MARUIA VALLEY IS A COMPLETE WRECK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18790, 20 June 1929, Page 14

MARUIA VALLEY IS A COMPLETE WRECK.

SIX-MILE LAKE HAS FORMED BEHIND SLIP. (Special to the “Star.") WELLINGTON, June 19. The district telegraph engineer at Nelson, who visited the earthquake centre, despatched an interesting telegram to the secretary of the * Genera! Post Office from Nelson at 2 p.m. today. His references to the possible flooding of the Buller River are based on earlier information than that contained in telegrams from the Public Works district engineer, who wired from Murchison late in the same afternoon on more reassuring lines. The telegraph engineers report is as follows : • “ I have just returned from Murchison. The scene of havoc and devastation is beyond description. Every person is deserting Murchison to-day. Severe shocks still continue. I visited the scene where the Matakitaki River is blocked. It will probably take two days to break through, though heavy rain is now falling and may hasten it. It is problematical whether the river will burst and flood Murchison, the Buller Valley and Westport, or whether is will flow slowly. I saw the Public Works Department engineer, who thinks the latter probable, but cannot definitely say, and is advising Murchison people to vacate. It is advisable to inform Westport and Inangahua of the position. “Twelve men left Murchison fer Maruia across country this morning to assist to bring out the women and children. Motor-trucks will stay at Murchison until the Maruia people arrive, providing the road can be kept open. There is every probability of the road between Glenhope and Murchison being carried away by rain water widening the road fissures.

“ The postmaster at Murchison will stay at the office until the last person leaves, and will then remove to Gowan bridge. Only twenty people now are left at Murchison.

“ Roadmen who arrived this morning from Maruia Saddle, reported that the country between the Upper Matakitaki and Burn Brae is carried away. The Maruia River is reported blocked in the gorge at Glengarry by reck some hundreds of feet high, and will completely flood the Maruia plains. The Matakitaki River beyond the block is banked up six miles, and Lake Rotoiti.

Roadmen from Sullivan’s bridge report that miles of road and telephone line have been carried into the riv?r.

“ I inspected the line south of Murchison for a mile or so and found it completely wrecked. In Murchison township our post and telegraph system is disorganised. The electric ’ight poles are all down. The power house is out of action aifrl the water supply has disappeared. We now have communication by telephone to Murchison. Murchison has Morse outlet to Blenheim. Murchison inhabitants will probably not return for some time, as the houses all are uninhabitable. According to reports the Lower Maruia Valley is completely wrecked, and it is not possible to rebuild the Paienga branch line.”