ANOTHER ’QUAKE VICTIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 697, 24 June 1929, Page 1

ANOTHER ’QUAKE VICTIM

More Severe Shakes Occar TOWNS IN SORRY PLIGHT Prospectors Still Missing P2VERE shocks were again experienced in the earthJ quake area yesterday, bringing down debris from the “ d 0a “" e tash SI Another fatality is recorded, the death taking place in £rell RoaT Pl ° f a maD bllried in a 4> on the Lyell has been evacuated. 'Y° rk the stricken towns and settlements has been recognised as a national problem and arrantmen «s are being made for the pooling of the relief ftmrls WesVAre "L a vo»ri'„7 restore the water and sanitary services. Refugees from Murchison are still being conveyed to Nelson. Fears are felt for the safety of two prospectors who have not been seen since before the earthquake. The shocks at 3 a.m. and at 6.10 a.m. were felt as far rSh“ “ d Bi “ heim - n ° »-w* Press Association

WESTPORT. Today WESTPORT was again shaken by two very severe earthquake shocks yesterday morning, one at. three o’clock and the other shortly after six. They brought practically everybody from their beds, and out into the »<.ret. Many people had slept in their houses for the first time on Saturday night, and were terrified at the severe shaking they received. They spent last night out of doors Heavy rain fell, adding to their discomfort. An alarming rumour was circulated at Westport yesterday to the effect that Christchurch had been levelled to the ground by the two shakes. Those with relatives in the city were especially worried, and it was only when broadcasting started in the evening that their fears were allayed. The Westport borough engineer is having a terrible time with the water supply. Despite the fact that men have been working night and day ever since last Monday, the town is still without water, but the service should be renewed in a day or two. Fortunately, the heavy rain yesterday afternoon and last evening has supplied the people with a goodly amount of water. Considerable anxiety is still felt at Seddonville owing to dangerous slips on the hills about the township. The face of nearly every hill has literally been blown away, and the Mokihinui River has been blocked. The whole township left for the high country, and returned to their homes only on Saturday. It is now reported that the river is not likely to give trouble. A search for two men named Russell, who were up the valley when the quake occurred, is still continuing, without success. The route to their farm is one succession of slips from the top of the mountains to the river. The hoofmarks of their horses can be traced to one side of a slip, but they do not appear on the other. Captain H. B. Burrell is still standing by to render any assistance possible by an airplane.

SLIP FATALITY DEATH IN HOSPITAL ROAD SUBSIDES 80 FEET Press Association REEFTOX, Today. Lyell was evacuated on Sunday, all coming to Reefton. Shocks were severe yesterday at Reefton at 2.4 S a.m., 6.12 a.m. and 9.52 P.m.. The road to Lyell subsided bodily DeJlavedova s fully 80 feet for a distance of 200 yards, the telegraph s rema l n i n £ standing in position. Thomas Welsh, who was injured in a slip on the Lyell Road, died in the Reefton Hospital last night. Sixteen of nineteen bags of mail lost from Newman’s car near Lyell recovered yesterday. missing prospectors father and son overdue Tracks buried by slip Press Association WESTPORT, Sunday. There is still no word of Mr. David Russell and his son, who left Seddon'ille on Monday morning with packhorses to go prospecting. It is feared they have been buried in a landslide a i Mokihinui. as horse tracks were traced past two slips up to a big slide, a nd beyond that no tracks are" to be seen. A search is also being made Cor Mr. Bean, who was up on Tait’s farm, m ‘les above Seddonville. Two of the guides who led the party , U*® mountain top say they had a p at view of the country through “eldglasses, stretching back to Murchioa and the slopes were denuded o, trees. RESCUING refugees TRAIN service interrupted SUBSIDENCES ON LINE Press Association NELSON, Sunday. • *• M|itt request for a special

train to convey 100 to 150 refugees from Kohatu to Nelson was received from Murchison today, and train arrangements were immediately got under way. The shocks which were felt in Nelson during the night with considerable severity caused subsidences in the railway line four miles on the Nelson side of Glenhope, and the refugees will l*ive to come on to Kohatu by motor to connect with the train.

PIONEER SPIRIT “GAME NOT THE WORD FOR IT” MR. COATES PRAISES SETTLERS Press Association NELSON, Today. On his return from a visit to Murchison, which he made yesterday in company with Mr. G. C. Black, member for the district, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, after describing the localities inspected, including the large Mataitaki slip, said he had had a good deal of experience of the cannonades, which were said now to be much less severe than in the first days following the quakes.

