HUGE LAND SLIP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 563, 17 September 1932, Page 21 (Supplement)

HUGE LAND SLIP.

Fallen Hillside Blocks Road. CONTINUOUS QUAKING. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, September 16. In the country districts the earth is quaking practically continuously. In the Mangapoihe district 'quakes are occurring almost regularly every five minutes. In every case th<sy are preceded by a dull thudding noise from far below the surface. This noise is heard and within a few seconds the ground begins to shake. To-night Mr O. G. Thornton, district engineer, returned from a visit to the Hangaroa district, some thirtythree miles from Gisborne. There he found the road blocked by a slip estimated at six hundred thousand tons, all papa rock, which has fallen from a hillside from a height of from 150 to 200 feet. Some of the blocks are from thirty to forty tons in size. Mr Thornton estimates that it will take from £IO,OOO to '£15,000 to clear this slip, which blocks the Gisborne to Wairoa main highway via Tiniroto. This is not the usually used main south road. A portion of another slip has fallen into the Hangaroa River, which is dammed up; but no danger is anticipated. ' The ’quake was mild at Tokomaru Bay, but severe at Te Araroa, Hicks Bay, Te Karaka and Nuhaka, most places suffering chimney and crockery losses.