Landslide Kills Four In Buller Gorge.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18788, 18 June 1929, Page 10

Landslide Kills Four In Buller Gorge.

Hill Sweeps Down Valley, Burying House. CATASTROPHE NEAR MURCHISON CAUSES DEATH OF MAN, WOMAN AND HER CHILDREN. Per Press Association. NELSON, June 18. IT IS UNDERSTOOD that the names of the persons killed near Murchison are:— C. Morel. Mrs Bush, and her son and a daughter. It is stated that the hillside which came down and enveloped them was nearly half a mile away from the house. It is not a steep hill, but, from the meagre reports available, it appears to have slid down across a valley over half a mile wide, blocking the Matakitaki River four miles from Murchison. Mr B.' F. Spiers, who came through to Glenhope to give a warning of blocked rivers, took nine hours to do the thirty miles.

SERVICE CAR MISSING IN STRICKEN AREA, OVER WHICH AEROPLANE WILL CONDUCT SEARCH. Per Press Association. NELSON, June 18. ONE OF NEWMAN BROS.’ service cars, which would have been in the vicinity of Lyell at the time of the earthquake, on its journey from the West Coast to Nelson has not been reported since the occurrence and Newman Bros, have engaged an aeroplane from the Marlborough Aero Club to search the district. The ’plane is expected to reach Nelson early this afternoon, where it will pick up Jack Newman and proceed to the stricken area.

Newman hopes in this way also to gain information concerning the condition of the roads. Captain Chandler is in charge of the ’plane. There are five passengers in the service car. Arrangements are being made to bring 50 or 60 homeless Murchison residents to Nelson.

It will be a difficult matter owing to the state of the road.