DAMAGE IN GREYMOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 142, 18 June 1929, Page 9

DAMAGE IN GREYMOUTH.

STONE OFFICES CRACKED.

SHOP FRONTS DESTROYED. HUNDREDS OF CHIMNEYS DOWN. " (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, this day. Great damage was done by the earthquake to commercial buildings in Grevmotith. Late risers were aroused at 7.2'y a.m. by a eentle, swaying earthquake, but took little notice of it. However, when at 10.20 a.m. the swaying commenced again and became severe great alarm was felt. From parapets in the town blocks of brick and concrete weighing many tons crashed through verandahs to the footpaths. Other stone buildings developed large fissures. White-faced office girls and frightened clerks jostled their employers in their efforts to reach a safe place. Excitement was caused when someone noticed blocks falling from the roof of the Town Hall. The furnace chimney in the "Argus" office cracked and hung over the electric motors and printing press. All work was suspended. The ' Star" building was seriously damaged, and a printing machine weighing 15 tons was moved half an inch 011 its bed. Many shops had their frontages destroyed and the stock was thrown all over the place. The buildings rocked in an alarming way. The post' office clockstopped at 10.1!) a.m. Hundreds of chimneys in the Greymouth residential area have been destroyed. Water and pas mains were broken in several places, but the leakages were quickly stopped. Furniture was damaged in the schools. The Technical College laboratory was wrecked.

Patients in the hospital were greatly alarmed. The dispensary was destroyed A huge chimney stack fell and damaged many telegraph and power lines. A lady in the Plunket rooms with a baby felt the earthquake starting and called for the nurse to hurry. She had just moved when a plate-glass window crashed 011 the spot where she had been standing. There has been no loss of life, but there have been many narrow escapes from injury.