EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 14

EARTHQUAKE IN NORTH

Sharp Jolt In Wellington

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Mar. 19

A sharp jolting earthquake woke many sleepers in the Wellington. Titahi Bay, and Nelson areas at 6.30 a.m. today. Although no damage has been reported, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale. An earthquake of this magnitude has force enough, if it is of shallow origin, to cause a good deal of damage in the area immediately above it. As it was. however, it was probably centred in the Cook Strait area about 30 miles from Wellington, and was described by a Seismological Office spokesman as “moderate.” It was the second earthquake felt in Wellington today. The first occurred at 2.57 a.m. but woke few as it was centred about 850 miles from Wellington, probably in the Kermadecs where earthquakes were reported on Thursday and Friday. The first earthquake had a magnitude of more than 7 on the Richter scale. This is getting close to the type of shock experienced in Napier in 1931 and, had it been of local origin, could have given Wellington a repetition of the damage it suffered in the 1942 earthquake.

Earth tremors were felt in Christchurch, Cheviot, and on Banks Peninsula at 6.30 a.m. yesterday. The movement in Christchurch was horizontal. At Cheviot the shock set crockery and windows rattling. The sharpest shocks were in the Banks Peninsula area. Three distinct shocks were felt at Port Levy and Wainui and a rumbling was heard.