HAWKE’S BAY TREMOR

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1934, Page 2

HAWKE’S BAY TREMOR

SLEEP MAINLY BROKEN. [FEB PEESB ASSOCIATION.] HASTINGS, March 15.

An earthquake was felt in Hawke’s Bay this evening at 10.45 o’clock. No damage is reported to have occurred. The disturbance was sufficiently severe to waken sleepers. In some instances there have been . minor breakages in houses. The chimneys' 1 and other structures, however, have not suffered. Reports from the outside districts indicate that the epicentre of this quake had no relation to the recent earthquakes in th© Pahiatua district, but that it was purely local in origin. Places north and south of Hastings have felt the tremors less severely. WAIROA’S EXPERIENCE WAIROA, March 16. At ten forty-seven last night, Wairoa district suffered a heavy shock of earthquake causing many to rush into the streets in night attire, but no structural damage is reported, which demonstrates how the town has benefited from past experiences, and erected buildings capable of withstanding the shock as severe as last night, which was placed by the authorities as scale five Rossi-Forel.. The ’quake appeared to have its centre in the Whakapunakis as at the time of the disturbance, the sky in that vicinity was brilliantly illuminated by a greenish blue tint, which immediately disappeared when the shake ceased. The earthquake was iir a north south direction, and its cessation was accompanied by a heavy detonation as if a huge quantity of explosives had been set. It is remarkable that despite the severity of the shake, shop displays were practically undisturbed and no loss is reported in this direction. The shake could be classed the third heaviest since the ’thirty-one visitation and the earth kept on the move for a considerable period after the heaviest point was passed. The only service interrupted is the telephones, a number being put out of order due to wires breaking, but the staff was put early this morning, and it is hoped to have all in order before to-night. Inquiries made as to how the new bridge s,tood the shake show that no damage whatever was sustained, the structure, withstanding the shock remarkably well. The town resumed normal activity this morning.

AT WANGANUI.

WANGANUI, March 15.

A slight earthquake was felt here at 10.43 o’clock to-night. It was of a slow and steady motion and was ot longer duration than others that have been felt since the bigger quake on March 5.

INSURANCE SCHEME.

HASTINGS, March 15

That, the Government should institute a. scheme of earthquake insurance was the text of a resolution carried by the Napier Chamber of Commerce this evening. The Chamber is to write the Prime Minister upon the subject, adding that such a scheme could be implemented by an increase in the fire insurance premium, the resultant difference being invested in England. It was pointed out that, after the earthquake of 1931, a scheme was proposed by the Napier Reconstruction Organisation, covering, broadly speaking, an increase on all of the fire insurance premiums of one shilling per cent., which could be transferred to a fund specially created for earthquake risks and invested in England. WELLINGTON BUILDINGS. WELLINGTON, March 15. Unanimously, the Wellington City Council to-night, decided to bring down at its next meeting special bylaws providing against earthquake risks. These are to be based upon the report of the Building Regulations Committee set up by the Government and in the meantime, permits are to be refused for the erection of buildings deemed to be unsafe from an earthquake point of view. Steps are also to be taken to ascertain what authority, if any, the Council has to compel the owners of buildings to remove dangerous parapets.