A MAN KILLED. Westpotrt, this day.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 3

A MAN KILLED. Westpotrt, this day.

The Buller Road ia completely wrecked. Ib is estimated that it will be three months be fore ib is open for -wheel traffic A surfaceman named OBrien was killed by a landslip. Telegraphic communication has been temporarily restored. As further information comes to hand, it ia made evident that a great disaster has befallen the district as the result of the storm on Thursday morning. The party who first came through the Buller Road after the mishap had a terrrible journey, and leport that the road is almost completely destroyed. In many places it has gone bodily into the river, and slips from the hillside are innumerable. The Little Ohika Bridge has been carried away, the Hawke's Craig Bridge is just hanging, and others are badly damaged. Some who travelled over the country before the road was constructed say the journey now is much more diffipulb than it was then. The rain was severely felt at Osborne's accommodation house. A portion cf the house was smashed by the rush of water, and the hall and stables were carried away with the harness, horse-feed, etc. The stableman and horses narrowly escaped. OBrien, the surfaceman, who was ab Little Ohika was smothered by a slip when he was in bed. A boat has been sent up to bring down his body. Ab Files Creek, in this district, a miner's house and property were entirely washed away. He just succeeded in escaping fiom bed and climbing a tree. With respect to the Buller Road, tho county chairman is awaiting a report from the engineer, which he will lay before a Government officer to be appointed. The damage to the main up-country road by the storm of Thursday last is so groat that it is estimated an expenditure of £5,000 will be necessary.