THE EARTHQUAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14218, 15 November 1909, Page 5

THE EARTHQUAKE.

: . EFFECTS OF THE SHOCK. . ' - EXCITING INCIDENTS. jL, TaE GBAPH.-SPECIAL CORESPONDENT.] [,- '.' .• r* Wellington, Sunday. if.rso'-GS the earthquake on Friday I! did not do any damage of import--1,18 it was the cause of considerable extent and perturbation amongst the. ■ «sidents of the " earthquake city," as Wellington may be called. The shock §§|||ged considerable excitement and alarm 'it the 'Opera House, where the Anderson , Dra niatic Company was playing. The Ishock came just as the curtain had been lowered between the acts. Most, of the 'pie un,€d to their feet, h aDd SOme i",de a rush for the exits. Confusion reiened for a short ' time, but as the shock' w»s so soon over the audience settled down again to '°- v the closing scenes i the play- It is stated >' the Do " - minion that seven ladies fainted during : the scare. A member of the business ! ■j !;v ff of the company was seen stamped- " Stag down the staircase, and out into the S?t street. With commendable presence of 'i mind'he had caught, up the cash bags ■ Md carried them with him. The members of the Wellington Choral Society were attending a full rehearsal 'of "The Messiah" at the Town Hall when the earthquake arrived. Mr. Bar."iett {the conductor) was at the grand : organ the time and experienced a W snewhat startling sensation. The great or ran, it is stated, swayed from side to side'.with an ominous crackling sound, while the plaster on the walls in the immediate vicinity of the instrument was Epied;iin many places. There was (some .little excitement, among the ladies p the chorus, but no panic. One lady Vfatfted- The sensation experienced in hie body of the hall was a prolonged bumble, "then a sharp oscillation,; which Masted for some seconds. - - > At His Majesty's Theatre nearly half the.audience left the auditorium when I the'shock was felt. There was no stam- ; pede, but a hurried exit. A few of the : Vomen among the audience fainted. 'Quite a number of people, did not return ! ■to the theatre. ~; . ' The Public Library building, the earthiptoiffis reputation of which is known, pul p&ted in a style terrifying enough to induce the most sedate patron of the rejul'ling rooms to sprint for the open. The building, withstood the test-, however. ' , The bells in the tower of the General [Post Office were prompted to "speak out Jj^tHeir turn," a unique experience whi:h : -Till convey an adequate idea of the violence of the 'quake. - . • f 'Earthquake insurance for the main biiSiEess sections on the reclaimed area of i Wellington is about 10s per £100, but an li-LTiiraace manager stated to a,Times ■ reteorter that the rate is almost prohibitew, and very little business is done in . miis direction. hlhe Post state that at St. Paul's nrojCathedral, where a confirmation service 'twas being conducted, one of the average , iinddents occurred. The shock arrived § Iwhen ■ Bishop Walks was , speaking. feveral people rose from their seats and wlappsared to be contemplating an exit, - ffort'tfhey quietly *.. resumed their places I s when- the Bishop calmly- continued " his . Address'and used the earthquake to- point; An'argument. ••■- '-. - ' ■■' " l '-" ; ' >")- It -is over five years since the last f (isvere earthquake occurred. ? '. .* • • ■ -'_ SHOCK AT BLENHEIM.■'/ ■'./' •'• ' " .' [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.) :,-■•■ . Blenheim, Saturday. . The sharpest .shock', of earthquake felt '«• Blenheim for some considerable time v.is experienced about 9.35 last night, t preceded by a slighter shock. ' No damage lis reported. . , "—. " i - " ....; .."',-