DAYS OF TERROR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 717, 17 July 1929, Page 10

DAYS OF TERROR

DEVASTATION IN ’QUAKE ZONE MR. G. C. BLACK’S LECTURE •’Memories of the Tarawera eruption are conjured up by an inspection of tine 'quake-wrought devastation in the Westland and Nelson districts. There the traveller not only sees the earth in the raw, but human nature in the raw.’’ Mr. G. C. Black, M.P.. who traversed the stricken zone, vividly depicted to an audience of about 600 in the Town Hall last evening the ordeal and heroism of the settlers living in a state of nervous tension during the black days and nights of earth tremors. The lecturer joined with the Mayor, | Mr. George Baildon, who presided, in expressing deep appreciation of Aucklanders’ wonderful response to the appeal for relief. Auckland and the surrounding centres has contributed £23,624, of which the Mayor’s fund exceeded £II,OOO, subscriptions coming in at the rate of £I,OOO a day. The most gratifying feature is that the collection of the money has cost nothing. Ghastly as had been the s=£ tiers’ experience they had endured the ordeal, unflinchingly, declared Mr. Black. Order had been restored out of chaos by men, who unknown before, had come to the fore organised a commissariat, and attended to the sick and aged. All were joined in the common cause of humanity. Graphically describing the plight of the stricken towns, Mr. Black referred to the night in Murchison after the ’qiiake as one of unmitigated terror for the settlers, who were assembled in the wet school playground. By a rollcall of the people of the outlying districts it was ascertained who was missing. The lecturer paid an eloquent tribute to the splendid organising work of the local schoolmaster, Mr. A. Thom, and to Mr. Spiers for establishing communication with other centres. Once a model of intensive settlement, Rewaka had its road rent with cracks through which springs of-cold sulphurous water bubbled up. The cutting off of road access to Karamea and Corbyvale was also vividiy deducted. At Seddonville the lives of many people who had sought refuge in the top storey of the hotel were saved by an old baker’s oven which stopped the public hall from crashing into the hostelry. Damage in Nelson City, Motueka, which had since been visited by two floods, Glenhope and other stricken centres, was also vividly described by the lecturer. Tie eulogised the wonderfully courageous spirits of the men and women who endured the hardships, and their determination to make good. There were immense mineral possibilities in the district yet untouched, he said, and there was every possibility of mineral wealth being disclosed by the upheaval.