QUAKE DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1929, Page 6

QUAKE DAMAGE

INSPECTED BY ’PLANE. PUBLIC WORK ENGINEER’S SURVEY. {Australian Press Association) WESTPORT, July 30. On Monday, Captain Buckley, with Mr T. A. Johnston, Public Work Engineer (Greymouth) made a short aerial flight over Denniston, where they picked up the Alt. William fault. They noted definite slips along this fault, which lies in behind the Cascade Creek (Denniston). There was nothing very startling, said Mr Johnston, when flying over the mountain. They remarked on the definite facies of the Mt William fault. The weather was very cloudy, and unsuitable for air country work. The plane ran into rain over the high country.

Yesterday a more extended trip was made. The plane left the North Beach shortly after 10 a.m. and crossed o.ver Seddonville, obtaining a general view up the Mokihinui River. They could see the, very shattered nature of the country on both branches p.f the Mokihinui country. All the country was shattered and. scarred. The plane proceeded over. Corbyvale, and onwards to Little Wanganui River, noting on the way a dam in the Falls Creek approximately two and a-half miles up from the coast, where water was backed up for possibly three parts of a mile, and also.another dam in Glass Eye Creek about a mile to a mile and a-half up from the mouth, which it was considered should be investigated Towards the head of Little Wanganui, a large slip was noted, under Mt. Anaconda, which had been previously reported by Messrs Scarlet and Ray. This is a very extensive slip, and the latter reported there was no danger from it. Apparently it had come down on both sides. This was well up the Uttle Wanganui River. The country on all the southern tributaries had slipped, but no-dams could be picked out. Visibility was good here. The plane crossed over about the Little Wanganui Saddle and Mt. Zetland, from which a view of the whole of the upper part of the Karamea River was obtained, and of the Kakapo branch of the Karamea River. The plane crossed to the north side of Mt. Kendall (5,700 * feet), obtaining nearly all the way a good view of the Karamea River. They passed to the north side of Mt. Kendall towards the Roaring Lion branch. The whole of' the country in the Upper Karamea river basin is shattered m rl numerous slips were noticeable in ii.c main river, chiefly betweenthe Leslie and the Kakapo branches. The river Was dam-aged-in places, but the water appeared to be gettihg round tile dams, and so- far as cddld be seen,’ it had cut out a satisfactory channel. Those Hipe had occurred westwards of Kakapo. The country between this branch and the coast did not appear to have suffered to anything like the same extent as the back country.

While flying over the high country, the . average altitude was 8,500 foot. Mt: Egmont was seen in the distance with its glowing white top. A certain amount of mist partly obscured the view, cold was fairly severe. On the return journey they passed close to Karamea, and were able to study the damage to the main roading system, between there and Mokihinui, the plane following the line of the coast. One particularly interesting feature of the trip was the picking up of the northern, end of the Glasgow fault which is known to run from Seddonville towards the New Creek River near Lyell. As seen from the air the slips on this fault were on a fair’v definite line north and south, -cross- : ng the -Mokihinui River near Seddonviße. and judging by the disastrous results to the Corbyvale Road, it would appear to continue northwards towards the point south of the Little Wanganui River, where the damage to the coastal cliffs would appear to indicate its termination.