LATE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 261, 31 July 1929, Page 6

LATE NEWS

FIRE AT MISSION STATION 24,000 GALLONS OF WINE LOST BRIGADE’S HOPELESS TASK By Telegraph.— Press Association. Napier, July 30. Fire completely gutted two wine cellars at Mount St. Mary’s Mission Station, Greenmeadbws, four miles from Napier, to-night, and destroyed nearly twenty-four thousand gallons of wine Valued at £1 a gallon. The Napier Fire Brigade was called to the scene at about 7.30, half a hour after the outbreak, but its task was a hopeless one from the beginning, as the only water to be had was from a creek three hundred yards away. The flames had such a hold when the brigade began operations that all attempts proved fruitless, and attention was successfully turned, to the saving Of the adjoining buildings. The outbreak is believed to have had its beginning in the fusing of an electric wire in the ceiling of one of the cellars. Flames consumed the roof, which collapsed, and then the barrels holding the wine took fire. When the wine burst out .it formed a stream that flowed out into the roadway. A quantity of wine was bottled and cased, and. the. straw fed the flames. It is understood the insurance oi. the buildings and the wine, which are held by the United Office, will not nearly cover, the loss. Much of the Wine was prepared ready for export. The Mission, which is conducted by the Marlst Fathers, is well known for its grape-growing and wine manufacturing.

THE EARTHQUAKES DAMAGE TO COUNTRYSIDE RECONNAISSANCE BY AEROPLANE By Telegraph—Press Association. - Westport, July 30. On Monday Captain Buckley, with Mr. T. A. Johnston, Public Works engineer, of Greyinouth, made a short aerial flight over Denniston, where they picked up the Mount William fault. They noted definite slips along this fault, which lies in behind Cascade Creek, Denniston. “There was nothing* very startling,” said Mr.. Johnston. “When flying over the mountain we remarked on the definite traces of the Mount William fault. The weather was very, cloudy and unsuitable for air work. The aeroplane ran 1 into rain over the high country.”

Yesterday a more extended trip was made. The aeroplane left North Beach shortly after 10 a.m. and crossed over Sedcionville, obtaining a general view up the Moklhinui River. They could see the very shattered nature of the country on both branches of the Mokihinui. All the country was shattered and scarred. The aeroplane proceeded over Corby vale and onwards to Little Wanganui River. They noted on the way a dam in Fall’s Creek approximately 2| miles up from the coast where the Water was backed up for possibly three' parts of a mile; also another dam in Glass Eye Creek, about a mile to ,a . mile and a half up from the mouth, which it was considered should be investigated. Towards the head of the Little Wanganui a large slip was noted under Mount Anaconda which had been previously reported by Messrs.’Scarlet, and'Bay. This is a very extensive slip, and the latter, reported there was no danger from it. Apparent* ly it had come down on both sides. This was well up the Little Waiiganui River. The country on all the southern tributaries had slipped, but no dams could be picked out. Visibility was good here. The aeroplane crossed over about Little Wanganui, saddle and Mount Zetland, from which a view of the whole of the upper part of Karamea River was obtained, and of the Kakapo branch of the Karamea River. The heroplilne crossed to the north side of Mt. Kendall, 5700 feet, obtaining nearly all the way a good view of the Karamea River. They passed to the north side of Mt, Kendall towards the Roaring Lion branch. The whole of the country in the upper Karamea River basin is shattered, and numerous slips were noticeable, in tne main river,' chiefly between the Leslie and the Kakapdi branches. The river was dammed in places, but the water appeared to be getting around the dams, and so far as could be seen, had cut out a satisfactory channel. Those slips had occurred westward of the Kakapo. The country between this branch and the coast did not appear to have suffered to anything like the same extent as the back country. While flying over' the high country .the average altitude was 8500 feet. Mt. Egmont was seen in the distance with its glowing white top. A certain amount of mist partially obscured the view and the cold was fairly severe. On the return journey they passed close to Karamea and. were able to study the damage to the main roading system between there and Mokiliinui, the aeroplane following the line of, the, coast. One particularly interesting feature of the trip was the picking up of the northern end of the Glasgow fault which is known to run from Seddonville towards New Creek River, near Lyell. As seen from the air the slips on this fault Were on a fairly definite line north and south, crossing the Mokihinui River near Seddonville, and judging by the disastrous results to the Corbyvale road would appear to continue northwards towards the point south ofLittle Wanganui River where the damage to the coastal cliffs would appear to indicate its termination. ■