THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

FURTHER SHOCKS,

AGAIN AT WESTPORT

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

WESTPORT, July 2,

Two big earthquakes occurred at Westport this evening. One was at •s.3o'p.m.’and the other at 8.40 p.m. ACCESS TO CORBYVALE. J * GREYMOUTH, July 2. Mr H, H.. Sterling, Inspecting Engineer of the Public Works Department, stated that his tour of inspection had been mostly in the Westport and Karamea districts. At present the Public Works staff was confining its activities to getting a track made to Corby vale, to give access to the people who were isolated there. In the meantime an •arrangement had been made by the Post and Telegraph Department* for the s.s. Nile to carry mails, produce, and, if necessary, pasesngers, to and from Corbyvale. Questioned regarding the possibility of making a road 'to •Karamea, Mr Sharp expressed the opinion that it would be some considerable time before an attempt was made to construct a new road, as the slips were.so enormous, and they were still on the move. At .present he.- was not prepared to give even a rough estimate of the cost that , would be involved by such a.; undertaking. Mr Sharp mentioned . that he ; lugl returned -to GreymoUth ' by- the Coast route, and had found the road in good condition., . .! . : •

NILE DELAYED

IN ENtIMIING 'KARAMEA

WESTPORT, July 2

The steamer “ Nile ” which left here this 'fhorning'for Ekramea was unable to work the port, but she is expected to do so ‘in the morning.

KARAMEA RADIO REPORT

REFUGEES LEAVING

WELLINGTON,; July ;2.

.. The Acting-Secretary ’of the General Post Office advised that radio'communication was established with Karamea last night. /■ .. . v •- . 'The following report has been received from the Karamea postmaster: “.The auixiliary schooner ‘ Fairburn ’ has been- weatlier-bourid in Karamea since June 19th. .

“ The Coi-byvale settlement will have to be permanently, evacuated.

“ The ' Settlers’ ’ Committee met today. All matters affecting the earthquake are being handled by that body!

“ A number, of. refugees ere evacriating "here by boat . whenever possible. : tt ishoped* 'tof^et'into c’omfhunicatidn with Little Wanganui to-morrow.” • \

, \, v . ■ " ' . .' t ' ' WESTPORT’FIRE DANGER

FIRE BOARD CHAIRMAN 1 ; DISSATISFIED. ' :

WESTPORT, July 2

The Chairman of the Fire Board,: Mr Tas. Scanlon, .has wired the Government his resignation on account of, what he considers the. inadequate measures taken for fire prevention, owing to the Government’s attitude. Realising'the danger from fire, while the 14unch water main is inoperative, he conferred with the Bofougli Engineer and .the Secretary-Manager of the ha rigour, with a view to installing on the £ug Mana a Shand Mason fire pump, then located, at Waiinaiigaroa. Mr Scanlon’s idea was to utilise the pump in. , order to protect the. principal business blocks of the town. .Both the Borough Engineer and the SecretaryManager agreed, and the latter referred the proposal, to. the Mechanical Engineer, who , raised the objection that the tug might be required for towing purposes. As a sequel, .Mr Scanlon wired the Minister for Internal Affairs asking for, authority, to. make use of any Government plant available . for' pumping purposes in case- of fire. Hon. P. A. de -la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs,; yvirecK .'that he had .a- . conference with the Minister of Marine and Public Works Department regard-, mg fire fighting arrangements to he made at Westport, and that he understood both Departments; are taking suitable action. Mr Scanlon being dissatisfied with his reply, and declining to take further responsibility 7 attaching to the office, wired the Minister his resignation. He was .the Government representative on the Board. Mr Scanlon thanked Mr Orlando Nahr and Mr Joe Walshe for the good work they had done in removing the pump from Waimangaroa to Westport. AUCKLAND FUND. AUCKLAND, July 2. "'The earthquake relief funds in Auckland continue to grow rapidly. The “New Zealand Herald’s” fund stands at £6967. . ... The Mayor’s fund stands at £6369. The Auckland “Star’s” fund totals £2113.. i This makes a total of £15,449. ■ In addition, there are suburban lists which amount to several hundred's; of pounds. , ’

INVERCARGILL VOTES

INVERCARGILL. July 2. !

Tlie Invercargill Borough Council.' ati its meeting this evening, voted £2OO to the local fund for enfthquhke relief.

SALVATION, ARMY DONATION, v

WESTPORT, July .2

Commissioner 'Hay, of the Salvation Army, besides donating £SO to the Wellington Mayor’s Relief Fund, has donated £25 each to Greymouth, Nelson and Reefton, and £3O to Westport, a total of £155.

WORK FOR REFUGEES

ON MURCHISON ROADS

NELSON, July 2

At a meeting of the Murchison Emergency Committee, the matter of the employment of settlers at Murchison was discussed. Mr May, District Engineer, announced that the Public Works Department had given instrucr tions to give the first chance to the local distressed settlers, and arrangements had been made accordingly. Labour would be recruited at Murchison, and when this was absorbed, a call would be made on the refugees in Nelson. It would pfobaby be three days before extra men from Nelson could be given road work. 'ln answer to Mr Spiers, Mr May said, that the Department could not absorb an indefinite number of' men until provision was made for their accommodation.

It was resolved to again ask the Murchison people in Nelson requiring road work to register at the County Council Chambers.

iMATAKITAKI TRAGEDIES,

RESCUE OF MRS MOREL,

r ' A point that remains somewhat debateabie is whether the hills in the Matakitaki Valley merely slipped ■.Or were overturned.' The observations of some people in' the Ideality prompt the' opinion that the upheaval Verily‘toppled; over some of the high terrain into the. valley.- The rescue of ' Mrs Morel proves to have' been the woiknpf another lady resident' nearby, Mrs;-Gb Nelson (sister-in-law of Mrs I. Nelson, of Greymouth). Leaving her own child with her mother (Mrs Brown) Mrs Neb son crawled through nearly an acre of debris and water to reach Mrs-MoreD who was buried by the land-fall as high, as her neck. Mrs Nelson found, she/, .would ,be unable, to render aid to Mr Morel, but exerted her utmost strength to liberate Mrs Morel, which she succeeded in doing in a very creditable and indeed heroic manner. Her action is worthy of some recognition of the Royal Humane Society.

DEER-DISTURBED. Mr Lance Heaphy, who Was one of the rescuers, of Mi; Timothy Ryan, states that on crossing Manuka Flat at the back of Lyell lie came across a patch of clear groi n- 1 which'had been trampled by what lie considered a herd of between 20 and 30 deer, which, from the spoor left "behind, the herd must have congregated on. this patch .for several days, evidently terrified. Looking froin this flat, he could observe a. hill ibehind -Penseniels Creek, which had.slipped .bodily, for h distance of albout a ’mile.MR HOLLAND’S ADDRESS. EARTHQUAKE AND HIS , EXPERIENCES. • - i.- ! WELLINGTON, July 3. Mr‘H.. E; Holland,‘M.P. for Buller, gave -rn address on the earthquake and his exrerieftc? of'At' fit Westport to a crowded audience at the Town Hall. \mong those present was the Pi;ime Minister (Sir. Joseph- AVaiM) -at whose, instance,: seconded by Mm J. ~G\ Coates, a resolution was passed extending sincere sympathy to siVfferers and to the relations of those who lost their lives and pledging the meeting to assist in. every measure, for relief. Mr Holland was accorded, a vote of ’hanks and collections taken up realised nearly £2OO. .

The central fund has reached £13,638