GREAT CHASMS LAID OPEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 698, 25 June 1929, Page 7

GREAT CHASMS LAID OPEN

River Swallowed Up VIVID STORIES OF BIG ’QUAKE 'TERRIFYING experiences in the earthquake centre are I described m letters received in Auckland. In Inangahua a surveyor watched a huge fissure envelope the whole of the Inangahua River, then, as the earth closed, the water was shot into the air and the river resumed its course.

This was -witnessed by Mr. James A. Jenks, who is on the Public Works survey on railway works at Inangahua, near Westport. Mr. Jenks is an old Auckland Grammar School boy. "No description could do justice to the horror of the ’quake,” he says. •None of you will ever realise what a terrible thing an earthquake is until you have experienced one yourselves. You can all just pray that you never do. I hope never to experience the like again. Of course, we are getting shakes all day and all night, but nothing to be really frightened of after THE big one on Monday. "On Sunday night about midnight I was just about to blow out the lamp when I heard a most uncanny rumble. The next second the house began to rock and I realised it was an earthquake, but a very silght one, as I found out later. I turned over and went to sleep. The next morning at breakfast we felt another slight shake. The third —the most terrible—was yet to come. I went off to work with Bill and Allen. I was just bending down to undo our instruments when Allen shouted out, ‘Look over there,’ pointing in a direction behind me. I wondered at his excitement and said. 'What is it—thunder or something?’ as I stood up and looked behind. “A wave was approaching us. The mountains trembled, trees shook and swayed and crashed to the ground. Before I could utter a word I was swaying and rocking, and hardly able to stand. "With trees crashing, branches falling, it was a nightmare. The ground upon which we stood was opening and dositqg gnd heaving terribly. I looked to my kTft, but there lay certain death among the trees. Then I looked to my right, where lay the stretch of gravel by the river. ‘Great chasms opened and yawned at me and into these chasms the river poured, and the river was bone dry. The next instant they were closed up and up shot the water many feet into the air, like geysers. "On the opposite side of the river, where the banks are steep, the entire cliff crashed into the turbulent river. Mighty trees torn from their roots along the river bank fell crashing headlong over the precipice. WORSE THAN THE WAR “We stood and gazed round in awed silence. How long the big ■quake lasted I do not know. It may have been only five minutes, but it seemed an eternity. "Every man in the neighbourhood has openly and honestly confessed that he was scared. Not one stood up to it without fear. Of those I have encountered since the ’quake, some were among the Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli or who tool: part In the struggle at Passchendaele, or who have braved considerable dangers in mines, but all admitted they were as trembling children during this terrible event. "When we had recovered ourselves and the ’quakes had become subdued we hurried along the river bank. Across the river I could see that our house was still standing, but the chimney had all collapsed. The river was dirty and full of debris. We now disregarded caution and hastened along the road, which was cracked and still trembling. SEEKING SAFETY “Every breakable article in the house was lyiug smashed and strewn about the floor. I constructed a tin chimney for the stove. It was a strangely forlorn party that sat down to dinner that night. The tremors seemed to be becoming a little worse so all except Jack and I made their way to the village, which is on higher and safer ground. Our house is on a ledge close to the river and on the other side gaunt bush clad hills rise straight up some hundreds of feet. “In the morning we were warned by wireless to vacate the flat immediately, as a great slip had occurred at Murchison and the river was backing up for many miles and there was clanger of the whole countryside being flooded. “We packed our belongings and carried them up the hill. Our house is in the most dangerous of all places. “Since then we have stayed at the hotel. The hotel people have been very valiant, and in spite of the wreck and ruin of the place have fed all and sundry who have come this way without asking for money.”

