WANGANUI BADLY SHAKEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 February 1931, Page 5

WANGANUI BADLY SHAKEN

DAMAGE IN CITY AND SUBURBS MANY CHIMNEYS DOWN WOMAN’S NARROW ESCAPE WANGANUI, This Day. Wanganui was badly shaken at 10.45 o’clock this morning Earthquake damage is recorded in all parts of the city and suburbs. A chimney at the Rutland Hotel crashed through into the lounge, scattering glass in all directions. A chimney loro through the roof of the Metropolitan Hotel half filling a bedroom with debris, and smashing a bed and duchess. Numerous chimneys were brought down and several walls are out of plumb. The damage to shop windows is very heavy. Mrs Stiver, of the Kosey Tea Rooms, had a narrow escape, a chimney crashing at her feet, as she came down the back steps. The shako was longer and more pronounced than the one experienced in 1929. NAPIER ROADSTEAD ALL DEPTHS MUCH LESS WELLINGTON, This Day. An Auckland message received from Hie Northumberland at Napier slates: “Approaches to Napier very much shallowed. Three fathoms reported after Ihe earthquake. ‘All depths very much loss.” The mail agent at Takapau reports that he cannot get further than Takapau, The viaduct’s level dropped several niches. He is endeavouring to arrange for transport of mails. SLIGHT DAMAGE AT GISBORNE POWER CUT OFF GISBORNE, This Day. The severest earthquake ever experienced at Gisborne occurred at 10.50 this morning, rocking buildings alarmingly and causing general exodus’into the, streets. Material damage appears not to be very great though there has been a good deal of disturbance of stock on shelves in stores. Waikayeinoana power wus cut off and telegraph wires are down.

Thu major disturbance was followed by a slmrp shock ten minutes later and several minor tremors.

AT WELLINGTON TOWN HALL CLOCK STOPS OBSERVATORY INSTRUMENTS PUT OUT OF GEAR WELLINGTON, Tins Day. An earthquake of tli,o duration of about a minute was experienced at 10.48 o'clock. It was enough to set lamps swaying considerably and the Town Hall clock stopped. Some of the scismological instruments at Kolburn Observatory were thrown out of gear, hut records were obtained on others. All docks at (lie Observatory were also thrown out of gear. This happened just prior to the time for broadcasting time signals, as also was (ho case on the occasion of the big Murchison shock. BIG SLIP NEAR MANGAWEKA WELLINGTON, This Day. Telephone communication with Rangiwaliia, a small township on the western slopes of the Ruahines, says the damage is not particularly severe. A number of chimneys were damaged, also crockery. Word has been loccived at Eangiwahia that a big slip hud occurred near Manga vveka bridge over the Eangilikoi. At the Dominion Observatory at Kelhurn tilio delicate Milne-Sliaw erjrlh,quake recording machines were put out of action almost immediately, but other instruments of which there are now several types installed, continued their function of recording the waves. The records from these will not be available until to-morrow, for they are photographic and must be developed before they tell their talc in full. The first care of the staff was to get the clocks going again, and then to attend lo the scismological instruments. SEVERE AT HAWERA BUILDINGS EVACUATED HAWERA, This Day. A sharp earthquake lasting three minutes was felt at 10.48, followed bv lighter shocks at 10.58 and 11.58. The first was sufficient to cause the evacuation of a number of buildings afid schools. Beyond bgoken crockery in shops no damage is reported.

MAIN TRUNK LINE CLEAR EXPRESS TO LEAVE AS USUAL WELLINGTON, This Day. The Railway Department reported til I p.m. that as I'ur as was known, tin Main Trunk line to Auckland was clear, and at 2 o’clock the express foi Auckland was to leave its usual. OTHER REPORTS SHOCKS FELT OVER WIDE AREA PALMERSTON N., This Day. An earthquake of unusual severity occurred ut 10.52 o’clock Ibis morning, the direction seemingly being east to west. From (he time of the first tremor, which gradually grew in intensity until the final trembling of the quivering earth erased, practically two minutes elapsed. During the peak intensity (lie earthquake, lasted one minute. Jt was of a. steady nature rather than violent. Fortunately no damage of any consequence is reported. Many people were compelled to leave business promises for the streets.

Earthquake damage here appears to be confined to a. few residences, isolated eases only being reported. la LyndhursL street three houses in line suffered broken chimneys, crockery, etc., while others in the same street were not. affected.

In Pitt street several chimneys are down and weakened by cracks. Elsewhere minor incidents occurred. CARTERTON, Tliis Day. An earthquake with a, curious rotary movement was experienced at Carterton at 10.51 a.m., tho earth undulating. Buildings rocked, wliilo the. hells ill the clock tower at the Post Office clanged loudly and the clock stopped. Stationary cars moved backwards and forwards. No damage is reported. The shake lasted a minute. EK ETA 11 UN A, This Day. A heavy prolonged shock of earthquake ut 10.50 stopped the town clock. Everything suspended swung alarmingly. No damage is reported as the shock was more undulating Ilian jerky. Several minor shocks have been feltsi nee. AUCKLAND, This Day. A sharp earthquake was felt in various parts of Auckland at 10.50 am. lasting up to a minute. No damage is reported. KANGLWAHIA, This Day. A severe earthquake was experienced here at 10.50, the direction being approximately north-east to south-west. A number of chimneys were badly cracked and brought down in some eases. Goods were thrown lo the floor in the store and hotel, and in private houses crockery and preserves were shaken from shelves and broken. Small cracks are reported in To Para Para road, about four miles from the township. FEILDING, This Day. A very severe earthquake) shock lasting 70 seconds was felt at 11.5 a.m. A few chimneys were slightly damaged in Foilding and a slip is down on the road in Kiwitea, otherwise there was no serious damage.

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day. An earthquake with a swinging motion was experienced in North Taranaki at 10.48 this morning. It lasted 90 seconds, but no damage was done. Tho circular motion of the earthquake was the remarkable feature.

PAHIATUA, This Day. A severe and prolonged earthquake shock was felt here. Articles were shaken off shelves in various shops, windows wero cracked, and fissures appeared in brick buildings. A swaying sensation was felt for some time. There were also minor shocks at intervals.