NIGHTMARE DAYS AND NIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 695, 21 June 1929, Page 1

NIGHTMARE DAYS AND NIGHTS

WESTPORT, Thursday, was great rejoicing in Westport today when the whirr of two airplanes was heard over the town, and there was a general rush to the beach where the machines landed. It was’ the first direct communication with the outside world the town had had since the earthquake on Monday morning. Tremors, some severe, have been occurring throughout the day, and bricks and plaster are still falling from some of the buildings. It is impossible to repair any of the Post Office. The greater part of it is strewn over the road, and the remainder is broken and cracked in all directions. Te Aro House and J. W. Fair s, two of the biggest drapery establishments in the town, are total wrecks. The concrete facade of Te Aro House has broken away from the main building, and is hanging ominously over the street. Each fresh shake brings it further forward. Down one side of Palmerston Street there is not a building that can be repaired. The road has been roped off, and nobody is allowed inside the enclosure owing to the perilous condition of buildings. The "Times" Office is almost a total wreck. The editorial department is the only portion remaining intact. The tall brick parapet on the next door shop collapsed through the roof and penetrated the floor. The whole of the interior was strewn with bricks and mortar. Fortunately the linotypes were on the opposite side and suffered little damage. The roof collapsed on the printing press, hut the big double chimney missed it by inches. The whole staff, from manager down, were employed today breaking up bricks md carting them outside. With every tremor there was a rush for the open road. This may be said of all business houses in the town. Ths sound of crowbar and hammer was heard throughout Westport, and hundreds of tons of debris have been carted from portions of the buildings left standing. • • . Yesterday afternoon several plugs °f dynamite were set in the post office to bring down dangerous portions of the structure. ... FEAR OF FLOOD There was nothing short of panic town yesterday morning when the Marine Department received instructions from Wellington to remove all boats from the port. The Komata, the weekly passenger vessel, although leaving short of coal was crowded out with passengers bound for Wellington. The overseas steamer Treremained in port on Monday evening in order to establish communication with Wellington, but she also was ordered out this morning, thus leaving the town absolutely isolated.

The arrival of Captain Buckley and Captain Burrell from Sockburn had a great moral effect on the people. The aviators were welcomed by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Harkness, and Mr. H. Holland, M.P. Captain Buckley left for Christchurch again about 1.30, taking with him a large number of telegrams. It was a great thrill to those who were lucky enough to receive letters by airplane.

Fears concerning a flood have not been fulfilled so far. It was reported this evening that the blockage in the *jver at Murchison had given way. Laptain Burrell and Mr. Laureuson. harbour engineer, left by plane for Murchison to investigate the position, hut returned some half an hour later ow mg to fogs. One or two people who have got through from Seddonville, a mining ullage 40 miles from Westport, report two fatalities in the mines.

Mr. Dick Powley, a dri>er for Newman Bros., proceeded up Buller Gorge °h a bicycle yesterday to investigate Jhe conditions of the road, but as yet he has failed to return. Fears are e ntertained for his safety. Reports in Westport today state that the Buller Gorge road. near Jnangahua. is completely blocked for some chains, and the road at Lyell 18 reported to have disappeared altogether.

The highways surrounding Westport ar e in terrible condition. The bridge over Orawaiti River, on the main road ? country, has dropped about at one end and is three feet a &ove normal at the other. Further along the road fissures feet wide have opened up, the road totally impass-

Homeless in Bitter Weather WORK AMID THE RUINS THE nightmare days and nights which followed Monday’s (Usastrous earthquake are vividly described by THE SUHS special correspondent at Westport. A howlingbitter wind has added to the suffering of the people, many of whom have been afraid to sleep in their shaky homes. The electricity gas and water services are all out of operation. Meanwhile shakes are continuing, but the work of clearing away the debris from the ruins is going manfully on. •ad Ka r m * a tell of anot her wrecked town, T the Murchison district still anxiety isfelt tm lamUles m isolated parts for whom mmSta htvfsa2ed he riV6rS burEting the la ndslide dams (THE SUN’S Special Correspondent)

Deniston, 2,000 ft. above sea-level, has not received a great deal of damage, but the coal-bins at the bottom of the hill have been severely battered about.

