SLOW PROGRESS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 11

SLOW PROGRESS.

REPAIR WORK AT WEST-

PORT

ORGANISATION NEEDED. (SPECIAL TO THE FEE9S.) WESTPOBT, July 11. The town has now settled down after the Seddonville flood and the severe shocks felt at noon on Monday and on Tuesday morning. These shocks, which were not felt with any severity at Murchison or Nelson, lend colour to the theory that the centra of the disturbance lies nor + h of Mokihinni and Seddonville, and south of Karamea. Many townspeople, who had become convinced that the tremors were over, were very greatly upset, and there is a tendency to vacate the town and district. The miners at Denniston and Millerton ceased work temporarily after this week's shocks.

livery house, more or less, shows its tin-topped chimney, but reconstruction is very slow. Organisation leaves m'JCh to be desired, and there is both opportunity and necessity for a foil-time organiser and secretary. Loeai builtljrs and plumbers are working at high pressure, in most cases without hope of remuneration unless some pay i 3 received from the relief funds. One local plumber has made tin chimneys for a week, with only one cash customer. Although the funds collected have been enormous, the local committee is either frightened to make itself liable for expenditure, or no funds have been forwarded for distribution. The whole district, unfortunately, shows utter lack of organisation, and at the present rate several months must elapse before industry reaches a sound basis. The schools reopened on Monday last with a moderate attendance. It was hoped that the sending of children back to school would result in a renewal of confidence. Unfortunately, the severe shake at 32.10 p.m. on Monday resulted in a very poor attendance in the afternoon, and further severe shocks resulted in smaller numbers on Tuesday. The advisability of holding the school holidays now was raised, but it is hoped to carry on. The severe weather has made conditions nil the more difficult for teachers and classes, especially where adequate heating is lacking. The Public Works employees liavc in hand the demolition of the Post Office, and the restoration of the Hospital, Technical School, and primary school Explosives used at the Post Office havj 5 the effect of alarming many timid residents, and also of damaging buildings in the vicinity, in spite of all precautions. It will "probably be many months before the brick portion of the primary school is rendered habitable. Great alarm was felt by many residents in the vicinity of the Orawaiti river on Monday. This stream is tidal and flows into the sea approximately one mile and a half north of tho Buller. Owing either to phenomenally high tides, or the result of the earthquake, the river was dammed back almost to flooding this week. It has been taken by some to indicate that tho level of the country has dropped, though this does not seem probable. The railway lines in the district are at present being operated on a reduced scale, and an attempt is being made to get sufficient supplies of coal to relievo the Dominion shortage. A maximum speed of ten miles per hour, with a rate of six m.p.h. in certain sections, does not allow of a great tonnage being hanled each day. The adverse weathor also prevented work upon the waterfront, but an attempt has been mad© to gain the lost ground during the last few days. Nothing has been heard of th<S residents of Corbyvale for several days, but it is probable that they will have to evacuate this week or next, as food supplies are known to be failing. A track will be cut through to allow the residents to oome to Westport, ana thence possibly to Christchcrch. The Nile is still making regular trips to Karamea and by agreement with the Government maintaining both communication and'food supplies with this isolated district. She will possibly call at Little Wanganui to relieve the position of the settlers there. The temporary pipe-line for the town water supply was endangered by the severe shocks on Monday and Tuesday, and the pipe-line bridge across the Orawaiti has had to be supported by the railway bridge. The town is at present unprotected to a great extent from fire and the townspeople anxious for the completion of the 14-inch line to provide adequate pressure in case of emergencv. It is certain that any further severe disturbances will result in a large number leaving the town, either permanently, or temoorarily, and in the closing of schools for an indefinite period. Foolish prophecies of floods and earthquakes find ready credence among the more timid, and it is unfortunate that' such reports should be circulated.

REPAIRING HIGHWAYS. USE OF MOTOR TAXES OPPOSED. [THE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, July 11. The attitude of the Otago Motor Club in regard to the suggestion that funds provided by motorists in the shape of taxation should be used to repair damage to the West Coast roads is clearly defined in the following resolution:— "That the Otago Motor Club entirely disapproves of the suggestion made that the highwavs destroyed on the West Coast by the recent earthquake be reconstructed entirely out of motorists' funds with the Main Highways Board, as the calamity is a national oiie and as such reparation costs should be borne, not only by one section of the community, but by all sections. The club further point 3 out that if all reconstruction is paid for out of the Main Highways funds the whole cost will fall on the South Island motorists, whoso taxes have collected for a specific purpose."

MATAKITAKI REFUGEES. Four single and two married men left Cliristchurch by yesterday's express to return to their homes in the Matakituki Valley. Cr. M. E. Lyons accompanied them. . . At a meeting of the Matakitaki Valley refugees, the following motion, moved by Mr E. Ford, and seconded by Mr J. Hunt, was carried: "That a letter of appreciation and thanks for the treatment and hospitality received J n Cliristchurch by the Matakitaki be sent to each of the Christehurcn newspapers." A SLIGHT SHOCK. A slight shock of earthquake recorded at the Magnetic a at 4.36 p.m. on Wednesdayths oniy one for the 24 hours eE " ® at noon yesterday.