RIVER STILL BACKING UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 694, 20 June 1929, Page 1

RIVER STILL BACKING UP

Big Lakes in ’Quake Area SUDDEN FLOOD UNLIKELY SETTLERS are still leaving their homes in the Murchison district, but the fear of the township being overwhelmed by the bursting of the vast dams formed by the landslides is abating. Bad weather has added to the difficulties in the 'quake area, where tremors are still being recorded. Communication by road and telegTaph is still impossible in some parts. The plight of people in Westport is unenviable. Many are camping in the open, fearing to return to their shaky homes.

TREK TO SAFETY

SETTLERS LEAVING HOME FEAR OF FLOOD ABATES Press Association. XELSOX, Today. Opinion appears to be consolidating in the direction that there is little to fear of the dammed Matakitaki breaking away suddenly. It is thought that a big lake will be formed and that the river will overflow at the lower aide and gradually wear a course through the debris, which is about three-quarters of a mile to a mile In length. That water could sweep its way through such a huge mass suddenly is considered most unlikely. Murchison township is situated in a fairly wide area at the junction of ihe Matakitaki and Buller Rivers, and on to which several other large valleys open out. It was in the valley running south of the Matakitaki that the largest land slide or eruption took place. What was happening In other valleys no one in Murchison knew exactly. Certainly detonations from breaking strata were heard from all directions. News is now coming in slowly from some areas in these valleys and indications are that settlers are not so seriously situated as seemed probable a day or so ago. Twenty settlers from Maruia Valley got out yesterday and camped in Glengarry School. It is understood some settlers from Tot Toi Flat came into Matlri by Fern Flat. Telephonic communication has been established with Braehurn, and settlers there have suffered to a less extent than their neighbours. It is considered probable, by those who know the district well, that settlers in Maruia South will go out to Reefton, or on the other hand some may go through Hunter's Station to Braeburn. Fifty settlers have been camped on the Four River Plain, across the Matakitaki River, and 40 are coming on to Nelson. A party of 10, led by the Rev. Mr. Teague, Methodist minister, is remaining there to search the Maruia Valley and bring out women and children. Magnificent work is being done by all. WATER MOUNTING UP DAMS WILL OVERFLOW VAST LAKE BEING FORMED NELSON, Wednesday. It was considered that the dam created by the blockage of the Matakhaki River will overflow rather than break through. This Is the opinion of ■he telegraph engineer who visited Murchison. Twelve men 'deft Murchison for bower Maruia (Ariki) across country ■his morning to assist to bring in the ■cornea and children who are still ’hore. This is where Mr. Walter Holman's house was overwhelmed, as '-he result of which Mrs. Holman and °ue child were killed. The party re■hrned safely this evening and reports j w ell. The Maruia River is workhg round the slip at Glengarry and Holmans. Four families, the koberts. James, Burnetts and Nalar? re tn»ining for a few days as "JJ e *it is blocked by water. There is a probability of the road between Glenhope and Murchison vrh'f* carr ied away by rain water, hjch is widening the road fissures, nly 20 people were in Murchison last hlght. . who arrived in Murchison his morning from Maruia Saddle reported that all the country between he Upper Matakitaki and Fern Bray ad been carried away. The Maruia at rV* reported blocked in the gorge j Glengarry by rocks. Some porons of the obstructions are hundreds r ‘oet high. The river will probably °°d the Maruia plain. The Matakitaki River beyond ‘he block is backed up for six ■biles and resembles Lake Roto'ti. Roadmen from Sullivan's Bridge tn s* er ® u ** er ), report that miles of ad and telegraph line have been tamed into the river, er i 6 Acting-Secretary of the Genat Post Office states arrangements *ve been made by his department to , aTe a continuous watch kept at o&ngahua Junction for the purpose } giving Westport timely warning of from the Buller River. In edition, all available information hspecting the position in the vicinity ■ Murchison will be forwarded to "est port. The postmaster at Murchison -Ported later: As far as is ascertainWe the Matakitaki River is not yet