PLIGHT OF REFUGEES SUPS ON MURCHISON ROAD CLOTHING AND BOOTS NEEDED Press Association NELSON, Monday. Slips and washouts on the GlenhopeMurchison Road prevented further refugees from reaching Nelson this evening. The blockages are not of a serious nature. The Railway Department repaired the subsidences ou the GlenhopeKaka section early this morning, enabling a morning train to go through to Cllenhope. The superintendent of the Telegraph Department at Wellington has communicated with the Nelson Pigeon Club requesting that pigeons he sent to the Karamea district with the idea of establishing pigeon post | between Karamea and Nelson. Thirty birds from the lofts of Messrs. H. Simpson and J. Liddell will be shipped t 0 Wellington and then taken by steamer to Karamea. Two pigeons w ill be liberated daily for Nelson, and the messages on arrival will be handed to the chief postmaster. Busy days are being experienced at the relief depot at the Y.M.C.A. Clothes and boots are being served out as speedily as possible. There was a very big run on the men’s department and it was clear that many of the applicants had been severely hit. Men’s hoots and trousers are still in urgent demand. Some of the settlers from the valleys ]*cre three days on the journey to

Murchison. One of the many sad tasks to be undertaken before the settlers left was the shooting of the dogs, which it was found impossible to bring out. In the circumstances this was only an act of kindness, but it was a very hard one. HILLSIDES MOVED NARROW ESCAPES MINERS’ BITTER HARDSHIPS Narrow escapes from death, and extreme suffering through cold and shock, are related by Mr. Mouatt, of Devonport, who is mining in a valley between Lake Rotoroa and Rotoiti “It is now 4 a.m. on Tuesday,” writes Mr. Mouatt, “and as sleep is out of the question, I am writing to you. On Monday at 10.10 a.m., the ’quake began with a dreadful shock, which lasted 15 minutes. Dwan had a wonderful escape. He leapt to safety as great boulders squeezed out of the face of the cliff and fell just where he had been. My hut rocked three or four feet each way, and then lay over with the door jammed. Trees hOtt. to 120 ft. high swayed eight to ten feet, and the dead ones crashed, while scores of living ones were up ended. “The hills and the earth shook violently, and every moment we expected to see the two hills come together and cover the valley. Everything was moving and crashing. The ground opened in all directions and we expected every moment that it would open under our feet. All the stone walls in the claims came down. In fact, everything in the valley has moved. Slips are down all along the water races, and my dam is showing huge rents. “It has been shaking every two or three minutes since I lay down, but I had to be ready to get out if the hut moved; so I have lit the fire, as it is perishing cold. We would have camped in the open, but would have frozen to death by morning. NARROW ESCAPES “At 4.30 a.m. we had another big shake. Will it never end? “The hut is still standing, but the chimney may go at any time now, as it is already half over. “I think 1 will have a shave, for if the world is coming to an end, I must look a bit respectable! “Tuesday, 6.30 p.m.: It has been going all day long. We have all had close calls, with trees crashing and the earth opening. We may disappear any time. “Wednesday, 7 p.m.; We had another awful night. I lay down, but did not remove my clothes. At 2 a.m. we had another awful ’quake. I thought the hut was over. 1 was out in a moment. It was pouring rain and bitterly cold. There was nothing but go back. You will understand how 1 longed for daylight. Dwan and I had a near call about 10 a.m. We went up to let oif the water and had to saw through a big tree that was overhanging the race. We got it cut and were shifting it when there was another shake and the tree shot down the hillside like a flash of lightning. It has done great damage to my dam and race. "Thursday, 9.30 a.m.; I had to abandon writing at 9 p.m., as I was shaken off my seat and everything in the hut capsized—and the hut shifted round. I decided to shift to Hills, as his hut is on piles. It is not damaged like the others, which are log huts and set on the ground. At Howard, Mrs. Fleming had to leave her house as it Is half down. I hope Auckland is not getting this, for it would be a calamity. “By my compass the course it took was N.E. and S.WY’ ALL VALLEYS CLEARER CAMP AT MURCHISON SNOW IN HIGH PARTS .Press Association WELLINGTON, Monday. i The chief postmaster at Nelson reports that owing to slips and washouts between Murchison and Glenhope the final batch of refugees cannot be evacuated. At 7.50 p.m. the postmaster at Murchison reported detonations and slight shakes continue. The rivers are slightly flooded. There is no danger. The Tutaki residents, numbering about 50, are all in the Murchison camp. They hope to proceed to Nelson tomorrow with others, totalling about 70. The weather is showery and cold, with snow on the high levels. Slips ! on the road blocked transport today. A large gang of men is starting early in the morning to clear the slips. With the arrival of the Tutaki residents the isolated valleys have now been evacuated. A special train will go to Glenhope to pick up the Tutaki people tomorrow afternoon. SHOOK LIKE JELLY QUAKE’S EFFECT ON MOUNT RUAPEHU AUCKLANDER’S EXPERIENCE “The mountain quivered as if it were made of jelly,” is Mr. G. H. Manley’s description of the effect of the big shock immediately below the snow-line on Mount Ruapehu. ; Mr. Manley, an Aucklander, was one of a party of three which had set i out to scale the mountain early on I the morning of Monday, June 17. A

