ENGULFED IN A LANDSLIDE.

Evening Star, Issue 12871, 21 July 1906, Page 6

ENGULFED IN A LANDSLIDE.

SETTLERS’ PITIABLE PLIGHT. GISBORNE, July 21. Henry Tiffen, who reached Whatatutu froin Arowhana this morning, reports that, whilst his brother and two other men who were engulfed in a landslide have recovered, the condition of Mrs Merett was found to be such whan the doctor reached her yesterday that amputation of one of her legs had to be performed. All had suffered very much with cold and exposure. It is. a miracle that the party escaped with their lives, as the house—a fine dwelling of eight rooms—was completely engulfed and destroyed. Only the roof is now visible, and it is four or five chains away from the original site. The hill came down without warning, and the occupants suddenly found themselves ex-' pelled by a rush of stones and water into a maelstrom of debris, in which they were embedded up to their necks. They had great difficulty in extricating themselves, and when they succeeded in reaching the woolshed, where they covered themselves with wool and wool packs to gain warmth, they were in a truly desperate plight, s The weather in the backblocks has been severe. At Arowhana Station three feet of snow fell, and the roof of the large woolshed was broken in by the weight of it. The snow all melted in one nipht, which was largely responsible for the flooding of the river. All down the valley fences have been carried away by flood and other damage done.