SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15235, 24 February 1913, Page 7

SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

FELT ON WEST COAST. HERALDED BY EXPLOSIONS. BUSINESS PEOPLE'S LOSSES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Westport, Sunday. A heavy and prolonged earthquake shock at 12.36 p.m. yesterday caused great excitement and alarm. The whole population rushed from the houses to the streets. Tho earthquake commenced with a sound as of a loud explosion, or. blast, in the direction of from west to east. The big earthquake was succeeded by a series of minor shocks, one at 3 p.m. being accompanied by a loud cannonlike explosion. The first was the most severe in the history of Westport. Business places suffered considerable damage, and few houses escaped without something in the nature of crockery, pictures, flower vases or docks being broken. Numerous chimneys were partially destroyed, but tho chief damage was done in the business centre. The recentlyerected large brick post and telgraph office received a severe shaking,and is cracked in all directions. The southern wing has been bodily shifted about half-an-inch. Tho metal down-pipe on the back/of this portion of the building bent with the moving building. Inside almost all the gas mantles were destroyed, and a good deal of plaster work on the ceiling and walls came down. The post and telegraph staff got a great fright, and speedily made their exit on to the road. The principal sufferers in the main street are: Hansen and Co., warchousomen, estimated damage £50; Sinclair, chemist, £40 to £50; G. H. Gothard, ironmonger, £30 to £40; McDonagh, grocer, £20 to £30; Skelton and Jones, grocers, £20 to £30; G. W. Martin, ironmonger, £25 to £30; McWilliams, picture-framer and fancy goods store, including large plate-glass window, £20; Shaw, hotelkeeper, £5 to £20; J. J. Lawson, boot and shoe depot, £15 to £20; Dr. Dunn, chemis', £10; P.. Mullan. chemist, £10 to £15 Mr. Sinclair describes tho scene in his .■•hop as representing a hailstorm of bottles. He was lucky to get out uninjured. Along the Buller Road a good deal of loose rock arid earth came down, impeding the progress ,-f the motor and coach services. Considering the severity of the shock it is considered rather remarkable that no loss of life occurred. Some, buildings must have been close to the collapsing stage. Thousands of pounds' worth of goods on shelves were just hanging in the balance when the shock ended. Business people, being generally of the opinion that things might havo been very much worse, are taking their losses philosophically. A report from the country shows that the shocks were severely felt there, but the damage appears to be confined mainly to collapsing chimneys.

I Bepcrts round town show that in some ! houses almost all the crockery and • glassware was broken, while others close beside them escaped with but slight damage. The tops of many chimneys were broken off, the bricks in several cases falling down inside the buildings, and doing damage to ranges. Some households suffered loss of almost all their season's jam through bottles being thrown violently off shelves on to the floor. The shocks .were felt in surrounding districts more or less severely, with accompanying breakages in houses, but West-port seems to have fared worst. Shocks continued through the night, and right up to half-past five o'clock this afternoon, totalling about 14 in number, but of lessening severity.

The highest tides for some years •were reported at Karamea, and a party camping on North Beach, Westport, was compelled to shift from quarters hitherto considered safe from the -encroachment of the sea. SHOCKS IN OTHER CENTRES. NO DAMAGE REPORTED. * [BY TELEGRAPH.™ ASSOCIATION', j Greoiocth, Saturday. A severe shock of earthquake was felt at 12.39 to-day. It was sufficient to cause the firebell to ring, but no damage has yet teen reported. The townspeople rushed into the streets.

Nelson, Saturday. A severe earthquake shock was fait here at 12.37 this afternoon. Reefton, Saturday. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 12.40 p.m.