EARTHQUAKE RAVAGES

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 45, 28 June 1929, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE RAVAGES

KARANSEA'S PLIGHT.

AITEAL EOlt HELL',

ANOTHER SHAKE IN WESITORT.

WESTPORT, Last Night,

The quakes have been fairly quiet since early this morning, but at 8.35 p.m., there was a heavy and prolonged shake which will help to make another uncanny night for the people. Quakes are much easier to face in the daylight than in the dark.

A Moth plane which has been standing by in Westport to assist Karamea is under instructions not to leave for there to-day. Messrs M. McLean (chairman of the Buller County Council), Avho resides in that district and came by plane on Saturday last with Captain Burrell, and Mr G. C. Black, member for the district, have decided to walk to Karamea via Corbyvale, which they hope t 0 reach to-morrow night. They handed the following statement tjo the Press: "Murchison and Karamea are the- two districts that were most affected by the earthquake. Thanks to splendid New Zealand manhood that stepped in and organised matters there, that centre has been practically evacuated. Karamea and its 800 men, women and children is in a different plight." The work of demolition of. the big post office building is proceeding. Contributions to the relief fund received by the Mayor, Mr Harkness, included £IOO by an anonymous donor.

NO COMMUNICATION. "The planes arrived in Westport on Tuesday afternoon of last week, and the Moth did not come to Karamea until the following Friday, when Mr McLean came out. It returned on Saturday, with serum for diphtheria. Since then there has been no communication with the settlers. On Sunday there were two big shakes that decided the Murchison committee to get their people to Nelson. We desire to protest most emphatically at the lack of organisation which has led to this sorry state of affairs and appeal to all New Zealand to remember the Karamea settlement in the matter of urgent relief. The Prime Minister's message to the people here, and the £2OO which he has provided for immediate relief, is the only bright spot iri Karamea's history of the past 11 days." j

BULLEK RIVER Of FLOOD. : An electrical storm w)i|th- interludes of hail has been taking place most of the day and night. The Buller River is in flood and it is carrying with it to the sea an unusually large quantity of timber, adding colour to th\ reports from' up-country of the hills having been cleared by big landslides down to the rivers. {

Three slips which may take a week or more to clear have come down on the Buller-Reefton Road. Passengers and mails got through by a detour through Walker's swamp land.

HARBOUR BOARD DONATION. Press Association —Copyright. TIMARU, This Day. The Timaru Harbour Board at its meeting to-day voted £IOO to the earthquake relief fund. THE MASTERTON FUND. Press Association— Cowyright MASTERTON, This Day. The Masterton earthquake funds now* total over £520.