WEEK-END JOLTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22416, 25 August 1947, Page 4

WEEK-END JOLTS

MATAWAI_& MOTU CHIMNEYS COME DOWN RUMBLINGS HEARD FIRST The Matawai district was shaken by earthquakes throughout the week-end and this morning small ’quakes were still being experienced. Chimneys in the district had suffered and one or two residences were deprived of means of heating and cooking by the collapse of chimneys. , . , „„ . Residents of both Matawai. and Motu were jolted awake about midnight on Friday and during the following two days there have been only short intervals between 'quakes. The worst was experienced about 2 a.m. on Saturday and after a check during daylight hours it was found that the chimneys of about 12 houses have been rendered useless. Some have broken off at roof level, while one or two others have cracked and the whole top structure has been twisted at an angle to the remainder of the chimney. Two more heavy jolts were experienced about midday on Saturday, but these did little material damage. Houses on the Whakarau road, about half-way between Matawai and Motu, appear to have suffered the most and it is in this area that some houses arc without cooking or heating facilities. One house in Matawai had three chimneys come down, while several other residences had two chimneys fall. All of the chimneys are of the oldfashioned type with heavy top-gear. A hot water cistern in one house near Matawai was put out of operation by the shake on Saturday morning. Loud rumblings preceded all of the ’quakes, and even the smaller ones gave their warning about two seconds before the shake was felt. One Matawai resident, whose two chimneys fell early on Saturay morning, claims that no one in the house heard the bricks falling owing to the loud rumbling which both preceded the shake and continued while the earth was trembling. Jam and fruit jars were the heaviest casualties during the week-end, although after the first shocks most breakable objects were quickly removed from shelves and deposited in comparative safety on the floor. Weather conditions throughout Saturday, Sunday and today remained calm and fine, a condition which residents have come to look upon as almost uncanny. It is the general feeling in the high country that so long as these conditions prevail the earthquakes will continue.