Renewed Activity in Earthquake Region

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6943, 24 June 1929, Page 7

Renewed Activity in Earthquake Region

SOME SEVERE SHOCKS YESTERDAY

Mighty Mountain That Was Rent in Twain

Seven days of continuous earthquakes in the zone of greatest activity has brought about among the people of the West Coast an attitude of indifference to a condition that is accepted now almost as arc sunshine and rain. Several very violent disturbances occurred in the region yesterday morning, at least two radiating as far the North Island and being felt in the Manawatu.

Reports of eyewitnesses of the devastation wrought by last upheaval only serve to colour the picture of ruin drawn by earlier messages and investigations in Murchison, Westport, Greymouth and elsewhere disclose added damage, with the possibility of further grave consequences.

Murchisqri Experiences Several Severe Jolts LANDSLIDES AND RUMBLINGS SUBSIDENCES ON RAILWAY NEAR GLENHOPE. Per Press Association. NELSON, Last Night. News from Murchison to-day is not reassuring. Last night’s ’quakes were very severe ana were considered to he nearly as had as the hig shake on Monday last. The front of Hodgson’s store came out. Landslides and rumblings in the hills have continued during the past two days. More settlers from the Manila and Matakitaki valleys were brought into Murchison to-day. ;An urgent request for a special train to convey 100 to 150 refugees from Eohatu to Nelson was received from Murchison and tram arrangements were immediately got under way. Last night’s shocks, which were felt in Nelson with considerable severity, caused subsidences in the railway line four miles on the Nelson side of Glenhope and refugees will have to come on to Kohatu by motor to connect with the train. The Hon. J. G. Coates arrived at- Nelson early this morning and- left by car for Murchison in company with G. C. Black M.P. and is .inspecting the neighbourhood to-day. He is expected to return ( to Nelson to-night. 'Flames Rose as Sides of Hills Slid Away

FRICTION or THE EOCKS. UNAVAILING SEARCH FOE TWO MISSING PEOSPECTOES WESTPORT, Last Night. ’Quakes continue, ten fairly heavy and numerous slighter ones occurring betweon noon and 7 p.m. This afternoon, water lorries paraded the town, providing water iov the inhabitants, who got busy with buckets and other receptacles. Captain Burrell flew to Karamea with diphtheria scrum, as many cases of diphtheria are reported. He also took mails. A Corby Vale resident states that flames were flying, caused by friction, is hugo blocks of ' land went sliding flown the hillsido. There is still no word of Mr. Bussell and his son, who, it is feared, have been‘buried in a landslide at Mokihinui, ns horso tracks were traced past two slips up to a big slide and beyond that no tracks are seen. Search is also being made for Mr. W. Bean, who was up on Tait’s farm 16 miles above Scddonville. Two of the guides who led the party to the mountain top say they had a clo&r view of the country through field glasses stretching back to Murchison and the slopes were denuded of trees. Wireless Operators Work Round Clock GETTING THROUGH THE NEWS.

WESTPORT, Last Night. Messrs Fahey and Fowko, the wireless exports who arrived from Christchurch by aeroplane on Tuesday, have been working watch and watch right rouncLtho clock on s.s. Kaitoke, most of the time being spent at sea and partly under cyclonic conditions. Within two hours of arriving, they had boarded Kaitoke in the roadstead and established communication, which was maintained until Friday morning, when the land lines were restored and carrying traffic. Hundreds of messages were received from Awarua wireless station at Bluff and the Commercial Radio station, Wellington and transmitted ashore to Kartigi at the wharf and others wero sent ashore by launch and tug. Since the closing down of the wireless on Kaitoke on Friday, Messrs Fahey and Fowke, who have had very little sleep, are now assisting tirelessly in despatching and receiving telegrams pn the land lines.

their houses rattle and shake without getting out of beds. Last Monday’s outward mail via Nelson ig still stranded between slips near Lyell. Water cars were out again this morning but rain fell pretty heavily later and household supplies have thus been well catered for, except of course for the sowetage system, which is not yet workable, owing to the high pressure water systoni not yet having been linked up. Earthquakes, liko wars, have their humorists. Ono of the men working under the danger of further falls from the Post Office has a notice outside his protected posic: “Topple Over Inn. Shakedowns only. Book early to avoid the rush.”

Worst Shake Since Monday’* Visitation ON WEST COAST YESTERDAY. SERIOUS EFEECT OF ’QUAKE ON GROWING TREES. GREYMOUTH, Last Night. After tho longest intermission since the earthquakes bogan last Monday, there was this morning a renewal in Greymouth of severe shocks. The first was at 2.20 a.m. and 40 minutes later, it was followed by a shorter one, then at three o’clock, there, came the most prolongued ’quako since the biggest shock, which it nearly equalled in duration, though its amplitude and violence were appreciably less, a fourth shock was recorded at 6.11 a.m., lasting about 15 or 16 seconds. A further shock occurred at 11.40 a.m. Tho biggest 'quake to-day was succeeded by three well-defined tremors and before 9 a.m., eight further tremors were felt. Tho effect of the shocks, however has been nowise serious and chimneys suffered little or no further damage but the fact of the disturbance occurring at night was responsible for much alarm among residonts. Bushmen point out that extreme swaying of tho trees during tho 'quakes will probably mean a general increase in what aro known as “shakes” in timber horcafter, as the jolts will create numerous cracks in tho trunks, which become filled with resinous deposit, “Tin tops” aro becoming tho fashion with chimneys. There is now a need for quick replacements, obliging people to use metal instead of bricks in many cases. The relief fund locally now totals njmut £SOO, among the donations being £IOO each from the Grey Liccnsod Victuallers, the National Tobacco Co., Ashby Berg and Co.; £SO from John Burns and Co and two anonymous local citizens; £25 each from Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, and Commissioner Hay, of tho Salvation Army and £lO 10s each from tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. Greenslade) and Messrs Boustridgc and Hall. A committee has been set up of local body and Church representatives to allocate relief throughout the Grey county among necessitous cases. Damage to Roman Catholic properties will call for an expenditure of over £IOOO. The Town hall damage is more extensive than was at first thought, whilst the extent of the_chimncy destruction, upon closer examination, proves also to be in excess of what was first anticipated. It remains uncertain, after the latest shocks, whether the mines which last week were idled by the 'quakes, will resumo to-morrow, as intended. The Blackball railway lino was not workable on Saturday morning, duo to subsidences, wliilo lines elsowhcrc, though slightly affected, aro workable. Ship 3 in port are experiencing delay in securing bunker coal.

