IN SOUTH ISLAND

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

IN SOUTH ISLAND

CHRISTCHURCH POST OFFICE CLOCK DISLOCATED NO DAMAGE DONE CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. An earthquake which hud its origin more than 200 miles north of Christchurch was felt in the city at 10.49, the movement lasting about ten seconds. .Though comparatively slight, the shock dislocated the mechanism of the clock in the Chief Post Office, causing it to behave in a very erratic manner. No damage was done to any buildings. The seismograph at the Magnetic Observatory in the .Botanic Gardens radical od that the earthquake was comparable in intensity with the big shake at Arthur’s Pass nearly two years ago. A member of the stall' of the Observatory states that at its origin, the earthquake must have been very severe. As far us could be judged, the origin was almost due north of Christchurch, hut it was possible that it was somewhere in the Tasman Sea. SHARP TREMOR AT GREYMOUTH GREYMOUTH, This Day. A sharp tremor was felt u few minutes before 11 a.m., followed by several smaller shakes. No damage is reported. AT BLENHEIM BLENHEIM, This Day. An earthquake, prolonged over a minute, was felt here about twelve minutes to eleven this morning, it had a rotatory movement. So far no reports have been received of damage. PROLONGED SLIGHT SHOCK AT NELSON A prolonged but riot severe earthquake with a swinging movement was felt in Nelson at 10 48 o'clock this morning. Reports from Takaka state that a heavy and prolonged earthquake was experienced, reaching six oil tho Rossi-Forel scale. No material damage is reported. Tho direction was west to east.

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT DOCTORS FOR DEVASTATED AREA WELLINGTON, This Day. Immediately Mr Forbes was in receipt of authentic information ho sent out an appeal for doctors within an accessible radius of the devastated area, asking them to proceed if possible to the aid ol those who might he injured. Tho Government also gave directions for an aeroplane to proceed as soon as possible to Napier, and a, ’piano left piloted by Captain Stediyan, with Mr Campbell, an engineer in the Public Works Depart - meet as passenger. Thu Dunedin and the Diomede were ordered to proceed immediately from Auckland with stores and medical supplies and are expected to reach Napier to-morrow.