A STARTLING SENSATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1906, Page 3

A STARTLING SENSATION.

AUSTRALIAN.

PORTION OP NEWCASTLE CREEPS. HOUSES RENT AND SHAKEN. THE RESIDENTS CLEAR IN TERROR. A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE, A FURTHER SUBSIDENCE FEARED. - [by ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT \ (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.; SYDNEY, This Day. A sensational subsidence occurred at Newcastle last night. Shepherd’s Hill, which forms one of the most favored residential sites and occupies a position adjacent to the underground workings of tho sea pit, was tho scene of the disaster.

It is surmised that a creep has ta-

ken place in some portion of the workings, causing the surface to bo rent and buckled. About 300 acres of ground suffered. Terrace Street was considerably affected by the subsidence.

The houses arc mostly built of brick and every ono of them lias more or less been damaged, while the water and gas mains were twisted and broken. The residents of Shepherd's Hill felt the earth trembling, the effect being most severe about half way up Terraco Street.

The walls of houses wore thrown out of plumb, acid cracks ranging up to two inches wide are to be seen. I,awns and back yards are lined with crevices.

The residents quickly evacuated their homes, many seeking refuge with their relatives or in the hotels in the fit V.

The masonry of the forts has been cracked in many places, r/nd much injury lias been done to the gun mountings.

Viewed from any point it seems ns if the whole hill had lost, its foundation and subsided a couple of inches. Tho rupture of the water mains drained the high-pressnro tank, containing several thousand gallons of water on the apex of the hill. The water (lid not come to the surface, but found its way under ground. A further subsidence is feared.

LATER. The water is escaping fast from tho main reservoir at Newcastle. Gangs of men are endeavoring to stop the overflow.