ISOLATED FOR 24 DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1929, Page 13

ISOLATED FOR 24 DAYS

TRACK CUT INTO CORBYVALE OVER THREE HUNDRED QUAKES. GREAT DAMAGE DONE BY FLOODS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. A study of the seismograph records being made daily at the Dominion Observatory reveals a number of interesting features about the big earthquake and the numerous after-shocks. The latter up till yesterday morning numbered 331. Nearer to Murchison and the disturbed area this number would be larger. In almost every case the first impulse recorded on the seismograph has been a pull towards the disturbed region. A bridle track has been cut into Cor by vale settlement, according to a telegram which Air. G. C. Black, M.P., received from Air. J. Munson stating that evacuation commenced to-day after 24 days’ isolation. “The settlers are going to various parts of New Zealand,’’ concludes the message. At a meeting of the executive of the relief committee at Nelson to-day a letter was received from the Prime Alinister on behalf of the central committee accepting the offer of the local committee to carry out certain restoration at Alurchison.

After discussion the following resolution was carried: That the county chairman be asked to form a general advisory committee to assist the Nelson committee with the view that later the Alurchison committee may take complete charge, the Nelson committee providing such assistance, financial and otherwise, as it is able. In view of the fact that work is now available for 80 men a resolution was passed that allowances for all ablebodied Altirchison men now in Nelson cease as from Alonday next. A number of quakes was felt to-day at Westport at irregular intervals, the biggest being at 12.30 p.m. The coal trade is slowly moving back to normal.

The railway line suffered badly, both from flood and earthquake. Flood waters running through tho Mokihinui tunnel several feet high carried away ballasting and left the line in a deplorable state. On certain sections of the line the speed was limited to six miles per hour, or. others to 15 miles and over the remainder to 25 miles, with limited speed and loads and light engines. The Arahura is leaving to-night for Nelson and Wellington with a lengthy list of passengers. The Mayor of Oamaru to-day transmitted to the Central Committee a sec-, ond instalment of £5OO for earthquake relief. Th'e fund now totals nearly £l3OO, including £436 collected by the Oamaru Mail. Cracks have been discovered in the concrete suction tanks at the Christchurch city’s three main water supply pumping stations. The cracks were caused by the earthquake. They are not serious, but the wastage of water is sufficient to be noticeable. The capacity of the three tanks is 75,300 gallons, 28,000 gallons and 806,000 gallons. The cost of repair will not be heavy.

TOLL OF HUMAN LIFE

DEATH ROLL NOW SEVENTEEN.

FATE OF FATHER AND SON

Christchurch, July 10.

The 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 the morning of June 17, when the main shock occurred. The two men left Scddonville together about an hour before the first great shock, and it is believed that they were overwhelmed by a huge slip which came down on the track which runs alongside the 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 the road after leaving Seddonville into consideration, it seems likely that they were overwhelmed at thii point. The father had been prospecting in the district for about twelve months, and the son had joined him on the day of the earthquake in order io have a week’s holiday. The son had been appointed to a position in the railway service, and was to commence his duties at Waimangaroa Junction, 11 miles from Westport, a week later. Following is the death roll as it now stands: Messrs. W. Chamley and R. McAllister, miners; Mrs. Busch and her son and daughter; Mr. C. Morel; Mrs. W. Holman and child; Mrs. Gibson and Master Gibson; Mr. Leo Westbrook; Miss Ferguson; Mr. A. D. Stubbs; Mr. Russell and son; Mr. Tom Walsh; Mr. George Pettitt. Of the above, Mr. Walsh died as the result of injuries sustained in a slip on the road near Lyell, and Mr. Pettitt’s death was reported on Tuesday.