EARTHQUAKES AND STORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 701, 28 June 1929, Page 1

EARTHQUAKES AND STORM

West Coast Still Suffers ISOLATION OF KARAMEA Urgent Need for Relief rE West Coast is still suffering’. Earthquakes continue and a violent storm with thunder and lightning has added to the discomfort of the people. Karamea remains isolated and urgent appeals are being made to restore communication in order that supplies may be got through and a start made to make damaged homes habitable. The settlement of Corbyvale will probably have to be abandoned for some time. (Special to THE SUN)

WESTPORT, Today. A severe earthquake shock about 9 o’clock was followed by a clap of thunder like a howitzer battery in action. There was thunder and lightning, accompanied by torrential rain, in the early hours of the morning, and a howling gale sprang up, with hail and heavy rain. Sheets of iron loosened by the earthquake rattled continuously. When the gale was at its height another severe earthquake shock was experienced. Similar conditions prevailed up the coast to Karamea. Owing to the heavy weather the Komata took 67 hours to come from Wellington to Westport. Captain H. B. Burrell was to have left for Karamea this morning with a Post and Telegraph engineer and radio gear. It is expected that radio will be Karamea’s only means of communication for some months. A radio transmitting and receiving set has been installed at Westport Post Office and Is doing great service. It Is now proposed to cut a foot track to Corbyvale in order that residents may evacuate the township. It will be some two years before the settlement will be inhabited again, owing to the impossibility of putting | road through the country in its present state. The Buller Gorge was again blocked yesterday by slips, and man* had to be carried over a mile to cars on the other side of the slips. A party of Public W'orks men walked through to Karamea and they report very extensive damage all along the route. Karamea wharf has been uapsized. but with temporary repairs, it will be possible for the Falrburn, a email oil vessel, to proceed there.

AIRPLANE WRECKED

NOT BEYOND REPAIR ANOTHER TO BE SENT (Special to THE SUN) WESTPORT, Today. During the gale early this morning Captain H. B. Burrell’s Gipsy Moth airplane was wrecked on Westport Beach. It was lifted by the wind and tipped over on one wing. The fuselage wag damaged and the wings strained. It is not beyond repair, however. Captain Burrell left for Christchurch this morning and will bring over another plane with him.

' KARAMEA’S PLIGHT STILL ISOLATED LONG GROSS-COUNTRY WALK Press Association WESTPORT, Today. Two men are walking across country to Karamea, the isolation of which is arousing serious concern. A protest is made against the lack of organisation and an appeal is made for the relief of the distressed inhabitants. As the Moth airplane which has been standing by in Westport to assist the settlers of Karamea is under instructions not to leave for Karamea today, Messrs. G. C. Black, M.P. for the district, and M. McLean, chairman °t the Buller County Council, who resides in the Karamea district and *ho came to Westport by airplane on Saturday with Captain Burrell, have decided to walk to Karamea, via torbyvale. They hope to reach their destination tomorrow night. They nave handed the following statement to the Press: Murchison and Karamea are the , w ° districts that were most affected recent disastrous earthquake, ‘hanks to the splendid New' Zealand jnanhood that stepped in and organised matters at Murchison, that centre nas been practically evacuated. Karanjea and its 800 men, women and c ~!j!r en * 3 to a different plight. The airplanes arrived in Westport oc Tuesday afternoon of last week. *nd the Moth did not come to Karanj*a until the following Friday, when McLean came out. It returned on Saturday with serum for diphtherla - Since then there has been no communication with the settlers, and on Sunday there were two big shakes decided the Murchison com."Jj® to get their people to Nelson. we desire to protest most emphatically at the lack of organisation J’hich has led to this sorry state of chairs, and appeal to all New Zealand .° re member the Karamea settlement J p matter of urgent relief. The nine Minister’s message to the People there, and the £2OO which he t s* Provided for immediate relief, are S® only bright spots in Karamea’s •■•tory of Uu past 11 days.’* _

MEN WANT WORK MEETING AT MURCHISON GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT Press Association NELSON, Today. The men of Murchison are anxious to return. It has, however, been strongly represented by the Murchison Emergency Committee that only strong men with work to go to should return, and then, it is hoped generally, the work of reconstruction will be thoroughly organised. A meeting of Murchison residents passed the following resolutions, which have been sent to the Hon. H. Atmore: “That the Government be asked immediately to establish relief camps where required, so as to engage all available Murchison residents who are anxious to return for the purpose of opening up the road from Glenhope to Murchison." “That the Government be requested to commission the Public Works Department to restore all homes in the township of Murchison as rapidly as possible.” “That this meeting of Murchison residents respectfully urges the Government to make available a sum of money sufficient for the restoration of Murchison County roads, and that progress authority for the expenditure of £I,OOO be issued forthwith to the Murchison County Council.” A further resolution was carried thanking the Mayor of Nelson, Mr. W. J. Moffat, for the work he had done. “WE ARE GOING BACK” REFUGEES AT CHRISTCHURCH PATHETIC PROSPECTS Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. A party of 52 refugees from the earthquake zone arrived in Christchurch last evening. For the most part they come from the Upper Matakitaki Valley, and have pitiful tales to tell of the havoc wrought to homes and countryside. “We are all going back,” said one of the party, “but whether we will be able to settle again Is uncertain. We will have to save as much of our stock as we can, and recover what we can of our personal and household goods.” The refugees have been billeted for a fortnight.

REFUGEES ALL SAFE

WORK BY RESCUE PARTY SEVERAL BRIDGES BUILT Press Association NELSON, Thursday. On Tuesday morning a party from the refugee camp, organised by Messrs. McConnochie and Frank McWha, went to Doctor's Creek to erect a temporary bridge. Felled trees formed the two stringers, and on them was placed sufficient decking to allow cars to cross. At "The Staircase” they split a tree in half, placed it across the gully, and dug a track around the siding. By this means they got refugees over safely, and then went on to a clay bank' where the bridge had been washed away. They dug a track down the gully and made another temporary bridge with one tree, which was squared. They then put on a little handrail for safety, and then they made a track up the hill to the road again. The motor-cars met them on the other side, and thus the final lot of refugees reached Nelson safely. MANY MINERS ILL INFLUENZA ON WEST COAST Press Association GREYMOUTH, Thursday. Fifty to sixty Dobson, miners are absent through influenza. (Continued on Page 11).