THE EARTHQUAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9151, 5 September 1888, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CmusTCHURCH:, Tuesday. Mr. W. A. Low, of St. Helens, of Hanmer Plains, states that for three weeks back strange rumbling noises have been heard from the hills at the back of Jollie's Pass, but till Thursday evening they were not thought much of at the Plains, as they were put down to wind or some other cause. On that evening these sounds were followed by others more alarming, which nearly resembled the report of single pieces of musketry fired in rapid succession. These were shortly succeeded by shocks of earthquake at about ten minutes past ton in the evening. Ever since then the noises gained in force until on Saturday morning they were deafening, and continued to be so till the violent shock which did such damage followed. The direction from which the sounds have come through the gorge appears to have been from the head waters of the Awatere river, past Clarence, at a point where the accommodation house stands, and between the ranges to Jollie's Pass, where they, in meeting the open plains, appear to have died away, as they had not been noticed further South. At St. Helen's station, three chimneys were completely smashed broken off at the top only, as in Christchurch, but smashed up complete!}'. One fell through the roof of the kitchen, one through the conservatory, and one outside. Mr. Low removed his family to Jollie's Pass Hotel, which had sustained no injury, and the furniture was put into a wool-shed. He estimates the cost of repairs at from £150 to £200. At Wooabank property, Mr. W. Atkinson's large brick house, erected there about live years ago, and fitted up with every convenience, and nicely furnished, is a complete wreck. There was a large twostorey wooden addition recently made to it, which was set on a concrete foundation. This has been forced off the foundation about two feet, and is otherwise considerably damaged. The men's hut i? a complete wreck. One of the men who was inside when the shock came, was slightly injured by the falling of a rafter. Mr. Atkinson removed to Culverden Hotel with his family on Saturday. At. Hopfield station, the property of Mr. W. Acton Adams, which is situated on the j south side of the river further up the gorge, the station house completely collapsed. The manager left it on Saturday, taking his family with him. At Glynn Wye station, still further up the river on the north side, a large dwellinghouse, the property of Messrs. A. and D. Rutherford, was first thrown bodily against the terrace at the back, and then completely wrecked. Besides this, the men's hut, a large two-storey iron building, was wrecked. The manager, Mr. Oliver Thompson, and his men, were fortunately in possession of tents, and are now utilising them as temporary residences. The stone walls of a large woolshed are an entire wreck. The barn roof has fallen in, and a concrete dip has been literally shaken to pieces. Up the river and on the terraces along the banks leading to Glynn Roye, fissures appear in number, ranging in size from 3 inches to 12 inches in width, and of varied lengths. These also appear in parts of Percival River bed in Hanmer Plains, but are not so large. In Upper Waiau Gorge, since Saturday morning several new hot springs have appeared, principally in the flat below .Jollie's Pass, near the curative baths. These have not been affected in the slightest. The buildings round them have remained intact. There has been considerable damage done in the Lower Amuri. The Ferry Hotel, close by the bridge, is considerably dilapidated, but Mr. Holmes, the proprietor, has not found it necessary to leave, and is setting about repairs. At Leslie Hills, on the north side of the river, a large stone dwelling-house, built about ten years ago, the property of Messrs. A. and D. Rutherford, is a complete wreck. A recent addition in wood was considerably shaken, and all the plasteted walls have come down. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan Rutherford and family have taken refuge with their brother at Montrose. Altogether, the damage at Amuri, so far as Mr. Low has made out, amounts in the aggregate to several thousands of pounds.