ISLAND DISAS IER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1931, Page 9

ISLAND DISAS IER

SEEIES OF EARTHQUAKES

TIDAL WAVE FOLLOWS

Details of severe oaithrjuakes and ;i tidal wave which caused loss of life and extensive damage in the Solomon Islands last month were brought to Auckland on Tuesday by Mr. Stanley Muir, of Gisbonie, who was visiting the islands at the time (states the "iS'ew Zealand Herald")- Ml'- Mllir> Avho ilr' rived by the Ulimaroa from Sydney, told a graphic story of thrilling experiences. At Su'u, Malaita, the headquarters of the Malaita Company, Sydney, the earthquake approached the severity of the shake at Napier in February last. The company's concrete wharf, costing about £5000, was completely demolished, and some of the residences were wrecked.

Fortunately there was little loss of life. The exact number will not be known until the Government officers complete their inspection of the group. Possibly the total number will not exceed twenty or twenty-five lives. The light casualty list is due to the absence of heavily-constructed buildings. Had the severity of the earthquake struck Tulagi, the headquarters of the Protectorate, about forty miles from Su'u, a much greater loss would have been recorded. The earthquakes were mainly confined to Malaita and San Christoval (Makira), and, to a lesser extent, on Florida, Guadalcanal and further west.

HUNDREDS HOMELESS,

The tidal wave swept about twenty miles of the south-eastern coast of San Christoval,' and about fifteen villages were destroyed, while it is estimated 700 people were rendered homeless. The wave was responsible for tho loss of a dozen lives. Two missionaries, Mr. J. Bee, of London, and Mr. J. Wilson, of Hamilton, members' of the South Sea Evangelical Mission, were caught by tho sea and swept inland. Both had a miraculous escape. The first earthquake was felt on Sunday morning, 4th October, about 6 o'clock. Tho seat of this disturbance appeared to be off the south-east coast of San Christoval and was responsible for the tidal wave. The oscillations were of a severe undulating nature, and were felt throughout tho group, with lessoning severity further north. The shakes extended with violence right j across tho, southern end of San Chris- j toval, and continued at short intervals throughout Sunday. Then they came at longer periods and at times were marked by severe jolting. DAILY SHOCKS EXPERIENCED. Tho earthquakes continued daily until Saturday, 10th October, when an oven more alarming shake took place. The centre of this disturbance appeared to be at Su'u, M'alaita, where tho oscillations developed an up-thrust and made it impossiblo for people to remain standing. Tho concrete wharf was reduced to a mass of ruins. The M.ilaita Company's store was badly shaken and moved but of position, and the copra house was damaged. Most of the residences of tho staff, oil tho hill overlooking the port, were left in a dangerous condition, being thrown off their piles, which are about, lift high. Hugo rocks, tho size of an Auckland tramcar, fell from tho hillsides.

This earthquake also extended through the group, and is declared to be tho severest experienced for forty years. Shakes arc fairly common in the Solor mons, but older residents declare that this was one of the worst they have experienced. Numerous heavy landslides came down afc the back of Su'u, and tho shakes went right across Malaita, a distance of about twenty miles, causing the loss of native lives. GROITND TREMBLES ALL DAY. I According to native reports, Takataka suffered worst of all. The oscillation on this occasion, the tenth, occurcd about 11 a.m. and continued at intervals with startling severity. On Tuesday, 13th October, tho ground at Su'u was still trembling like a jelly all day. Many of the artificial saltwater islands of the Langa Langa lagoon, near Auki, wore wrecked, the villagers, with their pigs and possessions, being thrown into the sea. Tho visitation caused great consternation not only to these salt-water folk but to thousands of natives in the bush villages on the mountain sides of Malaita and San Christoval.

European houses in many directions were damaged, and there was a considerable loss of contents. These earth tremors continued for several weeks, with lessening frequency, but residents in some parts were still sleeping- out in temporary quarters when Mr. Muir left Tulagi on 20th October.

Both the South Sea, Mission and the Mclaucsian Mission premises escaped serious damage. The new Molanesian. Mission hospital at Fauambu, Malaita, escaped.

Although the earthquake was not so severe at Talagi, some damage was done. The concrete floor of the Burns, Philp wharf store, Makainbu, subsided, and Carpenter's Wharf collapsed. As the outcome of a sharp, sudden jolt on 13th October, tho harbour bed at Carpenter's Wharf rose considerably, preventing tho berthing of ships. Tho rise of the harbour bottom is estimated at from 10ft to 20ft. Tho reef at One Pusu Harbour, Malaita, rose similarly after the shake of ,10th October to a height of several feet.