Christchurch PeopL Aroused from Sleep NO DAMAGE IN CITY. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Two shocks of earthquake, severe enough to awaken all but the heaviest sleepers, occurred shortly after three o ’clock and six o ’clock this morning. Tho shakes were the severest sinco the first big ’quake of Monday morning but no damage was done in tbc city. Wanganui Wilts Under Early Morning Shake WANGANUI, Last Night. Two shocks of earthquake were felt in Wanganui early to-day at 3 a.m. and 6.10 a.m., the second being heavier than the first though, of shorter duration.

Maruia Expected to Break Through Soon

POSSIBLE EFFECT ON BULLER. POSTMASTERS REPORT GENERAL DISTURBANCES. Per Press Association. WELLIINGTON, Last Night. Tho General Post Office has received the following advices regarding the earthquake on Saturday from the Postmaster at Murchison: “It was reported at 5 p.m. that the Maruia river will cut through the slip iu about throe days’ time, and may cause the Newton Flat slip on the Buller river to give. The Matakitaki river is normal. “Refugees from Maruia (Pacnga) have reached the Ariki sehoolhousc, and should reach Murchison tomorrow.” Tho Chief Postmaster at Wostport reported at 8 p.m. that very few minor tremors had occurred in the last -4 hours. The Medical Officer of Health from Christchurch, has assumed control of utility services affecting public health. Difficulty is being experienced in locating breaks in the water mains to the reservoir. If repairs arc not effected shortly, it is proposed to pump water by the harbour tug into tho mains. It was raining on Saturday night and the weather was threatening From the Postmaster, Murchison, at 9.30 p.m. on Saturday: “The Matakitaki river is still running normally. I do not anticipate any immediate change. There is no change in the Maruia river. Minor 'quakes and detonations still continue _ at less regular intervals. Light ram has set in but I think it will clear by the morning. The main road to Nelson is still open. A pack track was opened to tho Upper Matakitaki to-day, and the men are clearing the road to Putaki to-morrow. Everybody is well. The Murchison Postmaster reported at 9.30 a.m. to-day: “Shocks and detonations continued throughout the night. Two very heavy 'quakes occurred at 3 a.m. and 5.55 a.m. The Matakitaki river dam is running slightly above normal, but there is no cause for alarm.” From the Chief Postmaster, Westport: “After a very quiet day, somewhat sharp shocks occurred at 9 p.m. and 2.30 a.m., while at 3.5 a.m. the main one occurred. No further damage has been reported. Heavy showers fell throughout the night. Much water was collected from the down pipes and stored in a motley collection of utensils. Hospital patients arc being removed to the wooden building to-day.” _ , , From the Postmaster, Taltaka: “Severe shocks still continue. The most violent and of longest duration since Monday morning was experienced at 3.5 a.m.; preceded by loud detonations in the vicinity of Cook Strait. Farewell Spit lighthouse reports that the light was extinguished by shakes at 3.5 a.m. and 6 a.m.”

Shock* and Sounds at Murchison Much Milder

matakitaki getting away.

Press Association. —-Extraordinary. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tho Post and Telegraph department received the following message from tho Postmaster at Murchison at 5 p.m. Minor shocks sum! detonations continuc, though they aro of a much milder character than last night. Tho rivers running slightly above normal, due to a heavy shower of rain this afternoon but are clearing rapidly now. The Matakitaki river is reported to be getting away nicely now. Refugees from Maruia valley, Matakitaki valley and Murchison aro leaving here for Nelson this afternoon per caT and. special train.” i

Englands Admiration and Sympathy NEW ZEALAND’S FORTITUDE. Times Cable. Eeceivcd Sunday 7.0 p.m. LONDON, June 22. The Times, in a reference to the New Zealand earthquake, says: "The menace of death, tho destruction of property and the loss of years of work has been faced with characteristic fortitude. There have boon individual acts of daring and heroism, quiet patience and nowhere a sign of panic. That this would be our kinsmen’s response to tho disaster was taken for granted here, but it does not lessen our admiration and sympathy." Two Further Violent ’Quakes at Westport CONTINUOUS MINOR TREMORS. RAIN REPLENISHES SUPPLIES OF WATER. WESTPORT, Last Night. Apart from two violent ’quakes, one at 3.5 a.m. and another at 6.11 a.m., with less violent shakes almost continuously, the day has been uneventful. Most of tho people realise that wooden buildings are safe against even the most violent of shocks and many let Palmerston Feels Two Distinct Vibrations AT THREE AND SIX A.M. Palmerston North, in common with many other places, was subjected to two further earth tremors yesterday morning. The first, at 3.2 a.m., was a series of jolts quite sufficient in intensity to shake most people from slumber. It lasted nearly a minute. The second occurred at 6.11 a.m. and was similar in effoct, though shorter and more severe. It is not reported that any were disturbed enough to leave their beds.