Following on yesterday morning’s quake the settlers had decided on a general evacuation from the various valleys, and the task of those in charge of the arrangements, was the evacuation of all women and children and older residents, and those suffering from illness. Most of the houses were standing when Mr. Coates inspected them, but inside there were scenes which were indescribable. Beds, chairs, blank-' ets, crockery and everything were mixed up as if all had been violently rolled over and over. On the other hand, the fine spirit shown on all sides by every individual was something to make one proud to belong to this country. Transport, comforts, medical supplies, and all services of that nature were under the direction of a committee, which had never left its post. The members of it had toiled unceasingly day and night, with no thought of self, but with every consideration for others. Gangs of men drawn from local residents, and of men on public works, had toiled incessantly to relieve and rescue those isolated. It was terribly hard on those affected, but fortunate for New Zealand as a whole that the area of the phenomenon had been comparatively localised to about 80 miles, though many in other places had also suffered.

"One can readily understand the gloomy outlook of those who had lost their all,” said Mr. Coates, “but one remembers also the brave way with which they have faced their afflictions and the fine unselfish spirit shown, and I am sure the public of New Zealand will readily respond to the call for immediate assistance. These settlers are great people; game is not the word for it. The finest spirit of citizenship has been put to the hardest test. They are living right up to the highest traditions of pioneers.” Mr. Coates recalled the reply of one old settler who, when ordered out by the committee, said; ‘T’ve been here 54 years and hell’s not going to shift me.” q TO REPORT ON ’QUAKE COMMISSION APPOINTED AUCKLAND ARCHITECT TO ACT (Special to THE SEN) WELLINGTON, Today. With a view to investigating the damage done by the recent earthquakes in the West Coast districts, a commission is being arranged, comprising Dr. Adams, Government seismologist, Mr. C-. R. Ford, architect, of Auckland, and two others—believed to be an architect and an engineer from Wellington—to visit the shaken area and report completely upon the havoc caused by the quake. The commission, which is being arranged between the Government and the Institute of Architects, will, if transport facilities are available, leave on Friday evening for the stricken areas of Murchison and Westport, Westport being the centre of the investigators’ operations. The purpose of the commission will be to report to the Government fully upon the effects of the earthquake, and present recommendations if possible for the avoidance of widespread disaster in the event of a serious recurrence. MR. FORD HAS NO COMMENT "When asked to comment upon the message from Wellington, Mr. C. R. Ford, whose name is mentioned in the report, declined to advance any confirmation beyond stating that for today at least he had nothing to say. A THE MAYOR’S FUND ’ TOTAL NOW £782 In addition to amounts already acknowledged the following contributions to the Mayor of Auckland’s fund have been received on Saturday and today:

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S GIFT EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL SYMPATHY The Governor-General, Sir Charles has given £SO for the relief of the earthquake-stricken areas. The Mayor of Devonport, Mr. E. Aldridge, has opened a fund at the trough council office. A collection a t the Devonport Orphans’ Club on Saturday evening brought <£s ss. The fund now has «£S 12s. Tin* relief fund at Grey mouth now totals* about £SOO, among the donations being £IOO each from the Grey licensed victuallers, the National F n bacco Company, and Ashby, Berg, and Company; £SO each from John

Burns and Company and anonymous * local citizens; £25 each from Bishop! Brodie, of Christchurch, and Commis- i sioner Hay, of the Salvation Army; | £lO 10s each from the Mayor, Mr. J. and Hall. A committee has been set ! up of local body and church representatives to allocate the relief through-' out the Grey County. GREYMOUTH ROCKED LONG SHAKE AND TREMORS MINES MAY NOT RESUME Press Association GREYMOUTH, Sunday. After the longest intermission since the earthquakes began last Monday, there was this morning a renewal in Greymoutli of severe shocks. The first was at 2.20 a.m., and a little later it was followed by a shorter one. Then at three o’clock there came the most prolonged shake since the big one on Monday. It almost equalled the latter. A fourth shock was recorded at 6.11 a.m., lasting about 15 or 16 seconds. A further shock occurred at 11.40 a.m. The biggest shake today was succeeded by three well-defined tremors and before 9 a.m. a further eight tremors were felt. The effect of the shock, however, has been nowise serious, and chimneys suffered little or no further damage. The fact of the disturbance occurring at night was responsible for much alarm among residents. Bushmen point out that the extreme swaying of trees during the earthquakes will probably mean a general increase in what are known as “shakes” in the timber hereafter, as the jolts will create numerous cracks in the trunks, which will become filled with resinous deposit. Tin chimneys are becoming the fashion, as these are easily erected. The damage to Roman Catholic properties will call for the expenditure of over £I,OOO. The damage to the Town Hall is more extensive than was at first thought, while the extent of the chimney destruction upon closer examination proves also in excess of the first estimate. It remains uncertain after the latest shocks whether the mines rendered idle last week will resume tomorrow as was intended. The Blackball railway line was not workable on Saturday morning, due to subsidences. Lines elsewhere, though slightly affected, are workable. Ships in port are experiencing delay in securing hunker coal.