up to the top of the dam. The Maruia River has reached its highest level, as the water is now flowing over the dam. The position of the Matiri River is unknown. The Buller River is running normal over the dam at Fern Flat. FIRES IN THE STREETS CYCLONE AND ’QUAKES TERRIFYING NIGHT Press Association WESTPORT, Wednesday. Residents of Westport experienced another nerve-racking period last night, with earthquakes, some of a heavy and sustained character, coming in quick succession. Many people unable to stand the strain of shaking houses camped in the open, lighting fires in the streets, and taking their food there. Throughout today a cyclone has raged, adding to the trying experiences of residents. Reports from Corbyvale suggest that the Karamea Road, on the Westport side, right back to the Bluff, is almost obliterated by landslides. “It is not a question of maintenance, but of reconstruction,” stated a settler, Mr. G. W. Munson, who came through from Corbyvale today. He emphasises the need for prompt action being taken to provide access to settlers, who are in a state of isolation. FEARS FOR CAMPERS LAKE RISES AND FALLS BRIDGE HURLED UPSTREAM Press Association NELSON, Wednesday. When the earthquake occurred, Lake Rotoroa rocked from side to side like a huge basin of water being tipped about according to one member of a Nelson shooting party who was at the lake. Half an hour after the main shake, the water receded from the hotel on the shore of the lake and exposed the lake bed for about 50 yards. It then came back in a series of large waves. The bridge over the Gowan River, near the lake, was torn from its piles, and hurled up-stream. The wrecked structure was carried still further by the Gowan waters, which were temporarily flowing back into the lake. Then the water turned again to its normal course and carried the bridge back against the piles. The jetty has been smashed and the Lake Hotel is badly damaged. Slips and fissures on the road between the Gowan Bridge and the lake have rendered it absolutely impassable. Yesterday there were fears for the safety of two men who were camped in the bush at the head of the lake. RUIN IN WESTPORT TRAVELLER DESCRIBES PLIGHT OF TOWN NEED FOR ASSISTANCE The town of Westport is almost completely wrecked, and business there will be out of the question for some time, according to a letter received by Messrs. S. A. Smith and Co., Ltd., Albert Street, from one of their travellers, who was in Westport during the ’quake. Arriving in the town on Sunday, the traveller had his samples unpacked, and was out making appointments with customers when the ’quake occurred on Monday. Just ten minutes before the disaster he had removed his motor-car from Bett’s garage, where slight repairs had been effected, and parked it outside the Club Hotel. Bett’s garage was completely wrecked, and the six cars there were smashed to pieces. The only damage to the traveller's car was caused by a few bricks from the toppling chimney of the hotel. These dented the front mudguards. After the severest part of the ’quake was over, the traveller returned to his hotel, to find that his room was demolished. Part of a stone wall and a chimney had fallen through the ceiling. His personal belongings were utterly ruined. IN DARKNESS Examination of his sample room showed his wares to be thoroughly mixed up, though the actual damage amounted to only £6 or £7. He packed his samples, and locked them in his car. “It was now dark, and fairly severe shocks were being felt all the time,” he writes. “Everyone decided that it would be too risky to stay inside for the night, as fairly severe shocks j

were being felt all the time. It would have been too risky, because there was stuff falling from buildings evervwhere.”

Deciding that it was useless to stay in the town, the writer, together with seven or eight other travellers, tried to get out by boat. Owing to slips right through the Buller, it would be at least two weeks before the road was cleared. They booked their passage on the Komata, which was due to sail for Wellington. “Having made all my arrangements, I prepared for a pretty uncomfortable night walking the streets and sleeping in the car,” he says. “The whole town was in darkness, the water supply was cut off, and there was no chance of getting anything more than ‘scratch food’.” FEAR OF BANKRUPTCIES

At 2 a.m. on Friday a special wireless message came through advising that all boats in port had been ordered to stand by outside the harbour, as a slip had come down in the Buller Gorge, and a flood was feared. At 6 a.m. advice was received that the Komata would sail for Wellington at 6.30. The commercial travellers left by her, arriving in Wellington on Wednesday morning. “One representative who had just-f finished his business in Westport had all his orders cancelled,” says the letter. “This is not surprising when one sees the condition of Westport today. The business people do not know where they stand, and when I left, barricades were being hastily erected to protect what stocks are left. The whole place looks as though it had been shelled by heavy gunfire, and is a most depressing sight. We had no news of what had happened in the rest of New Zealand until we got the newspapers in Wellington this morn- “ Unless the Government gives assistance, a number of business people will not be in a position to carry on at ail. The manager of one of the banks said there would he a big percentage of bankruptcies if assistance was not given. In many cases buildings will have to be pulled down and completely rebuilt.” MEN INJURED AT DENNISTON CHIMNEY STACK DAMAGED Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. The manager of the Westport Coal Company states that a large chimney stack at Brakehead, Denniston, is damaged, and several men received slight injuries. The mine will probably be idle for 10 days. TOO ROUGH FOR FLYING CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. No air mail was takeu over to the West Coast today owing to reports of bad weather from Otira and Greymouth. In the morning Captain Buckley took an airplane up for a time, but seeing the heavy masses of clouds banking on the West Coast he decided not to risk the journey across the Alps. Later steady rain set in from the east. Captain Burrell, who stayed at Westport yesterday to make an aerial survey of the Buller Gorge, also found the weather too dangerous to attempt to return. The mail has been sent on to Westport by steamer.

