PEOPLE TERRIFIED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1926, Page 10

PEOPLE TERRIFIED

MORRINSVIELE EARTHQUAKE

MANY PREPARING TO LEAVE

TOWN

SHOCKS PURELY LOCAL.

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post")

AUCKLAND, Thig Day.

The Morrinsville correspondent of the "Star" telegraphs: Morrinsyille spent an uneasy night, tremors being felt frequently until 8.40 this morning. Many people are planning to desert the town jf the shocks continue. Many did not go to bed. at all. Others slept or tried to sleep fully clothea. There was a peaceful four hours up to 6.45 p.m., and the inhabitants were congratulating themselves that the earthquakes had ceased, when another sharp shock shook the town. The people rushed out of the houses greatly frightened.

Investigations yesterday, in such cases where the householders had plucked up sufficient courage to re-enter their homes, revealed deplorable wreckages in many quarters. Broken bottles of jam, pickles, and preserves lay on the floors, wEile ornaments, clocks, and pictures lay shattered. Hardly a home escaped from some kind of damage. Several adults and children had narrow escapes from falling material. One lady was struck on the head by a brick and had to receive surgical attention. Other people suffered minor injuries, either from falling bricks or while endeavouring to escape from buildings. ' . . Numerous chimneys are. down, and some of the brick buildings show distinct cracks. One wall of the Morrinsville Joinery Company's store was in danger of collapse, and support had to be erected. .

A grocer estimates the damage, to hia stock at £100, and he has also had four plate-glass windows cracked. A remarkable feature is that the tremors were only slightly felt in the surrounding districts, with the exception of Piako and Tatuariui to the north-east. These places apparently felt the shakes as badly as Morrinsville. The school children were terrified, and gathered round the teachers hysterically until they were sent home. Already twenty shocks have been experienced since 9 a.m. yesterday, and as the result some people have left the town, while others contemplate catching later trains if the shocks continue.