MORE THAMES SHAKES

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32381, 21 August 1970, Page 26

MORE THAMES SHAKES

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Aug. 20. Earthquakes again rocked the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula early today, opening cracks in several more buildings and enlarging those opened in previous shocks over the last week.

The most severe shock, lasting nearly two minutes, occurred about 3.30 a.m., after three or four brief, minor tremors which began just before 3 a.m. It was succeeded by several more small shocks until about 6 a.m., according to the Thames borough engineer (Mr J. T. Turoa). The two minute shake was “equal to the worst we’ve had since they began last Wednesday,” he said. This morning’s series surprised residents, who had thought that after a lull of more than 36 hours, the present run had ended. Apart from minor damage to buildings, the earthquakes are believed to be responsible for several gaping holes which have appeared above mine shafts back from Thames’s main street, Pollen Street. Mr Turoa said a number of the old mine workings which honey-combed the district had probably collapsed, causing the subsidences.

The Thames South School was still closed today, and it is believed that some more windows there were eracked in this morning’s tremor.

The school is now not expected to reopen until after the school holidays. The Borough Council this morning recommended to schools in the area that they attempt to put aside a reserve supply of water. There are fears that the 12in main pipeline supplying the town’s reservoir

from about one mile and a half away in the Kauranga hills will be fractured by the earthquakes. The reservoir holds less than two days normal supply for the town. At Waiomu, 10 miles north of Thames, residents said the shake today had been one of the strongest they had felt and had caused more slight structural damage to buildings there.