SEVERE EARTHQUAKES AT THE GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6064, 25 April 1881, Page 5

SEVERE EARTHQUAKES AT THE GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

\ U' I', El K.SPC>" lIKNT.] On* Saturday evening, K>th of April, at three minutes past iO o clock three \ery heav} shocks of earthquakes were expel ienccd at port Fitzrov, :ni<l over the whole Great Barrier island. The first shook commenced bv a severe trembling of the earth, which lasted about thirty seconds, slinking the windows and doors of the houses, and was followed by a heavy wave-like motion, which lifted, uv appeared to lift, the buildings bo'lilv. The direction of the wave was from E.X.'K. to W.S.W. Aboua quarter past 10 a sccond trembling was felt, and at half past 10 a third and more severe one, which l; ; .st was followed by an upheaval like the first. At half past .] a.m. on Monday, the ISth, another and cimilar shock was felt, and also at the same hour on the. ■* severe trembling occurrea. This is tlic first time that an earthquake has been felt by present residents on the island, and it caused a good deal of fright to the women, who were quite inexpevciiued in anything of the kind. The shocks were quite as heavy ss any I have felt in '-Vellington, in fact heavier. On the third shock on the l(>th the pigs, cattle, kc., were evidently disturbedj as they were heard squeaking and lowing respectively all over the place. There are several hot springs oil the island, but I have not heard if they present any unusual appearance.