EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20977, 14 September 1931, Page 8

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

ALARM IN HAWKE'S BAY. . - PEOPLE RUSH INTO STREETS. NO REPORT OF DAMAGE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HASTINGS. Sunday. A considerable amount of alarm was caused by an earthquake shock at 9.50 a.m. yesterday. People in the town ran into the streets and in the country districts the stock gracing in the paddocks became frightened and dashed wildly about. Although the shock was comparable in intensity to the secondary earthquakes of February 3 and 13, no damage was caused. The shock, -which lasted for four minutes, began with a swaying movement which gradually became intensified until, half-way through its duration, it developed a jolt similar to those felt at the time of the big earthquake. It then died away slowly in a continuation of swaying movements. The needle of the seismograph jumped to and fro across the entire width of the chart for a full minute and by its behaviour it was gathered that the shock originated locally.

A large number of -workmen are still engaged on work upon ruined buildings in Hastings and Napier and they experienced a trying time when the shock occurred. Although considerably alarmed, none of them was injured, as none of the debris fell. The old fire station at Napier, which is in a precarious plight as a result of the big earthquake, was not affected by yesterday's shock.. SWAYING OP BUILDINGS. DISTURBANCE AT WOODVILLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WOODVILLE, Saturday. A. severe earthquake was experienced a few minutes before ten o'clock this morning. Buildings swayed and creaked and crockery rattled. Besidents hurriedly left their homes. The movement lasted about six seconds. No damage is reported. WAIPUKTJBATJ EXPERIENCE.

CONSTERNATION OF RESIDENTS. [BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIPUKURAU, Saturday. The third worst shock since the severe earthquake of February 3 was experienced at 12 minutes to 10 o'clock this morning. The movement gave the impression of uplifting the earth, this following a shake lasting about a minute and a-half. P'eople rushed into the streets terrified. Minor damage only was reported. Clocks were stopped. At Porangahau the shake was sever# and long. No serious damage is reported. REPORTS FROM POSTMASTERS. BUILDINGS ESCAPE DAMAGE. [BT TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Secretary of the Post Office, Mr. G. McNamara, advises that the following earthquake reports were received from postmasters:— Hastings.—Severe earthquake at 9.53 a.m. No damage is reported. Porangahau.—Heavy, prolonged shock of earthquake felt at 9.55 a.m. No damage reported. . Feilding.—Sharp shock of earthquake was felt at 9.55 a.m., the direction being approximately north to south. Napier.—A fairly severe earthquake, with a long, swaying motion, occurred at 9.53. No local damage has been reported. SUBMARINE ORIGIN. ABOUT 150 MILES FROM COAST. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.} WELLINGTON, Sunday. The authorities at the Dominion Observatory report that the earthquake experienced yesterday was of submarine origin and that its centre was probably 150 miles off the coast.