EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 238, 7 October 1932, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE.

i MANY SETTLERS ISOLATED. BACK COUNTRY INSPECTED. ROAD SLIPS INTO RIVER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. In con&eqlience of reports of unusual effects of the earthquake.in the Mangapoike district, Mr. A. M. Ongley, of the Geological Survey branch, has been making a series of investigations in the back country .during the past week, having travelled overland from Wairoa yesterday. An inspection has also been made by Mr. C. J. McKenzie, assistant-Engineer-in-Chief, accompanied by the member for the district, Mr. K. S. Williams, and local public works officials. The party found it impossible to proceed as far as Paparatu by motor car, a. series of large slips having blocked the road since the earthquake. Settlers of Paparatu and beyond have been completely cut off in respect of all means of .transport, and have not been able to replenish their stores. The continuation of fairly heavy shakes and steady rain during the latter part of last month combined to bring down a succession of slips, -which reappear almost as soon as they have been cleared. The country is cf a very steep nature, and large areas appear to have been badly shattered, even minor jolts sufficing to start further landslides. At one point the road has slipped completely into the Mangapoike River, and the restoration of it will entail deep cutting into the bank through a large quantity of debris. At most points slips are thickly studded with trees and undergrowth, making the work of removal more difficult than usual. It is expected that it will take a fortnight to clear a motor track over the slips, anl the utility of the track will depend upon fine weather and freedom from further slides. The whole district is described as being scarred with barren hillsides, where slips have completely removed all traces of growth, while in many places large cracks are in evidence.