COAL SHORTAGE CONCERN IN WELLINGTON STATE MINES IDLE Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Concern is felt in regard to local coal supplies. There is stated to be a minimum available for house supplies. The stock at the gasworks is normal, but the railways are short, and large orders have been placed at most of the mines. These naturally must have preference. All the State mines are more or less idle, and nothing is coming from the coast. It looks as if it will be a fortnight anyway before any coast coal will be available to merchants for household use. Dealers will have to depend almost entirely on truck coal from the Waikato.

RELIEF MONEY POOL FORMATION APPROVED COMMITTEE TO ADMINISTER ; Press Association WELLINGTON, TodaytAppeals for assistance, financial and I otherwise, for earthquake sufferers i are meeting with a handsome ! response. The creation of a special fund has been announced by the Prime Minister, who will today ap- { point a special committee to administer it. I The Prime Minister stated that he had received a communication from the Mayor of Christchurch, suggesting that all funds for earthquake relief should be pooled and spent under Government supervision over the whole area affected, and that he, Sir Joseph Ward, had forwarded the following reply:— “Moneys for earthquake relief have already been received by me, and I propose to pay the sum into a public account, to be administered by a special representative of the committee.” ROYALTY’S SYMPATHY MESSAGE FROM COURT Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday. | His Excellency the Governor-Gen- | eral has received the following mes- ! sage from their Majesties: The Queen and i have learnt with much concern of the earthquake disaster in New Zealand. Our warm sympathy goes out to all those who have suffered bereavement and desolation. Sir Charles Fergussou, on behalf of the bereaved and other sufferers, is sending a reply thanking their Majesties for their gracious message of sympathy. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S GIFT TO FUND Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The Prime Minister yesterday received from the Governor-General a cheque for £SO from Lady Alice Fergusson and himself, for the earthquake relief fund. TAUMARUNUI OPENS FUND Press Association TAUMARUNUI. Today. The Taumarunui Borough Council , has opened a subscription list for the

relief of those in distress through the earthquake. RACING CLUB’S DONATION A donation of £2OO has been made by the Auckland Racing Club toward the relief of sufferers in the recent earthquake.

MESSAGES TO WESTPORT OPERATORS KEPT BUSY MEN DO SPLENDID WORK Press Association WESTPORT, Sunday. Messrs. Fahey and Fowke, the wireless experts, who arrived from Christchurch by airplanes on Tuesday, have been working watch and watch right round the clock on the steamer Kaitoke, most of the time being spent at sea and partly under cyclonic conditions. Within two hours of arriving they had boarded the Kaitoke in the roadstead and established communication, which was maintained until Friday morning, when the land lines were restored and carried traffic. Hundreds of messages were received from the Awarua wireless station at Bluff and the commercial radio station in Wellington, and transmitted ashore to the Kartigi at the wharf. Others were sent ashore by launch and tug. Since closing down the wireless on the Kaitoke on Friday, Messrs. Fahey and Fowke, who have had very little sleep, are now assisting in dispatching and receiving telegrams on the land lines. BENEFIT SOCIAL ARRANGED At a meeting of the West Coasters' Association, feeling reference was made to the disastrous results of the recent earthquake in Buller and Murchison districts, expressions of sympathy being passed with relatives of those who lost their lives, and all sufferers. It was decided to hold a monster benefit social on July 12, the proceeds to he devoted to the earthquake sufferers’ fund. WANGANUI SHAKEN Press Association WANGANUI, Sunday. Two earthquake shocks were felt in Wanganui at 3 a.m. and 6.10 a.m. today. The second was heavier than the first, although of shorter duration. FIVE SHAKES AT BLENHEIM Press Association BLENHEIM, Today. A violent, long-drawn earthquake was felt here at three o’clock on i Sunday morning. A further heavy shake followed at 6.5. In all, five shocks were experienced. No damage is reported. SHAKES AT RAETIHI (From Our Own Correspondent) RAETIHI, Today. Earthquakes still continue throughout. the district. Since the big one occurred there have been two and three every day. On Sunday morning at 3 o’clock and 5.40 o’clock there were heavy shocks. Early this morning another was felt. No damage is reported. The lesson to be learned from the recent earthquake is that rigid structures are not safe habitations in New Zealand. Nature has declared in no uncertain terms that such structures are death-traps. Why incur additional expense by building in brick when a safer, cheaper, cleaner, healthier home can be built in New Zealand timbers?

Previously acknowledged . . -£ 317 2 s a 0 Auckland Racing Club . . . . 200 0 0 and W. Heim by, Ltd. . . 105 0 0 Board 52 10 0 A- H. Nathan, Ltd Auckland Real Estate 50 0 0 Institute 0 0 Howard Abbott. Ltd Employees of S. A. Smith 10 0 0 and Co., Ltd Employee's of Howard 6 16 6 Abbott, Ltd 12 J- W illiamson 0 0 G. Hawkins Employees of Auckland City 3 0 0 Council Quarry 1 1 6 Anonymous 10 0 A Friend 0 H 0 Widow’s Mite 0 2 6 Total <£ 7S2 18 0