COUNTRY CHANGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20793, 9 February 1931, Page 14

COUNTRY CHANGED.

MOHAKA DISTRICT.

HOMESTEADS RUINED.

HUGE LANDSLIDES OCCUR.

AWE-INSPIRING SIGHTS.

CAMPING OUT ON FARM..

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GISBORNE, Saturday. No story of the extraordinary nature of the upheaval in the Mohaka district on Tuesday has been more vivid than that narrated by Mrs. J. R. Murphy, who arrived yesterday in Gisborne after an arduous journey. At the time of the big shake Mrs. Murphy was at her husband's homestead near the township of Mohaka, while Mr. Murphy himself was out on the back portion of the property high up on the hills. While Mrs. Murphy looked down on the destruction of the township her husband gazed over the bay to Napier and saw the commencement of the great conflagration at the port there. In the first few minutes the Mohaka Hotel in the township fell and burst into flames and Mr. O Grady s homestead on the hills overlooking the township suffered the same fate. There was not a house for miles around that did not suffer. Of Mr. Guy Gaddum's house only the four walls remained standing without a roof. Hie Murphy homestead tilted over to one side and moved off the foundation blocks. The ground slipped away from one wing and left it suspended and badly twisted. ' Child's Lucky Escape. In this wing was Mr. and Mrs. G. I. Parker's young daughter Miriam. Eventually the infant was recovered uninjured. ' Mr. Murphy and ono of the station staff were out on the hills selecting a draft of fat lambs when the earthquake commenced. In a second or two it be- ' came impossible to stand, so both men lay down by a fence and steadied themselves by gripping the posts. Lying there the men saw the first bursts of smoke from the burning Port Ahuriri and this sight brought home to them the real seriousness of the shake. Their horses had rushed off in a panic so Mr. Murphy and his assistant set out to walk home. The whole configuration of the country side seemed to have changed and the men were so long in returning that a search party was sent out to look for them. Three Days in Open. In the meantime the whole household had taken to the open air and between the tremors that followed the principal shock they removed bedding, foodstuffs and other necessities out into the home paddock. For the following three days they lived and slept out of doors, the Murphy group being added to as refugees from other damaged homesteads gathered there. The effect of the shake on the cliffs above Mohaka was astounding, for about 200 acres of Mclvor's station, which runs out to the coast, slipped away into the sea and a portion of the hillside adjacent to the township itself fell away, fortunately without carrying any buildings with it. In Mohaka it was impossible to see for some time after the slips owing to the dense clouds of dust which rose. All round the bay as fat as the eye could travel the effects of tho shake could be observed. New scars appeared on the hillsides and fresh rock seams were exposed on the shore line.

CONDITION OF ROADS.

TAUPO-NAPIER HIGHWAY. WARNING TO MOTORISTS. Reports received by the Auckland Automobile Association yesterday from patrols in the Hawke's Bay district stated that the Wairoa-Waikaro road was although a detour was necessary. The traffic bridge was still down and motorists had to travel past the railway station, crossing the railway bridge by means of planks. This would bring them back on to the main road two or three miles south of Wairoa.

The touring manager of the association reported last evening that the maiy road was impassable near Moliaka, and that n detour was necessary through the settlement itself, along the old road. It was, however, hoped to have the RotoruaWairoa road, via Waikaremoana, open by this evening. Nearing Waikare, a long detour was being made, motorists crossing tho Putorioo viaduct and travelling along a back road for four miles. The main road, which runs through a gorge, was blocked.

Although tho Taupo-Napier road was open, it was still in a dangerous condition, the touring manager said. A telegram had been received from Napier stat ing that shocks were still being felt, and theso were bringing down fresh slips on the Taupo Road. In view of the latest information, tho association has advised that motorists will use the Napier-Tnupo road only at their own risk, with a possibility of being blocked. ORGANISATION AT NAPIER. MARINES' WORK COMPLETED. SPECIAL CONSTABULARY FORCE. [BY TEI.EOBAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER. ] NAPIER. Sunday. The organisation of the special constabulary force has been completed and it will take over the posts of the Royal Marines to-morrow. Since the whole position has been carefully examined by the special constabulary officers concerned it is considered that the . marines could reembark to-morrow without disturbing the existing organisation.