RAMBLINGS NORTH

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1929, Page 3

RAMBLINGS NORTH

IN THE EARTHQUAKE REGION, The Murchison district appears to be looked upon as the earthquake region. Certainly it encountered a very sever* handling by nature in June last, and since then nature has rumbled discon■certingly, and kept alive tlu; alarm ol the eventful and trying time of five months ago. when all eyes and thoughts were turned towards Murchison and the story of its trials was followed with such interest.

The major quake period, brief as it was, created sad havoc with the regular road access' to Lyell. The main highway had to be abandoned, and a new road re-opened via Mamin. The route followed practically a road already made but not immediately equal to the volume of traffic it had to bear in the emergency. But by degrees the make-shift road -is being evolved into a serviceable road, and ere the Lyall route can be re-opened will be a comfortable and convenient service road which will be o>f special service for the new route into Canterbury by way of;the Lewis. Pass. i R Instead of the Reefton road to Murchison via Inangahua and Lyell, the road, now passes out by .way mf .Black’s Point and Crushington, on “to jdib MaTuiaaiid thence to Murchison" It is .more round-about-being some '7B miles instead of a little over 50. It is a more interesting road than via Lyell and the upper Duller Gorge—there being more variety in the scenery. The road scenery is typical in places of Lake Ivanieri road, and again of Weliekn road, while in places there are long straights across ,Maruin Plains. Hilly and twisty in parts and rough in a few places, it presents some difficulties for fast travelling, hut on the whole is a good road in the making and apart from its use and service to-day, will come into greater service later as it forms the connection both from Murchison and Reefton with the highway now in the making over the Lewis Pass from Maruia Springy road. Good service cars cover the route, and with careful driving all difficulties are negotiable, getting out from: Reefton the first (Objects,-of interest ; imJude the old Keep-It-Dark and .Globe, mines, which in otlipy,: days were objects of such interest,to the gold-mining (speculator.. Once iuyay from the habitations, the road follows the Inangahua river for a considerable distance,; arid over this stage where it skirts, the river, presents scenes of interest not unlike the motpr, trip to Lake .Kanieri. The road arises steadily, winding through the hush, and • there is one awkward corner where the car is too long to swing round in one sweep, and must hack and fill to negotiate the bend. There is fair material'along the route and the road is beirig steadily improved over the various sections, while corner's Are being eased, arid the route being reduced by degrees to good serviceable conditions.

The Maruia Plains' represent ouen country over a long length, blit not verv wide. It 1 was here that' settle-

ment took roojt, arid farms are passed en route. Dairying lias taken hold and there is a small butter factory in the locality where the output is about 30 tons per annum. A large area in the locality it is stated was bought some time ago 'for closer settlement.

£44,000 being the cost, hut although the value has been written down to £O,OOO the estate lands are still unoccupied.

The settled areas, however, present a pleasing prospect along the valley, and the green fields are a contrast to the birch-covered hills. Maruia Valley did not suffer overmuch from the earthquake. The theory is that Mantle range at the lower end, resisted.. or checked thei roll of the quake, and gave the visitation the backward motion which was responsible for the main damage beyond in the Murchison Valley. Referring to mountains recalled The Old Man of the Bailer mountain, which - is still intact in its novel shape, though scarred by a large slip.

At the Mammoth Hotel en route, there is a wonderful collection of South African game heads procured by the late proprietor who was an intrepid hunter of game in Africa, as well as an ardent prospector. In addition there are some remarkable photographs of scenes in Belgian Congo, winch was traversal during the hunting experiences. Apart from the huge slips on the hillsides Murchison to-day discloses hut little sign of the earthquake damage. The buildings, etc. have been under repair for some time, and about £20,000 has been paid out to sufferers for losses. There is no complaint about the treatment received and the folk are cheerful again, though ready and willing to talk of their trying experiences.

The force let loose by nature at trie time of the major quake is beyond comprehension. Some idea may be formed by the hugeness of the slips, whose great scars remain to he seen. These great avalanches of earth and forest, stones and debris careered down lie hillside at great velocity. Eye-wit-nesses desribe the devastating rush of the slips as phenomenal and it is little wonder human beings and animals in the way were overtaken and enveloped. The Morel slip is the greatest, and it swept along for over a mile. Now a huge conglomeration of stones and timber and earth form a barrier in the riverbed which creates a lake. The M.atier slip is remarkable because in its course it leapt across the Bailor river when it is gorgy, and mounted, the rise on the other side. In another case, a slip did not spend itself till it had pushed a house to the front fence line, and the crumbled tire back

portion, leaving the front hall flattened, lint strange to say, the windows unbroken. The restoration of the roads north of Murchison covered here and there with the debris of slips was a considerable task. Hie debris consisted largely of trees and boulders, and required considerable power to move the impediments to traffic. It has been a work of great undertaking, and the authorities are to he commended upon the celerity with which traffic has been restored.