A MINER'S LOT.

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

A MINER'S LOT.

EARTHQUAKE TERRORS.

EXPERIENCES OF SEDDONVILLE MAN. The terrors attendant upon s- -h a disastrous earthquake as that of June 17th are real enough to those who spend their lives complacently on the usually firm surface of Mother Earth, but the lot of the miners, toiling hundreds of feet below ground level, is, in such circumstance-', one that would strike cold terror into the hearts of the bravest. Picture a half-dozen griniv men, hud(King in senii-darknesa in the narrowest part of a mine working, while the very walls bulge in and out. and the floor heaves beneath the feet in a succession of terrible undulations; while the air vibrates with the sound of awful rumblings —sounds not more awful, however, than the ominous cracking of the timber shoring, which proves all too frail to withstand the enormous stresses and strains of the subterranean upheaval.

Such a vision was conjured up by a talk with one or the refugees from Seddonville last evening. lie was, ho explained to a representative, working in the Mokihinui mine at the time of the b:g shake, and his experiences were such that he sincerely hopes they will never be repeated. When t! e earthquake shook the district, he was working in one of the furthest drives, cutting into the face of the tunnel about s'.-ven feet above the floor level. The first intimation that he had of anything unusual was a tgrrible roaring noise which seemed to come from {he depths of the earth. Then, with a sickening jar, the earthquaha expended its full force on the mine. The unfortunate miner was flung from his position on to the floor of the gallery. With the ground heaving like a living thing, not only under hia feet, but all around and above him, he half ran, half crawled into the next working, where some half-dozen men were crouching in a narrow tunnel. This, he explained, was safer than the wide galleries because of the decreased danger of the roof and walls caving in. And then came the warning sounds of splitting timber and falling earth, and realising the danger of their exit being blocked by a fall of rock the miners stumbled through the passages until at long last carae the welcome sight of daylight at the tunnel mouth. In that horrible dash for safety, a quarter of a mile of the workings had to be traversed and every yard was a terrible effort. It was just that sensation which those who havo suffered from nightmares know so well, explained the refugee to the interviewer. The ground seemed to baulk the attempts of the men to run, and it was with frequent falls and stumbles that the dreadful quarter-mile was marked. Looking down the galleries is seemed that the door was ripplinr in rapid waves. The terrorising part, how ever, was seeing the timber which supported the walls and ceiling and cracking under the strain, and the showers of coal and rock from the roof.

RESTORATION W ORK.

NELSON COMMITTEE'S DECISIONS. (PRCS3 A.BBOCIATIO3 TBUEGBAX.) NELSON, July 11. At a meeting of the executive of the Relief Committee to-day * letter was received from the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Central Committee, accepting the offer of the local committee to carry out certain restoration work in Murchison. After discussion the following resolution was carried: — "That the chairman of the County Council be asked to form a general advisory committee to assist the Nelson Committee with the view that later the Murchison Committee may take complete charge, the Nelson Committee providing such assistance, financial and otherwise, as they are able." In view of the fact that work is now available for 80 men, a resolution was passed that allowances for all ablebodied Murchison men now in Nelson should cease as from Monday next. CLOTHES WANTED. CARING FOR THE REFUGEES.

"People are responding handsomely," said Mrs J. 8. Neville yesterday, when a representative of Thb Pkess asked her whether the donations of clothing to meet the needs of the refugees were adequate. She added that there was still a shortage of men's, children's, and" babies' clothing. Sixty-six children) including eleven baljies under six months old, were included in the 120 people who arrived in Christchurch on Tuesday from Seddonville. Mrs Neville is being assisted in tV work of distributing clothing and thui of making arrangements for the accommodation of the refugees by tie Mayoress (Mrs J. K. Archer), Mrs E. R. McCombs, and Mr G. E. Lawn, who is doing the clerical work. In the room in the City Council Chamber, where relief ia being organised, the clothing has been sorted out and arranged. "All of it is beautiful, and we are very pleased with it, said Mrs Neville. New clothing had been provided for many of the families, but they needed more than this. Children required a change, and something to wear for playing. Several more pushcarts h**e been received. Stretcher beds, bedding, blankets, and sheets are needed also. Several houses at New Brighton have been placed at the disposal of the committee rent free, and families will be placed there. Already a house has been taken at Sumner for a family of seven children. All of the women are suffering from nervous exhaustion, and some of them have actually been hysterical, so serious has been the strain to which they have been subjected. One woman refused to go to Bumner. "I never want to see an expanse of water again," she said, indicating that her privations through the flood at Seddonville had left an indelible impression on her mind. In the setting-up of homes, even when the dwellings are furnished, cutlery, china, utensils, and groceries are needed, and the committee would be grateful for gifts of these. Offers to billet refugees are still required, especially in view of the probability of the arrival of a party of Corbyvale residents to-morrow. HARBOUR BOARD'S GRANT.

The secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr C. H. Clibborn) has written as follows to the Mayor: 1 am directed to inform you that, subject to Legislative validation, the Lytt-elton Harbour Board at its meeting on the Bth instant voted the sum of £2OO towards your Worship' fund for the relief of distress occasioned on the West Coast by the recent earthquake. The above sum will be available from the Board immediately upon its receipt of advice of the completion of your arrangements for the administration of th* Relief Food.