EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26605, 15 December 1951, Page 2

EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH ISLAND

REPORTS FORM MANY TOWNS SEVERE TREMOR FELT IN NEW PLYMOUTH (New Zealand Press. Association) AUCKLAND, December 14. An earthquake was felt in almost every town on the West Coast of the North Island between Auckland and Wanganui about 10 o’clock to-nig'ht. The shock was felt all over Auckland. A woman In Remuera said the earthquake rocked the chair in which she was sitting, and the driver of a car on the North Shore said he felt five distinct shocks At Ohinewai and Huntly, the tremors stopped the railway clocks at 9.58 P4n. T think we got the tail end of it, said a man in Taumarunui. He described the tremors as “a slight swaying motion.” Mirrors and other objects hanging on walls were set in, motion in Te Awamutu. The shock lasted for about half a minute. A resident said the swaying motion seemed to build up to a sharp shake, and then fade away. A sharp jolting earthquake, followed within a few minutes by two secondaPkVfniors ’ felt at New Plymouth at 9,56 p.m. The earthquake was felt throughout Taranaki and the King Country, but appears to have been most Severe m New Plymouth. It was heralded by a sound like a light thunderclap. It was the most severe tremor in New Plymouth for many years. No damage has been reported. Buildings in New Plymouth rocked noticeably at the first tremor. Alarm was general in all New Plymouth cinemas. When the first shock was " e j t?* 1 ® People in one theatre rose and began to move towards the aisle. As the shock passed, most resumed their seats.

One person at another theatre fainted at the first shock, and was earned out.

At Hawera the earthquake lasted for almost a minute, and was strong enough to rattle loose windows and objects on shelves. At Stratford, the shock was only slight.