DiSTRICT IN CHAOS CREEPING LANDSLIDES WATER smells of sulphur, Press Association NELSON, Today. t •jhQ Hon. H. Atmore, Minister of" Education, who is representing tie j Government in tin- stricken areas, ac . companied by Mr. Ueuvoll (privat .. gecretary) and Mr. Cl. C. Black, M. p tor Motueka, left for Murchison tit morning. fir Black intormed tt reporter tin £ lv Ml, when streams began to 1 J,,. v ikroush the road and pa.ldocb-,-,. * t Motupipi and Hiwaka. dirty I »l| a ck water was also oozing out of tht, fissures. Some water smelline of sulphur was also exuded. He • hud several snapshots in his possi sssion Showing these streams. jlr. Black stated today that there was no news from Karamea or ' yiuruia South. At the last-named piac f> there sra about 10 settlors in addi Aion to some 20 men working at the Junction of the Lewis Bass saddle roa /i. \j r Black is endeavouring to get i n touch with the locality through itei jfton and through Wellington. ‘ Mr. F. W. Furkert, Engine, -r i n chief of the Public. Works Depar fment arrived overland from Pictoi j late last night and proceeded on to Murchison at 5 o’clock this mornin? Mr, May, resident engineer, wa * in Murchison yesterday and aw-ai' his chief there. Among the refugees w-1 j 0 came into Nelson from the Mupcl hison district lust night were a party from Mangles Valley, and one of the r A informed an -Evening Mail’ reporter that all in the valley are safe. One of three. Nelsori. men who wept through in a private v.- ar yesterday was interviewed this moi piing. He described the chaos o f the district as unbelievable. At I fikomanu. on the road from Glenhope, to Murchison, a large slip of soft clat: f was slowly crossing the road wh/e a, the .Nelson car came along last i tight, and the car would have been ui table to get through but for the assists .pee of roadmen who dug it out on two, or three occasions when it became rftuck. Just before the ‘Nelson motorists left Murchison, Mr. B. F. Spiers informed them that a se: trch party which had set out up the .V fatakitaki River eariipr in the day hai / returned at about 5 p.m. with a n -port that everyone in that district w as safe. CH'/USTCHURCH, Today. The Mayor, of Christchurch today Received a ct/eque for £2OO from Surgood, Son, a nil Ewen for the relief of earthquake sufferers at Westport.