I point below' the snow'-line was reached, | and the men were seated on the j ground smearing their faces with cold I cream preparatory to making a further . ascent. In Mr. Manley’s opinion it is very doubtful whether or not the earthquake would have been felt had the party not been seated. “As it was t did not feel it immediately as I was j moving my head about while applying j the cream,” he continued. “One of my companions called our attention to the quivering of the mountain-side. We could not see the surface moving and the ’quake was evidently a very slight one lasting about half a minute.” Mr. Manley and his companions were ready to spend an anxious time dodging the fall of rock which they considered likely to follow the shock and they also considered it possible that they might encounter extensive slips. However, they continued to climb and could see no evidences of the earthquake. There were falls of snow but that was considered as more likely to be due to the thaw. “We reached the summit about 2,30,” added Mr. Manley, “but what most impressed us there were bitterly cold winds.” When the party returned to the Lodge, it was said that the lamps, suspended from the roof, had swung for fully half an hour after the shock which had evidently been much more severe on the lower slopes of the mountain. SIXTY EARTHQUAKES RECORDINGS AT CHRISTCHURCH Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. According to the meteorological observatory, from the morning of June 17 until today, 60 earthquakes have been recorded at Christchurch, over half on the day of the big shake. There were ten on Sunday. The last was at 11.24 p.m. yesterday, and was a fairly severe one. TWENTY-MILE WALK REFUGEES AT REEFTON Press Association REEFTON, Monday. Over 60 refugees arrived in Reefton today from Upper Maruia and Matakitaki in addition to Lyell residents. They had terrible experiences. Many had to walk 20 miles over great hillsides and slips. The only clothes they have are what they stand up in. Local residents are supplying their wants. Assistance is urgently needed. There were no shocks In Reefton today beyond slight tremors. RESUMPTION OF MINES Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. The general manager of the Westport Coal Company, Mr. W. A. Flavell, states that operations are likely to resume at Granity within the next day or so. At Denniston considerable debris fell, but resumption is expected in about ten days. FULLER-HAYWARD THEATRES SUNDAY CONCERTS ARRANGED Next Sunday evening concerts will be given in every Fuller-ITayward Theatre throughout New Zealand, the proceeds to be added to the earthquake fund. As this firm controls 50 theatres in the Dominion a considerable sum should be raised for a deserving cause. The concerts will begin not earlier than 8.15 p.m., so that churchgoers will be able to attend. CHRISTCHURCH VOTES £I,OOO Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. The Christchurch City Council last evening voted £I,OOO to the earthquake relief fund. TAURANGA CHILDREN HELP (From Our Own Correspondent) TAURANGA, Today. That public bodies be asked to subscribe £25 each, was decided upon at the meeting which resolved to open a relief fund for the earthquake sufferers. Mr. Bell, headmaster at the district high school, announced that the scholars had contributed £lO to be spent on children sufferers. WEST COASTERS TO HELP Wednesday, July .10, has been de- ! cided upon by the West Coast Association for a benefit social in aid of the earthquake relief fund. The function will be held in St. Benedict’s Hall, Symonds Street, and the music will be supplied gratis by Morrow’s Orchestra. Members of the committee are now disposing of the tickets, and every effort will be made to ensure the success of the project, . and augment the fund. i TRANSPORT BOARD'S DONATION The Auckland Transport Board decided this morning, on the motion of Mr. E. H. Potter, seconded by the chairman, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, to make a donation of £IOO to the Mayor’s fund for the relief of earthquake sufferers. EARL JELLICOE’S SYMPATHY Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. The Prime Minister today received ; | a cablegram from Earl Jellicoe offer- , i ing deepest sympathy in the loss of i j life and damage occasioned by the . j earthquake.