Late this afternoon those who had anticipated a flood in the Buller, and who had carted blankets and food to high ground on the other side of the river, began to return to town but many are still out there, and intend to remain till they know that the town is definitely out of danger. HOTELS CARRY ON Hotels suffered very severely during the big shock, the whole contents of the shelves being smashed on the floor. However, they are the only businesses in town who have kept open for business and, with the many shattered nerves, business has been unusually brisk. The wharf and railway yards are in a very bad state. At the top end of the wharf the lines have been severely buckled, agjl trucks of coal are tipped up at vefsit. precarious angles. Although the Electric light has been restored, the town is still without gas and water. The absence of water especially is causing a great deal of consternation. Hopes are entertained that the service will be resumed tomorrow. It would be impossible to estimate the amount of damage, but it must run into some hundreds of thousands. On Wednesday night the town experienced another terrifying night. Everything was comparatively still until about 10.30, when several heavy shakes took place. These continued until about 2 a.m. when, with an ominous roar, the whole town again was badly shaken. Plate-glass windows, bricks, and mortar could be heard crashing to the ground in the business area. Three shakes of severe intensity followed in quick sucession, and people in their night attire rushed out into the streets. j Many of them stayed out of doors all : night, but they were compelled to go ! in this morning when heavy rain be- ; I gan to fall. • • * Shakes are still occurring about : every 15 minutes. Besides the many tremors a heavy I south-east wind is whining through the | eaves of houses. With the shakes : and wind the houses are continually swaying. WOMEN INJURED It is now reported that Mrs. Bascand. wife of Mr. A. C. Bascand, was severely injured by a falling chimney, and was rendered unconscious. Her child’s cries attracted attention, and she was assisted by neighbours. Conditions up the Buller Gorge road are even worse than was at first anticipated. Slips have occurred everywhere, and in places hundreds of yards of road have slipped into the river. . . . There she goes again. The whole house is rocking from side to side, and the typewriter is nearly shaken off the table. People are running in all directions to keep clear of tho buildings. It is just 9.30 a.m., and we are probably due for many more before the day is out. The people of Westport are now authorities on earthquakes. Those that are heralded by a great deal of noise usually pass off quickly, but the silent ones are treacherous. They carry on for anything from 30 seconds to a ! minute. The wind is increasing in velocity and there is a great deal of noise in the centre of the town. Perched up, almost in mid-air. two men are trying to break away the masonry on the top of Te Aro House. 1 The wind is now a veritable gale, and | the whole place is swaying, so they ; have had enough and are coming ! down. If another big ’quake comes it will crash through tho three shops on i the other side of the road. It is a ' good place to keep away from. * * * Another ’quake is on and the wind is increasing in intensity. People i are huddled together in groups waiting the next event. Heaven only j knows what the outcome of it all will I b-_. It has stopped raining now and the sun is shining, but it is still blowing a hurricane. However, the sun puts a brighter complexion on things. KARTIGI ARRIVES The Kartigi arrived in port this morning from Wellington, bringing with her a number pf tradesmen and ,

wireless officials. It is bitingiy cold and no fires are available owing to all the chimneys being down. However, the cold in the houses is nothing compared witf that experienced by those who camped over the river last night. Being buried beneath a house would have been better than spending a night out there. Dick Powley has been located somewhere up the Gorge Road toward Murchison, and is quite safe. Another Westport man, Mr. George Kearns, who was bringing a load of fruit down from Nelson, has not been heard of. He is thought to be somewhere on the Hope Saddle. * * * 3 p.m. We have just had another shake sufficient to frighten anybody. Westport is a town of jagged nerves and writing is almost impossible.

{ANOTHER SHARP SHOCK \ KARAMEA’S APPALLING STATE i 1 MANY ROADS IMPASSABLE l . j (THE SUN’S Special Correspodent.) WESTPORT, Today, p Another very sharp shock was ex- ! perlenced in the early hours of this - morning, it being one of the most severe since the big ’quake on Monday. ! A messenger has got through from I Karamea. He describes appalling scenes. The whole township has been wrecked, and Karamea Wharf has been knocked down and every road blocked by slips. To make matters worse the Karamea River has been dammed up in the gorge. When the big ’quake came people were simply flung to the ground. All women and children hare been moved j to high ground in fear of tho blockage | in the river giving way. Hugo Assures have opened up every- | j where and, with the continual rocking [ ! of the earth, people are terrified, j Every bridge in the district is j j down, and there are holes in the road, j some eight feet wide. In many of the paddocks water geysers have sprung up. The town of Westport is still without water, hut it Is hoped to resume j the service today. Although a severe | jolt was experienced at 2 o’clock this ] morning, conditions are improving, | and the shakes are occurring at much less frequent intervals. Mr. George Kearns, who was reported missing, has returned to Westport. The Arahura arrived last evening. The Inangahua Road is now clear. j j NO FIRES OR WATER MR. HOLLAND’S MESSAGE APPALLING WRECKAGE Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. | The following - wire was forwarded 1 ; yesterday to the Mayor of Nelson, on ! behalf of the Labour Party: “Please j , convey sincere sympathy of Labour j Party to sufferers from earthquake, j and in particular to the relatives of those who lost lives. Will cor- | dially support Government in all necessary measures for assistance to ! those who have suffered.” Mr. H. Holland, M.P.. in a delayed wire to hand from Westport this morning, says that shocks are still coming in rapid succession, and that the town water supply has failed and practically all chimneys are down. People are without fires or water. .He has wired the Prime Minister, setting out the conditions existing, and saying that reports in the newspapers to hand do not convey an adequate idea of the appalling nature of the wreck- • age in Westport. j (Continued on page 6) i(