seen by a “Mail” reporter to-day Ford said:—We have seen nothing to suggest any cause for alarm in Nelson 1 or in other districts subject to earthquake shocks providing the buildings are intelligently designed with provision for resisting lateral forces, induced by earthquake * shock and when honestly constructed under capable supervision to provide the necessary strength for this resistance to shock is such a simple and such inexpensive matter that no responsible person building should neglect these precautions. ' Dr Adams remarked that after investigating the first estimate of the general intensity of the shock it must he somewhat reduced the Nelson district. .. • ft- , . TIMARU FUND. TIMARU, July 1. Tlie Mayor’s Earthquake Fund has* now reached £lOOl 16s 9d.