WESTLAND 'QUAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 47, 24 February 1913, Page 5

WESTLAND 'QUAKE.

LOUD EXPLOSIONS HEARD.

DAMAGE AT WESTPORT.

FOURTEEN SHOCKS FEET

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WESTPORT, Sunday. The earthquake shock at 12.36 caused great excitement and alarm. The earthquake commenced with a* sound as of a loud explosion, or blast, in the direction of from west to east.

The big earthquake was succeeded by a series of minor shocks, one at 3 p.m. being accompanied by a loud cannonlike explosion. The first was tbe most severe in the history of Westport. Business places suffered considerable damage, and few houses escaped without something in the nature of crockery, pictures, flower vases or clocks being broken. Numerous chimneys were partially destroyed, but the chief damage was done in the business centre. The recentlyerected large brick post and telegraph office received a severe shaking, and is cracked in nil directions. The southern wing has been bodily shifted about half-an-inch. The metal down-pipe on the back of this portion of the building bent with the moving building. Inside almost all the gas mantles were destroyed, and a good deal of plaster work on the ceiling and walls came down. The post and telegraph staff got a fright, and speedily made their exit on to the road.

The principal sufferers in the main street are.- Hansen and Co., warehousemen, estimated damage £50; Sinclair, chemist, £40 to £50; G. H. Gothard, ironmonger. £30 to £40; McDonagh, grocer, £20 to £30; Skelton and Jones, grocers, £20 to £30; G. W. Martin, ironmonger, £25 to £30; McWilliams, picture-framer, and fancy goods store, including large plate-glass window, £20; Shaw, hotelkeeper, £5 to £20; J. J. Lawson, boot and shoe depot, £15 to £20; Dr. Dunn, chemist, £10; R. Mullan. chemist, £10 to £15. Mr. Sinclair describes the scene in his shop as representing a hailstorm of bottles. He was lucky to get out uninjured.

Along the Buller Road a good deal of loose rock and earth came down, impeding the progress of the motor and coach service.

Considering the severity of the shock it is considered rather remarkable that no loss of life occurred. Some buildings must have been close to the collapsing stage. Thousands of pounds' worth of goods on shelves were just hanging in the balance when the shock ended. Business people, beine generally of the opinion that things might have been very much worse, are takin- their losses philosophically. A report from the country shows that the shocks were severely felt mere, but the damage appears to he confined mainly to collapsing chimneys.

Reports round town show that in some bouses almost all the crockery and glassware was broken, while otbers close beside them escaped with but slight damage. The tops of many chimneys were broken off. the bricks in several cases falling down inside the buildings, and doing damage to ranges. Some households suffered loss of almost all their season's jam through bottles being thrown violently off shelves on to tbe floor. Tbe shocks were felt in surrounding districts more or less severely. with accompanying breakages in houses, but Westport seems to have fared worst. Shocks continued through the ni"bt. and ri_ht up to half-past five o'-lock this afternoon, totalling; about 14 in number, but of lessenincr severity.

Tbe highest tides for some years were rer.-irted nt Karnmea. and a party campinir on North Peach. Westport. was compelled to shift from quarters hitherto considered safe from the encroachment of the sea.