THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1929, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE

HOW HUNTER VILLE SUFFERED A VIVID DESCRIPTION. MARION, May 9. J injuries at. Huntervifle- regaru.ug mo um-unjuake reveal, that, tne re»iucn..» iiua a ner.e-raciving expuiientv. "j. smimier ai .tne -tliougiit ui tne same c.-i.-ci iclite again," ucciared Air F. C. ijciiy. Hie weiul rianuie, tlie niiany >nc otaieniiig erusii in glass and Violent snaking, iienieiiuous jolt, and

ciiimneys came m sum quick succession that one aul not know what would happen ne.vi,.” Even twelve hours after the ’quake a reporter found residents “all on edge,” in dread of night falling, iv itn the main,’quake women fainted, cni.dren "screamed, and ’ the series of tremors winch followed for a consulcra'ole time, gave residents every reason to feel panicky.

One lias to view tlie damage done, to realise the severity of the ’quake. I liere is little .wonder that a further quake at 1.45 yesterday afternoon, and another at 5.30 this morning- con- . aju^es r tu). ; .cau.§e..alju|m-j the town it would I 'appear that tli#|suake was uiJre •se.ere, as chimney^f in eyery nouse, ii'oni two miles out, iiilve suitereu.'l rn (he business area efvery chimney, with tne those on Due Post ’• Office, is emffnf down or uamaged, some of those fn’ithe latter category being of amusing shapes.4he brick walls of Ellis ’'Bros.’ shop jiuyjf”,a perceptible lean, (jandf are feneeu:vif,-; and placarded,.i-llangerous.” JV T. Klue’s butcher shop also has a decided lean, while all premises with crick wahs suffered .in' this respect. Fortunately the new Town Hall building reveals no indication of the shaking.

in the siiop windows, those few that remain intact, a state of chaos exists where the previous night there were attractive Empire goods displays. W ithout exception, every householder is a. loser to sonic extent, while few business people have escaped with less than £11)'loss. Repair work [and 'replacements will-cost Ellis Bros, welt into: ..four-figures.: T. ..G. "Taylor ,is a loser to the extent of over £3OO, while F. G. (jeweller), E. AY. Dono.van ctiieniist), • W. U (halier),; estimate their less at over £SO a-piece.

Mr iloilord’s residence is among those ; tlnib fared worst, a chimney going- through the roof, and water from a ourst pipe flooding the house. Holes had to be smashed in the iloor to let the water away.

With tanks burst and chimneys down, the family are living, under "unenviable conditions until, repairs are effected. -v-.' . ?. Mr AV. Parkes’ home, which'is built on the hillside on the eastern part of the ...town, felt the shake so severely that the furnituve ‘ > was scattered about the rooms. At Mr G. J. blaster’s residence, two miles north of- Hunterville, the fa»nily had a terrifying experience, the Reuse rocking like- a boat in a rough' Boards were torn from the wall, a. 600gallon tank was thrown out of position and a range was displaced to the u'extent of abbut, six inches: j.Thej electric range was also torn out of position. It would appear that the earthquake was at its worst in this locality, as it was here that- the foundation of the railway line dropped about six inches. This morning’s Limited express passed without mishap, but gave the rails a bad twist. Fortunately a ganger observed the trouble before the ordinary express came, and stopped the train. Upon examination it was decided to pass over' slowly. Near Mr Master’s, residence there were two cracks in tlie road ajpout two inches wide. • !

There were several narrow escapes. At Dr Mitchell’s house, falling chimneys crashed on the roof of a sleeping porch. Bricks fell on the bed where the doctor’s son had been sleeping a few minutes before. j Falling bricks went 'through both roof and ceiling at Air S.. AY ills’s* residence.

A chimney pierced the roof of Air R. AL S. Jones’s house, while one crashed through the tiles of Air L. Hammond’s home at Rata.

There arc several fissures in the main streets of Hunterville. The base of the soldiers’ memorial is badly cracked. . Several residents are without fires, and will be for some days on account of the demand' for bricklayers’ services.

At Ohingaiti and out Pukeroa way the .’quake -was not nearly so severe, but reports state that Rewa suffered badly. ; •