VALLEY OF DEATH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 693, 19 June 1929, Page 1

VALLEY OF DEATH

THREE HOMESTEADS BURIED MURCHISON’S NIGHT OF TERROR Press Association WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The scene in the Matakitaki Valley, three miles from Murchison, beggars description, reports the postmaster. The gorge is filled bank to bank half a mile wide with rocks and debris for a length of one mile, and the Matakitaki River is now forming a lake which it is feared will break away and flood Murchison, as it is unknown what body of water is held further up. A portion of the hill on the west bank of the river behind Mr. S. Busch’s farm burst clean out, burying Mr. Busch’s homestead, in which were his wife, his daughter, aged 28, and his son. Ron., aged 18. This burst was so terrific that it also overwhelmed the homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Morel on the opposite side of the river, injuring Mr. Morel so severely that he succumbed to his injuries. In Lower Maruia (Ariki) the top of a hill to the west of Mr. Walter Holman’s house turned overy, burying his farm and homestead, together with Mrs. Holman and one child, under thousands of tons of rock. This slip has also dammed the Maruia River. Mr. Gibson’s farm in the Maruia Valley, Glengarry, was overwhelmed. Mrs. and Master Gibson, Mr. Leo Westbrook and Miss Ferguson were buried beyond recovery. Twenty refugees from this valley are endeavouring to reach Murchison tomorrow.

HORRIFIED SPECTATOR

SEES HOME ENGULFED % SERIES OF DETONATIONS Press Association NELSON, Tuesday. ! When the landslide overwhelmed j the dwelling of Mr. S. Busch in the

Matakitaki Valley, he was a horrified spectator of the fate of his wife and children. He was some distance from the house working in a paddock when he witnessed an awful scene. Hearing a roar he looked up to see thousands of tons of rocks and earth falling on his house, which was buried many feet deep. Attempts to extricate the trapped occupants of the house were totally out of the Question. A refugee informed a pressman tonight that they had experienced a night of hell in Murchison —one long series of detonations and violent shocks. The shocks continued this morning, culminating in a violent one accompanied by a huge landslide just before the main party of refugees left for Nelson. Mr. Hodgson’s store in the valley is lying over at an angle of 45 degrees. The police stopped the people from entering it. Volunteers, however, went In this morning to secure bread. Most of the inhabitants of Murchison, including all the women and children, were brought to Nelson by motor-lorry and special train tonight. A few men are remaining in Murchison. Although many buildings are still standing in Murchison, most are untenable. The main walls of the Commercial Hotel are apparently intact, but the Bank of New Zealand adjoining is in ruins. RUMBLING HILLS HUGE MASSES SHIFTED SLIPS IN MARLBOROUGH Press Association BLENHEIM, Tuesday. Huge masses of hillsides slipped into Lake Ratoiti during the big shake, setting up great rumbling noises. A warning of the approach of the main disturbance was provided by rumbling noises which preceded it, gradually becoming louder. The road from Tophouse to Kawatiri is strewn with boulders and debris and care has to be exercised in traversing the road by car. All along the road side fillings have subsided, leaving barely sufficient traffic room. Reports like muffled explosions were heard in all parts of Pelorus Sound. They were especially distinct at Manaroa, where settlers had a terrifying experience.

WESTPORT STILL CUT OFF

WIRELESS EQUIPMENT AWAITED PLANES TO CARRY MAILS Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. Telegraphically Westport is still isolated. The operators sent from Christchurch yesterday are awaiting the arrival of wireless equipment by I steamer from Wellington, i Erobably further airplanes will leave Christchurch tomorrow carrying Westport mails. | STILL QUAKING SHAKES AT HOKITIKA Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today, j A Hokitika message says that three j heavy quakes were felt this morning, | at 1.30, 2 and 2.5, with further small j damage to buildings. BLENHEIM,. Today. ! Minor shocks occurred throughout j the night, with sharp shakes at 5.55 | and 5.50. RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS WELLINGTON RED CROSS LEADS Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Wellington Red Cross held an emergency meeting and voted £SO for immediate relief of the earthquake sufj ferers, and has opened a fund.