THE EARTHQUAKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 509, 5 December 1881, Page 2

THE EARTHQUAKE.

At 7.30 this morning, perhaps the most distinct shock of earthquake ever experienced in Ashburton took the residents ay surprise. A heavy shower of rain immediately proceeded the shook, which lasted over 20 seconds, and alarmed not a few good folks at the breakfast table, where it set the cups and saucers jingling in the most curious way. Shearman’s hotel rocked like a cradle, and so did several other large buildings. Several, oeople appeared to be strangely affected jy the shock, complaining of dizziness and sickness. Our Waterton correspondent writes that the shock was felt very plainly in Waterton, and that the hotel there “ visibly swayed ” with the unwonted motion. The shock has at least supplied us with food for conversation for some time, and “ Did you feel the earthquake 1” threatens to become as popular as * ‘ Have you seen the Shah V’ Our Elgin correspondent writes A sharp shock of earthquake was felt this morning at 7.45, which caused many of the houses to creak for three or four seconds, and made pictures and other articles hung on the inside walls tremble with the vibration. Several people at the tjmq complained of feeling giddy and sick. The atmosphere was very heavy and oppressive, although a shower of rain had just previously fallen.

[by telegraph.] Wellington, To-day. A slight shock of earthquake was felt here at 7.30 this morning. A message from Westport states that a sharp shock of earthquake was felt there at 7.30 this morning.- The pictures on the walls swung and window weightsrattled in their cases. The shock was also felt at Hokitika at 7-30,: duration 12 minutes (?) ; the, direction from south to north. Kumar a, Tb-day. . Two shocks of earthquake were -felt here this morning. The first slight shock appeared to come from north-west like a gust of wind; the second occurred a second 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, To-day.

Two very sharp and distinct shocks of earthquake, the heaviest ever experienced here, were felt this morning at 7.33. The first shock and vibrations came from seaward, the course being west to east, the second from north to south. Both lasted between 20 and 30 seconds. The houses were visibly shaken, but no damage was done. Some shocks were also felt at Ahaura, and the telegrams describe it a 8 “ fearful.” * Lybll. To-day. A smart shock of earthquake was experienced at 7.35 this morning. Duration five seconds; vibration east and west. Christchurch, To-day. The severest shock of earthquake experienced since 1868 occurred shortly before 8 o’clock this morning. The vibration continued about .45 .seconds. The ' direction was north-east to southwest. Ho serious damage is reported. A small piece of ornamental stone moulding was displaced from the summit of the Cath dral , spire, and fell' on to the asphalt pavement, making a deep indentation.