HOUSE WRECKED BY A LANDSLIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 5

HOUSE WRECKED BY A LANDSLIP.

,«*» ; ;: :'';: ~ : .,. 1 , . : -': : ;i';L''.''--, F6UR people injured.

A DESPERATE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

f_BT TELEGBAPff.— COBBESPONDEST.]

'- ;" V Gisborne, Friday. The \ W.ha'tatutu .:,■; correspondent of the Poverty Bay Herald has telephoned that a messenger arrived. at ten o'clock last night from Arowhana, stating that Mr. F. A. Tiffen' house at Te Rata, over: 40 miles inland from Gisbornej was completely smothered by a huge landslip on Monday night.

■ There were four- people in the house, namely, Mr. F. A. Tiffen, a married couple. (Mr. and Mrs. Merritt), and a shepherd, whose name has not been -given. They were all badly '• knocked about by the falling timbers and the stones that crashed through the roof, some of them being huge boulders..

The house is described as being a complete wreck. ■■-■;■. .-

Mr. Tiffen and his companions were imprisoned in the wreckage for- several hours, until pent-up flood waters came down, and sweeping through the house, washed them out amongst the gravel and mullock.

Mr. Tiffen and Mrs. Merritt'. had their legs badly torn, and the others were also injured. -

; ; Then ensued a hard struggle to get. to a place of safety. The four injured people were a considerable time in getting to the woolshed, and in their struggle they had the clothes torn off them, and were completely exhausted.

The landslide occurred at ten o'clock on Monday night, and they were found twelve hours later in the woolshed by Mr. Michael O'Brien,' lying wrapped in wool bales, and all suffering intense pain. >

Mr. Tiffen and Mrs. Merritt were carried to Mr. Lysnar's homestead at Arowhana, a mile distant, and the other two, with a, (little also managed to reach there.

The messenger who reached' Whatatutu states that Mr. Tiff en and the lady are in a very Dad state, suffering greatly. .• Dr. Scott was communicated with last night, and left immediately for Arowhana. Mr. Kerr was sent to meet him at Ormond, the road being carried away in places, and to pilot him Across the country to; Whatatutu, where he arrived at daylight this morning.. Fresh horses being provided, the doctor went straight oh, and was expected to reach Arowhana at eleven o'clock this morning. < ;

The telephone lines up the river from Whatatutu are down, and that is the reason why the casualty was not previously reported, a messenger, being unable to get down owing to" the flooded state, of the river. The messenger also stated that there had been a heavy landslip at the Waipaoa station, and when he-passed the debris was being shovelled away from the back door of the homestead.