“NEWS” OF THE QUAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1929, Page 3

“NEWS” OF THE QUAKE

AS AMERICA READ IT

2000 MISSING AT LYELL. WESTPORT PRACTICALLY RAZED. Tho following news of the earthquake in New Zealand has been received by mail from the United States, having appeared in the New York 'limes: London, June 18.

Mystery surrounds the fate of 2000 inhabitants of Lyell, in the north part of the South Island, New Zealand, who have been unheard of since an earthquake devastated the island yesterday. Motor coaches which are known to have left the town on that day have never arrived at their destinations.

Situated between Westport and Murchison, Lyell received the brunt of New Zealand’s greatest seismic eruption since 1855—nor has the horror yet abated—late to-night reports of further tremors and continuous explosions were still being received. Westport itself, the nearest » big town to Lyell, has been practically razed.

In a vain effort to learn of thousands trapped in this territory, airplanes circled over Westport and the neighbouring villages to-day. They brought back no statements from the inhabitants, for there was scarcely ft building left standing, and the total number of dead is unknown.

Murchison, the next town visited, was not only equally deserted, but even its remains are in imminent danger of being obliterated by the rising waters of the Buller River. There is a mounting gorge behind the town, and this tremendous weight of water is now poised for a wild sweep down unto the underlying country. Only a mass of earth thrown up by the earthquake holds back the water, and it is reported that this loose though mountainous mass cannot long resist the increasing pressure.

The inhabitants of Murchison said they had passed a “night of hell” after finally reaching positions of greater safety by motor coaches and special trains.

Reports as to how it all happened arc vague, but one thing these horrorstricken women and children agree on — their hometown looks like a gigantic scrap heap. Others tell of “hills flattened out before them, seeming to slide away almost half a mile.” Between these deserted villages whose - fate is sadly enough known lies Lyell, whose fate is unknown. Thousands are gathered at all the working telegraph stations awaiting word of their friends and relatives missing in this town, which was the centre of the ’quake. Ana meanwhile ’planes, the only means of communication, are bringing back only descriptions and no personal messages.