’Quake Near Arthur’s Pass

Northern Advocate, 24 August 1943, Page 2

’Quake Near Arthur’s Pass

!(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day.; An earthquake, the seal of which is, Relieved to be near Arthur's Pass, rocked l ! towns in Canterbury and Westland at; 17.07 o'clock last evening. A power failure i !occurred somewhere outside Otira and a; goods train being drawn by an electric; ! engine was delayed inside Otira Tunnel j ;for fine two hours of the power break. ! The correct earthquake distance is about i ',250 miles from Wellington, which puts | •the centre somewhat further north than; W'anaka. , . ■ A railcar from the West Coast had just; !arrived at Otira when the 'quake occurred; land was able to proceed as soon as a; goods train had cleared the tunnel and; 'the track had been inspected for falls.; Train services are proceeding two hours. late. ; 1 Telephone communication with Arthur s, ’Pass is closed, but reports indicate that; ithe town received a sharp jolting and Lome chimneys were brought down. : No damage to buildings in any locality; Tia.s been reported at Christchurch. The; !earthquake began with two or three sharp; ijolts which rocked buildings, causing Lome houses to creak loudly. There then j followed a series of lurches for about one (minute. These set suspended lights j iswinging. There was no damage. The; [absence of official meteorologists from the; !eilv make it impossible to obtain a definite; report of the magnitude of the earthquake.; ■ Christchurch was shaken by a considerable earthquake about 7.10 p.m. A swaying motion continued l'or about a minute.;