THE EARTHQUAKES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3102, 25 June 1929, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKES

MORE SEVERE SHOCKS.

DAMAGE NOT GREAT.

Further severe earthquakes occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in the seriously-affected' area in the South Island, and trcmdrs were felt as far north as the Waikato.

The people of Murchison experienced the most trying time since Monday last week.

Greymouth and Wostport felt the latest 'quakes severely, but no further serious damage resulted. • Several people are. still' missing. It is feared ;that Mr. David Bussell and his son, who left Seddonville on Monday morning with packhorses to go prospecting, have been buried in a landslide. No word has been heard of a party of motorists from Westport, and Mr. Tim Ryan, who is in the Lyell Creek area, is still not accounted for. Search is also being made for Mr. W. Bean, who was on a farm 16-niilcs above Seddonville.

THE BULLER ROAD.

THE REPAIR BILL.

OVER A MILLION POUNDS.

WELLINGTON, Yesterday.

Owing to disquieting reports as to the possible danger of the blocked-up waters of the Buller River breaking through and overflowing low-lying land about Westport, Mr. F. W. Furkert, engincer-in-chief to the Public Works Department, under instructions from the Minister of Public Works, made an inspection of the locality of the Matakitaki dam, four miles from Murchison. He satisfied himself that there is no danger of floods resulting from a sudden bursting of the slides now blocking the river.

Mr. Furkert says that the work of reconstruction on the Buller Gorge road alone will take years to thoroughly complete, and will involve the expenditure of over £1,000,000. It is not intended to attempt to that road in the meantime. The Department will concentrate on an endeavour to obtain communication with the West Coast by another road. To endeavour to remove some of the slips at the present time would, in Mr. Furkert's opinion, involve unnecessary risk to life. Whatever work can be carried out with safety has been commenced; and will be vigorously pushed forward...

MURCHISON' S PLIGHT.

FRONT OF STORE COLLAPSES

MURCHISON, Monday.

Murichison's worst night since the big shake on Monday week last occurred yesterday morning. The tremors continued all day Sunday, culminating in a terrific shock at 3 a.m. to-day. First came a crashing boom and then everything rocked to and fro. . " The thud of rocks coming down resounded through the night. Immediately after telegraphic communication was cut off. In the middle of the convulsion the front of Hodgson's ferro-concrete store, already in a bad plight, tumbled, out into the street with a tremendous crash, .leaving the building much like brick houses in London after bombs had been dropped in front of them. It is certain that the Matakitaki slide about three miles from Murchison will create a permanent lake. This slide built a bank across the valley threequarters of a mile wide and closes the mouth of the gorge, which is 300 ft wide. LYELL REFUGEES. TERRIBLE JOURNEY MADE. REEFTON, June 24. Oxer 60' refugees arrived in Reefton to-day froni Upper Maruia and Matakitaki, in addition to Lyell residents. They had terrible experiences. Many bad to walk 20 miles over great hillsides and slips. The only clothes they have are what they stand up in. Local residents aro supplying their wants. Assistance is urgently needed. THE DEATH ROLL. INCREASED TO FOURTEEN. REEFTON, This Day. The known death roll in connection with the earthquake now totals 14. In addition to the .13 deaths already reported, the death has occurred in the Reefton Hospital of Mr. Thomas Walsh, who was injured by a slip on the road on fhe Murchison side of Lyell. ABANDONED. LYELL TOWNSHIP. WELLINGTON, This Day. Word was received yesterday that the township of Lyell was evacuated on Sunday. --'. ;