ROAD SURVEY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1929, Page 6

ROAD SURVEY

THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE

NEW ROUTE GONE OVER

EARLY USE EXPECTED

(By Telegraph.—Pree» Association. I NELSON, Ist July. Tho feeling at Murchison is that Ai able-bodied men should return to i-a-storo the homes tor their families. Earth tremors arc much loss frequent, and no; at all disturbing. Twenty-five more- settlers returned this morning, and more are following as soon as possible. This morning Constable Robertson and Constable Jackson, stationed at Murchison, in company with a number of settlers, left Murchison to recover the bodies of the victims lost in tho landslides. Mr. J. Newman, of Newman Bros., Ltd., arrived back in Nelson, after traversing the rout© from Westport to Murchison, via Maruia, in company with A. Agent, one of the Westport drivers, for the firm. Mr. Newman left by ear for Inangahua. There are two slips on the road as far as Walker's, but tho road is kept open from Westport. To Berlin's very little damage has been done with the exception of a slip at Big Ohika, two chains wide, and two at Walker's. The country at Whitecliffs, behind Rocklands, i., shattered similar to tho Owen couutrv. Tho lower part of tho Buller is of "rocky formation, and very little stuff has como down. A start was made from Inangahua Junction in the morning to walk to LyelL There were several minor slips between the Junction and Arnold's, sis miles out from Reefton. Between there and Lyell, there are four big landslides. At two of them the road is completly carried away for half a mile into the river. Prom the top of the slides to the river bed is between 700 and 1000 feet. Movement of the earth was going on all the time. At Lyell a party lea by Constable Houston was met. They had been endeavouring to locate a missing prospector named Tim Ryan. The road between Lyell and Inangahua, in the opinion of Mi-. Newman, will be completely out of commission for six months at least. MAGNIFICENT SCENERY. From Keefton, a start was made for Maruia over the proposed route. Tho first 28 miles is very good, with the exception of one or two- sunken culverts. . The scenery is magnificent— even better than the Buller Gor^e for 28 miles. The Inangahua River was followed to its source, the Hahu Saddlo, the watershed of tho Inangahua on the one side of the 1 Maruia on the other. At Springs Junction tho party turned to tha right and went to Maruia Springs, eight miles further on. The road, however, is in very bad >r der, but parlies of men were forming new roads, which, when finished, should bo first-class. It is reckoned that the road from Springs Junction to the springs will be finished before Christmas. No damage appeared to have boen done to the springs themselves, although Mr. Newman said the bathhouse and appointments need attention, but their present condition was not due to the earthquake. From the springs Mr. Newman went back over tho same road to Springs Junction next morn ing (Friday). Horses were obtained, and the Maruia River was crossed, a halt being made at Wilhscroft's, whero a car was requisitioned to get as far as Lester's accommodation house. A car was again obtained for the next ten miles to the foot of the Maruia Saddlo, whore a slip blocked further progress by ear. There was about a foot of snow on tho Rahu and Maruia Saddles. The party walked over Maruia Saddle. The road should only take a few day.- to clear hero. Mr. L. May, district engineer, and his party wore met, Mr. May having arranged to havo tho road cleared at (.ho foot of Maruia Saddlo. Progress was made along the bank of tho /Tatakitaki. The concrote bridge was cross «d at Upper Matokitaki, and the party walked down the Murchison side of tho river as far as Mammoth Hotol, whore tho night was spent. On tho following morning a discarded motor-car was picked up on the side of tho road, and this managed to take the party for three miles before it refused duty. The road thus far, statod Mr. Newman would need very little reconditioning. A week or ten days at least should see tho job through. Botweon the Eight Milo and Six Mile the whole road has slipped into the rivor and tho party had to take to the bush, whero a rou"h track had been formed from tho six Milo into Murchison. Two bicycles brought them into tho township at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, and a ear was then taken for the remainder of the iournev to Nelson. OAKS WILL SOON BUN. Mr. Newman stated he haa made arrangemonts with Mr. Williseroft to haul cars whon nocesßary through tho Maruia, and arrangements were also in progress for mails and passengers to be transferred at the Eight Mile slip whore a 'track will have to be made for about a milo an a half through tbo bnsh to connect on the other side. These two places, at the Springs Junction Ford and the Eight Mile slip, are the only two which will cause any trouble between Reofton and Murchison. Mr. Newman added that it was hoped within a week or ton days to bo run' mug service cars over tho new route from Nelson to Wostport, via Maruia. Tho Westport-Reefton road was reopened throe days after it was blocked. The new route is about twenty miles longer to Reefton. On the way through tho Murchison district Mr. Nowman and his companion obtained food from deserted homesteads, and fed dogs and other animals. Every house .so far as could bo seen had been damaged. RESTORATION OF MTJROHISON. A meeting of' the Emergency Committoe was hold at tho Council Chamber to-day, and after some discussion a resolution was passed that tho Government be asked to forthwith instruct the Public Works Department to carry out the restoration of Murchisou with a view to returning Murchison refugees at the earliest possible moment A further resolution dealing with this question was that such restoration be I deemed to include tho replacing of private dwellings on their piles, and structural repairs, including the restoration of chimneys, tho replacement of. water tanks and stands, and a genera' cleaning np. Mr. L. May, District Engineer of the Public Works Department, said that if the Government approved of the suggestion contained in the committee's resolutions it was proposed to establish at Murchison a camp fo. tho workmen who will bo engaged upon reconstruction. Mr. May added that Murchison must act as a distributing centre for the return of settlers within that area, hence the desirability of rocstablishing the township as sooii as possible.