TOLL OF HUMAN LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20304, 11 July 1929, Page 12

TOLL OF HUMAN LIFE.

DEATH-ROLL NOW SEVENTEEN

FATE OF FATHER AND SON

OVERWHELMED BY A SLIP.

[cv TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHUnCH, Wednesday.

Tho total number of deaths attributed to the earthquake is now 17, for to the previous list must be added two more names, those of the prospector named Russell, and his son, who have not been heard of since tho morning of Juno 17, when the main shock occurred.

Tho two men left Seddonvillo together about an hour beforo the first great [ shock, and it is believed that they were overwhelmed by a huge slip which camo down on tho track which runs alongside tho Mokihinui River. A search party traced them as far as the slip, but could find no signs of them on the other side. Taking the time that they were on tho road after leaving Seddonvillo into consideration, it seems likely that they were overwhelmed at this point. The father had been prospecting in the district for about twelve months, and the son had joined hini on the day of tho earthquake in order to have a week's holiday. The son had been appointed to a position in the railway service, and was to commenco his duties at Waimangaroa Junction, 11 miles from West port, a week later. Following is the death-roll as it now stands Messrs. W. Chamlcy and R. McAllister, miners; Mrs. Buscli and her son and daughter; Mr. C. Morel; Mrs. W. Hoi in an and child; Mrs. Gibson and Master Gibson; Mr. Leo Wcstbrook; Miss Ferguson; Mr. A. D. Stubbs; Mr. Russell and son; Mr. Tom Walsh; Mr. George Pet tilt. Of tho above Mr. Walsh died as the result of injuries sustained in a slip on tho road near Lyell, and Mr. Pcltitt's death was reported on Tuesday. SHOCKS NOT FINISHED. TENSE TIME AT WESTPORT. SUCCOUR FOR KARAMEA. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WESTPORT. Wednesday. Shocks continue to be felt at Westport. If a shock does not corno for a few liours tho people find themselves tensely waiting for one. The waiting is very often worse than the shake. People are still living in a stato of nervous tension, under tho impression one minuto that the worst has passed and that only slight shakes will bo experienced, then tho next minute finding the buildings rocking almost as severely as with the earliest big shakes. Besides early morning shakes there were several this afternoon, including a sustained ono at 3.20 p.m. The steamer Nile, due to-niglit from Karamea, called in at Little Wanganui. She is to leave again for Karamea, for which port the auxiliary schooner Fairburn, with a general cargo, left early this morning. Another 120 residents of Seddonvillo, mostly women and children, came into Wcstport this evening. They will leave, some for Christchurch and others for Wellington. A good number are going to relatives or friends, and the others will be billeted out. Tho Salvation Army has the transport and billeting arrangements in hand. , PARAPETS AT SCHOOLS. PLANS FOR REMOVAL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PREPS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday.

The Minister of Education, Hon. 11. At more, has urged on the Nelson Education Board the danger of heavy parapets and ornamentation in school buildings, especially over exits. Ihe board was asked to treat it as urgent and to forward a close estimate of the cost, of removal, when tho Minister will bo piepared to deal expeditiously with the proposal.

HIGH COST OF REPAIRS.

FIGURES FOR NELSON CITY,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —rUESS ASSOCIATION.] NELSON. Wednesday.

Tho Nelson city engineer's estimate of the damage by the earthquake to private buildings in Nelson city is £79,000, not including tho Boys' College. with tho damage in rural districts, £237,000, makes a total of £316,000, not including tho Motucka borough.