EARTHQUAKE IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20900, 16 June 1931, Page 10

EARTHQUAKE IN ENGLAND.

LANCASHIRE AREA SHAKEN. SLIGHT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. [Ki:OM OUIt OWN CORItESI'ONJJENT.] •LONDON, May 7. It is not often one hears of an earthquake in Great, Britain, but the public had a reminder on Sunday that this country is not immune from them. The tremor occurred shortly after 9 a.m., when many people were at breakfast. It was felt in Manchester and throughout a considerable area of Lancashire. Furniture and crockery were rocked and rattled without warning, while pictures fell from walls. At Pcmberton people were almost thrown off their feet, and in tho Broughton area of Salford many slates were dislodged front roofs. The tremor led to a rumour, which spread rapidly, that there had been an explosion in one of the coal mines in the Peinbcrton neighbourhood, and many anxious inquiries from relatives of employees were made. At Broughton the tremor was so severe that a number of people rushed into the street from their houses. The tremor was particularly severe in the Ecoles district. Property all over tho borough suffered, and tho Eccles Fire Brigade was kept busy throughout the day pulling down chimney pots, tiles, and portions of buildings which had become unsafe.

Oil the Chorlton golf links a putt by an early goiter stopped within an inch of the hole. As 11 is opponent was making his shot the tremor was—sufficient to°move the first ball and. it .dropped .niter the hole. The opponent is Wondering whether any provision is made in the laws of golf for such a contingency. Mr. W. G. Jenkins, of Godlee Observatory, Manchester, stated that he had arrived at the conclusion that Iho tremor was due to the slipping of a large area of rock which extends below the earth's surface from Pendleton, .North Manchester, and Salford to Levenshulme. "There is a large wedge of rock," he said, "which cuts in between the general strata. It is called the fault.' This wedge slipped, and in doing' so caused the tremor. The last occasion on which a similar occurrence took place in the vicinity was in 1905." .' >• • ■

Another earthquake was experienced throughout Kngland on June 7,' this, shock being most severe ..in Yorkshire. This is believed to have been the strongest shock- felt in Kngland -for 23 years. No serious damage Was done.