EARTHQUAKE.

4 Tho Middle Island of New Zealand has for bo long a time enjoyed immunity from anything liko an appreciable shock of earthquake, \ that the vibrations experienced this morning i have been — during the day — the one topic of I conversation. In the innumerable itemo of intelligence there lms been a largo amount of I exaggeration, owing no doubt to the fact that many people sufforcd themselves to become unduly excited. Happily it can bo staf.ed that the damage dono has been cxtromeiy amall, and that the general inconvenience has beon scarcely more than tho stoppage of pendulum clocks, acd tho shaking down of pictures, Sec. In Christchurch the shock was felt at about 7.37 a.m., the direction of tho eucceasional -waves appearing to be — according to some observers — from north to south, and according to others from north-easfc to southwest. The duration of the vibrationn is variously vt-iled ufc from 25 to 35 seconds Several building* worn seen to oscillate considorably during tho cortimmnco of tho shock, their motion being described by one spectator as "like that of a ship at sea." The most serious damngo dono has happenod to tho spire of tho cathedral. A picco of tho stono cap beneath the finial, weighing about a dozen pounds, wti3 broken off and foil to tho ground, knocking oft" a portion of tho moulding of the spire about six feet from the apex. A part of this moulding fell on the asphuU pavoment iv Cathedral square, making an indentation about an inch and a* half in depth, und v? wide as an ordinary eaueor. Some abjardly exaggerated accounts

of the damage sustained by the tower were current in town chiving tho forenoon, and large numbers of persons visited the Cathedral yard in conscqucnco ; and tho hole in the pavement proved a source of unlimited attraction to the pasnerß-by. Tho Durham street Wesleyan church was somewhat ehaken, and a large stone from ono of the chimneys of tho schoolroom was thrown down. One of tho chimneys of the Normal School was slightly damaged, and some of tho plastering within the building was ohaken down. The block of buildings at the corner of Manchester and 8t Asaph streets was very much shaken ; a largo crack appears in the Manchester stroet front, and smaller cracks havo been made in several other portions of fche block. Tho explanation of tho damage done to tho Cathedral epiro is very Biinple. From the detailed accounts which were given of tho work of construction, it will be remembered that tho iron rod which supports tho ornamental cross was brought down through that portion of the Btonework which is solid, and then made fast, by means of stays, to the sides of tho spire. When the vibration was set up, tho extreme rigidity of the upper portion of tho spire, as compared with the remainder, caused a disruption of the stonework, leas, perhaps, than might havo bean anticipated. The great bell of the Cathedral gave one toll, and other bells were also sounded. Panes of glass wera broken in a few houses ; articles on shelves were thrown to the ground, and water in open vessels was spilled. LYTTELTON. About 7.35 this morning tho residents in Lyttelton were startled by a sharp earthquake, in a direction north and south. The vibration was very severe, and caused much alarm. As far as can be ascertained no damage has been done in the town. Tho steamer Wakatipu, lying alongsido the screw piled jetty, was heeled over on to the wharf in a most perceptible manner. There has not been such a sharp shock experienced in port since the heavy shake prior to the fire. THE NORTHERN DISTRICT. One of the sharpest shocks experienced in the Korthorn District since 1871, was felt this morning at 7.33 a.m. Tho direction was from B.E. to 17. W., and fche duration wai nearly half a minute.— At Bangiora the shaking seems to have been more severe than elsewhere ; and though no damage is ai yet known to hare been done to any buildings, the »hock appears to have been generally felt, and all the pendulum clocks stopped at the abovementioned im», the " Town Clock" included. At Springfield people rushed out of their houses in all directions, and much damage was done to crockery, &c. Tho direction appeared to be north-east to south-west. [Pbb Pbbss Associatioh.J WELLINGTON, Dkc. 5. A message from Westport states that the •hock was felt here at 7.30. Pictures on walls swung, and window weights rattled in their cases. The shook was rlbo felt at Hokitika at 7.37 ; duration, 1\ minutes ; direction, south and north. A slight shook was felt here at about 7.30 this morning, LYELL, Due. 5. The shock as observed here, had a duration of only five seoonds, the vibration having an east and west direction. WAIAU, Dkc. 5. Tho shook was felt here at about 7.30, travelling north to south, and lasting about twenty seconds. XUMABA, Dbc. 5. Two shocks were felt here this morning. The first slight shock appeared to come from the north-west, like gust of wind. The second occurred immediately afterwards, and was the heaviest felt on the West Coast since 1858. Time, 7.35 ; direction, south-west to north-east, like an upheaval. GREYMOUTH, Deo. 5. Two very Bharp and distinct shocks were experienced here. The first shock and vibration came from the seaward, west to east. The second was north to south. They lasted between 20 and 30 seconds. Houses were visibly shaken, but no damage was done. Tho shocks were felt throughout the district. TIMABU, Dec. 5. The shock was felt here very distinctly, the time Btated being 7.47. [FfiOM OUB OWN COEBKSPONDEKT.J HUEUNUI, Dbo. 5. The shook was felt at. Hurunui about 7.35, laatiDg nearly two minutes, and travelling south-west to north east.