SIX-MILE LAKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 209, 20 June 1929, Page 6

SIX-MILE LAKE.

WIDESPREAD DEVASTATION. TELEGRAPH OFFICER’S STORY. WELLINGTON, June 19. The district telegraph engineer at Nelson, who visited the earthquake .centre, dispatched an interesting telegram to the secretary of the General Post Office from Nelson at 2 p.m. todav. His references to the possible flooding of the Buller River are based on earlier information than that contained in* telegrams from the Public Works district engineer, who wired! from Murchison late in the same afternoon on mere lines. The telegraph engineer’s report is as fol- “ 1 have just returned from' Murchison. The scene of havoc and devastation is beyond description. Every person is deserting Murchison to-day. Severe shocks still continue. L yisited the scene where the Matakitaki Riveras blocked. It will probably take two days to break through, though heavy rain is now falling and may hasten it. It is problematical whether the river will burst and flood Murchison, the Buller Valley and Westport, or whether it will flow slowly. I saw the Public Works Department engineer, who thinks the latter probable, hut cannot definitely say, and is advising Murchison r>eople to vacate. It is advisable to inform Westport and Inangahua of the position. “Twelve n’“R left Murchison for Maruia across country this morning to assist tor bring out. the women and chil-

Iren. Mot or-trucks will stay at Murchison until the Alaruia people arrive, providing the road can he kept opqn. There is every probability of the road between Gleniiopc and Murchison being carried away by rain water widening the road fissures. “ The postmaster at Murchison will stay at the office until the last person leaves, and will then remove to Gowan bridge. Only 20 people now are left at Murchison. “Roadmen who arrived this morning from Maruia Saddle reported that the country between the Upper Matakitaki and Burn Brae is carried away, The Maruia River is reported blocked in the gorge at Glengarry by rock some hundreds of feet high, and will completely flood tl;e Maruia plains. The Matakitaki River beyond the block is banked up si.x miles, and resembles Lake Rotoiti. “Roadmen from Sullivan s bridge report that miles of road and telephone line have been carried into the river. “I inspected the line south of Murchison for a mile or so, and found it completely wrecked. In Murchison township our post and telegraph system is disorganised. The electric light poles are all down. The power-house is out of action and the water supply has disappeared. We now have communication by telephone to Murchison. Murchison has Morse outlet to Blenheim. Murchison inhabitants will probably not return for some time, as the houses all are uninhabitable. According to reports the Lower Maruia Valley is completely wrecked, and it is not possible to rebuild the Parenga branch, line.”

WATCHING THE RIVERS. TIMELY WARNING FOR WESTPORT. WELLINGTON, June 19. The Acting-Secretary of the General Post Office "states that arrangements have been made by his department to have a continuous watch kept at Inangahua Junction for the purpose of danger from the Buller River. In addition all available inforfnation _ respecting the position in the vicinity of Murchison will be forwarded to Westport. The postmaster at Murchison reports: “As far as ascertainable, the Matikitaki River is not yet up to the top of the dam. The Maruia River has reached its lowesfMevel dam and is flowing over. The Matiri River position is unknown. The Buller River is running normal over the dam at Fern Flat.