SHARP EARTHQUAKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 84, 19 January 1938, Page 3

SHARP EARTHQUAKE.

ALARM IN PALMERSTON NORTH.

SEVERAL JOLTING MOTIONS

fPer Press Association,) PALMERSTON N., January 18

An earth tremor of fairly long duration was experienced in the city at 2.43 this afternoon, the seismograph at the Bunnythorpe electric sub-station recording eight on the Rossi Ford scale. Some alarm was caused among business people and householders but no damage is reported. The tremor lasted about three minutes and was the worst experienced here since midnight on March 5, 1935. The shock was accompanied by a rumbling noise. After several jolting motions it became a swaying motion from east to west.

SLIGHT DAMAGE AT MASTERTON.

MASTERS, January 18

An earthquake which registered between six and seven on the Rossi I orel scale, was felt throughout the district at 2.45 o’clock this afternoon. It lasted about 25 seconds.

It appears to have been fairly severe in the Tinui, Cnstlcpoint, and Tcwharau districts, where in one or two instances chimneys were damaged, and crockery and other articles dislodged from shelves.

The keeper of the Castlepoint lighthouse reports no damage there beyond broken crockery. The direction appeared to bo from north-east to southwest.

An earth tremor was felt at Palmerston North this afternoon. It was the worst since March 5, 1935.