“LIKE FIRING OF GUNS”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 February 1931, Page 9

“LIKE FIRING OF GUNS”

EXPERIENCES AT MOHAKA LANDSLIDES ALONG THE COAST ROAD DROPS 20 TO 30 FFiET. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIROA, Feb. IC. A visit paid; to Molmka. yesterday by the Press Association agent convinces him that the district must have been very close to- the earthquake centre for both last Friday afternoon and on the previous Tuesday week settlors state that a. loud booming was heard like the firing of huge guns. All along the coast great landslides occurred, the base of one carrying away several (hundreds of acres well out to sea. Hills in all direcions cracked along ridges, great faces disappearing into the valley below. Tlie Mohaka gorge suffered particularly severely in this respect. Since last Friday’s big shake no water has reached Mohaka township owing to a tremendous slip near Willow Flat completely blocking the river, which is partly dried up and like a lagoon at the township. Should heavy rain occurr the lower part is likely to be in grave danger. An eye-witness states that hi'lls near the coast split and seemed to hang, in the air and then were hurled out to sea.

The land along the coastline is badly cracked and is likely to slide into the sea when rain comes. _ A number of railway and road fillings have pancaked, but the damage is not as great as was previously feared. AVet weather will, however, cause many portions to disappear. The worst part of the roafi from W 7 airoa to the; Mohaka bridge is at Turiroa, where it lias dropped 20 to 30 feet and the present track is likely to go at any time. AI any homesteads _ will have to bo rebuilt between Wairoa and Mohaka and the country will be difficult for farmers mustering stock.

DISTRICT RELIEF FUNDS BOROUGH COUNCIL LIST. Previously acknowledged ... 575 7 9 Tv. and J. B. 25 0 0 Awatuna Ladies’ Hall Committee 5 5 0 Awatuna Branch \A T .D.F.U. 22 0 Total £607 14 9