THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

IMPROVED CONDITIONS. FEELINGS IN MURCHISON. (By Telegraph—Press Association). NELSON, July 4. -• Feeling in Murchison is that conditions generally have greatly improved during the past few days. The improvement has come about gradually, but it is most marked when compared with the conditions even a few days ago. Mr'May, District Engineer, left Nelson this morning for Murchison, where he will be joined by a party that will accompany him through the Buller Gorge to Inangahua. The party expect to arrive at their destination on Sunday night. This portion is badly shaken and not so far has been traversed since the ’quake. . AT KARAMEA. 20 MILES OF ROAD LOST. '. WESTPORT, 'July 3, • Mr C. F. Shadick, Buller County Engineer, wired as follows from Karamea: “ The main highway, from Tobin’s bridge to Stuart’s Mill, approximately 20 miles, is obliterated. . The damage is terrific. It is not possible to -reconstruct a road,inland. The only possible route is along the coast. It is impossible to restore telephonic communication inland.' The damage to the road arid bridges at Karamea is enormous. • ■ ' ■ ’PLANE DAMAGED. . « -- __ ?■ '■ AT KARAMEA. On Monday when the ’plane flown to Karamea by Captain Birfell was landing, it struck a stump on the beach before the plane came to rest, with the result that it IVflke one wing. The small steamer Nile, chartered by the Post Office to convey mails to Karamea, took with it a wing f from the damaged plane already at Westport. Mr H. H. Smith,, the mechanic, also Went up/on the Nile. The damage is not reported to be very serious.. When the Nilfe reached Karamea yesterday, it landed a fortnight’s mails, also provisions sent by tlhe Relief Committee. The Fairburn, at present at Karameq, has been bar-bound, arid will not be able to get out until spring tides. According to wireless reports the people of Karamea are feeling intensely' their isolation, and eagerly await every- trip made by the aeroplane. ' MOUNTAIN SPLIT. : . ■ Jf-t . IN MOKIHINUI DISTRICT. , WESTPORT, July 3. • A resident of Mokihinui, in which part of‘the Buller district - all four fatalities occurred, says that Mokiliinui sustained as severe a shock as ©• Murchison. . : The earthquake has split" Mbuiit Glasgow from top to bottom, one portion of. the mountain 'being thrown right oyer the river.

“•NILE ” REACHES KARAMEA. WELLINGTON, July 3. The steamer “Nile” entered Karamea at 8.15 o’clock this morning, after being delayed by the state of the bar. ■ ' ’’ y FURTHER SHOCKS. U - i WESTPORT ALARM, v WESTPORT, July 3. Quite a number of ’quakes occurred to-day arid again this evening. . ■ The biggest and most sustained shock was Ifelt at 5.57 p.m. This one gave the houses a desperate worrying. Tho latest shock leaves the people uncertain whether, the worst is yet over, or has yet to come.- 1 Captain Burrell and Corporal Smith, the latter a mechanic, returned this afternoon from Karamea, where they fitted on a wing to the damaged plane. .... At the Borough Council njeeting this evening, the Prime Minister was heartily thanked for the generous way in which the'Government had come to assistance of the distressed districts. A hearty vote of thanks was also accorded to all from whom donations had been received and were being received. Resolutions of sympathy were passed with the relatives of. those who lost their lives in the disaster, there being four- in this district, namely, Messrs Russell and son, Clialmey and /McAllister. . j The first two apparently were, overwhelmed by a land slip, and the last two were killed in coal mines. SHAIIP shock in greymouth. ' m s A .slight earth tremor was recorded in Greymbutli about 7.30 o’clock yesterday ’ morning, and a fairly ; sharp seismic disturbance took place at 5.47 o’clock in the afternoon. The latter s.iock lasted apparently I}. seconds. AI ASTER TON FUND. ' . MASTERTON, July 3. Thp Mayor’s earthquake relief fund now totals £987. DUNEDIN DONATION. DUNEDIN, July 3. The City Council to-night decided to make a, donation of £SOO to the earthquake relief fund.

CHRISTCHURCH FUND. CHRISTCHURCH, July 3. The earthquake relief fund now exceeds £IO,OOO. There has been subscribed to the Mayor’s fund £6,449, and to the Christchurch “ Dress ” Company’s fund £3,594. /■;,, RELIEF FUND. WHANGAREI, July 4. The “ Northern Advocate” earthquake fund has now reached £375. EARTHQUAKE FUND. NEW PLYMOUTH,; July 4. The Taranaki “ Herald ” earthquake relief fund has reached £IOOO.