A FATAL LANDSLIDE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 March 1910, Page 4

A FATAL LANDSLIDE.

THE HILL STILL SLIPPING. A WHOLE COUNTRY ON THE MOVE. [r.V IKI.IXiIt.U'U—PER PKESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, Match i ; l 'I he Tiiupo correspondent of 'he NewZealand Herald reports that an alarming landslide occurred at the native settle meat of Waihi, a iniln westward of To kaanu, on the shores of Lake Taupe yesterday morning, when the hillside behind the village began to bodily slip away, and it then forced its way to'the lake- carrying wharos, houses and everything in its track. The landslide has now spread out about three chains into the lake in deep

water. Unfortunately the natives had little warning, and one of them named Wi Tamiawhana was killed, and others wore injured through the falling debris. The hill is still sliding and the natives are hurrying away from Waihi village, as they expect the whole place to he demolished. It is only a short distance from where the other memorable landslip occurred in March, 1846, when (he village of Terapa was overwhelmed by a landslide, and all the inhabitants were killed except three who escaped. One of the latter was the mother of Wi Tamaiwhana. now killed in this slide. The natives are in a great state of excitement and are hurrying off with their household goods and escaping from what they consider the impending doom of the beautiful village of Waihi.

Later.-—Further particulars of the land slide at Waihi show Ilia? Tamnwhana. among others, was making a vvi.ld rash for safer ground when a big boulder struck him and knocked, him down'. Ho recovered hims: If anil renewed his flight but (he hotly of the landslip overtook him in a few seconds and he was overwhelmed. The last seen of him was his legs dangling out of slushy mud. A young wonuui named Hako just managed to get clear of the path of the slide and sank senseless. She was removed to safety. As the mass pitched into the lake a tidal wave rose* some (en feet and swept to the opposite shore where .some children wen' playing. They wore swept off thier feet but were rescued by adults with some dilliculty. All boats and canoes on the lake were washed away. The natives all left the village and refuged at Pakawa. The slip started a thousand feet above the lake level, and a mile and a half from the shore. Walls are cut out of the country 200 feet deep. It covers the road from Tokaanu to Waihi.