' CAUSj£ NOT VOLCANIC f REASSURING REPORT SHOCKS STILL BEING FELT Press Association WELLINGTON - , Today. *Tfi p Kelburn seismographs still record fairly continuous shocks varying: fin magnitude but these are slowly decreasing in number. Some are perceptible apart from the instruments* iW/ords. and one at 8.48 was sufficient to cause hanging lights to sF\ng noticeably, as did another alidrtly after 10 p.m. .{Evidence Is gradually accumulating jptd it all points to the vicinity of Jtorchison as being the centre of tbo Ijfcturbance. C. E. Adanjs, Government Mtronomer, does not agree with the theory of the Riverview Observatory •Sydney, that the centre was roughly a hundred miles off East Coast of lhff South Island. The evidence, too, discounts any Thieory of volcanic activity, the ’quake being due probably to a fracture along one of the numerous fault lines to be found in the Murchison area. STATE AID ASSURED PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT ' RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS Press Association r< WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The following statement has been made by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward: — The Government, in common with all other sections of the community, has received the information as to loss of life in connection with the earthquakes with the deepest regret, and hastens to express to the relatives of those who have so tragically lost their lives its sincere condolence. Speaking on behalf of the Government, I desire to say we shall not be found wanting in practical sympathy, and we shall be prepared to extend a generous measup« of assistance to those who have suffered through this disastrous visitation. The Anchor Shipping Company’s steamer Arahura is leaving Nelson for Westport, at the request of the Trim© Minister, to stand by if an emergency arises through the flooding of the Buller River. The Labour Department sent several bricklayers to Westport by steamer yesterday, and. is endeavouring to secJ*re more from Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The Wellington Red Cross Society neld an emergency meeting, and voted *SO for the immediate relief of the earthquake sufferers. The society has also opened a fund. “N.Z. WILL CARRY ON” COMMENT BY LONDON PAPER deaths mercifully few {Australian cud N.Z. Press Association) Reed. D. 5 a.m. LONDON, Wed. The “Daily Express’' in an editorial New Zealand earthquake, says: Mercifully it has not produced a death-rate proportionate to its widespread destructiveness; but the blow is severe. Just because they are British, the New Zealanders will stand hp to it and repair the wrecked towns a od hamlets and carry on. These catastrophes test the people’s nerve, and the administrative capacities of their rulers. There is not the least reason to think New Zealand will fall short MR. ATMORE STANDS BY NELSON, Wednesday. 'b addressing the Murchison refuwho ivere assembled at the coun•'il chambers for billeting, the Minisof Education, the Hon. H. Atmore.

who is remaining in the Nelson district as the Government representative. said the Prime Minister’s statement that the Government would not be found wanting in its duty to the sufferers was truly representative of all New Zealanders. He predicted that Murchison would again be peopled by happy, prosperous men and their families. i£ MORE SHAKES % hi *• s missing man safe ~ Press- Associatioyi KKEFTON, Today. Earthquake shocks continued last night and this morning, but were not serious. At Maruia Spring shocks were also felt. W. Lester, at Station Creek, reports no damage there beyond broken crockery. J. G. Ingram, reported nnssmg bywireless last night, is at Station Creek. The road to Reefton is clear. Bast night ITA broadcast a message asking J. Cl. Ingram to make himself known when Captain Chandler flew overhead. Otherwise, search parties would be sent out to look for bim. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Several messages of sympathy with ; those who suffered through the earthquake were received yesterday by the Prime Minister. The following cablegram came from the Prime Minister of Australia, the Rt. Hon. Stanley Bruce. "On behalf of the Government and people of Australia, 1 desire to convev our deep sympathy to the 1 peopls of New Zealand, and especi-

ally to sufferers and relatives of those who have lost their lives in the earthquake which has occurred in your country." Further messages also were received from the Hon. A. E. Buttenshaw, Acting-Premier of New South Wales, and the Swedish Consul-Gen-eral for Australia. A message was received front a Vancouver newspaper inquiring if the need were great. If so, the newspaper offered to open a subscription list. DUNEDIN’S PROMISE Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. The City Council passed a resolution of sj’mpathy with the earthquake sufferers, the Mayor expressing the opinion that, if Government assistance were inadequate, Dunedin. in common with other places, would" rise to the occasion. ART UNION SUGGESTED Preps Association WANGANUI, Saturday. The Wanganui centre of the St. John Ambulance Association passed a resolution tonight expressing its willingness to co-operate in organising relief funds for the benefit of sufferers from the earthquake in the South i Island, and suggesting that the Gov- } ernment should grant permission for 1 a national art union. I PROMPT GIVER CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. , The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. J. 1 K. Archer, today received a cheque for 1 £25 and ilie accompanying letter

from the manager of the Para Rubber Company: “As no doubt Monday’s earthquake will have caused considerable distress at Murchison, we enclose herewith a cheque for £25, which we will be pleased if you will use for the benefit of the sufferers.” T’he Mayor has advised the Mayor of Nelson of the gift and of its dispatch by post. AUSTRALIA’S SYMPATHY MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR WELLINGTON, Today. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, has received a message from the Governor-General of Australia expressing his personal sympathy, and from the Acting-Governor of Victoria conveying, on behalf of the Government and people of that State, condolences with the relatives of those who lost their lives, and with those who suffered injury and damage to property. Sir Charles Fergusson replied expressing his warm appreciation of these messages, mentioning at the same time that the lamentable loss of life and damage were confined to a comparatively small area on the West Coast of the South Island.