RUDE AWAKENING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 10

RUDE AWAKENING

OBDEAL IN DABKNESS EXODUS FROM HOUSES PHENOMENAL GREEN SKY "LIKE LIGHTNING FLASHES" [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN" CORRESPONDENT! PAHIATUA, Tuesday S'ltimbcrors in Pahiatua last nifcht jn many cases were jolted from their beds wlien the earthquake occurred and in lf5!:S than 10 seconds the world, as evidence] by the four walls of a bedroom, was topsy tarvy. To stand unsupported whs ahnost impossible. Thoite rudely-awakened sleepers who clutched frantically at bedposts or dressirg tables were thrown where the Articles of furniture were tossed. Wardfell hqavily to floors and chimneys (iriisihed. Darkness increased the terror and brought utter confusion. Partly because of the rain residents stayed indoors a fraction longer than their inclinations bado them. Blindly they groped for articles of clothing, hoping againsv, hope that a cessation would quickly come. The minute or more which followed the shock seemed an eternity. It was as if the town had been tnkon in a huge hand and shaken unmercifully. llush Into Open

People waited no longer. In frantic haiste they rushed out of doors into the rain. There was at least a chance under the open heavens, where the moon tried no struggle through the heavy cEouds and add a little light to tho dark s.nd terrifying spectacle. There was a minute n.nd a-half with tho earth in violent motion, then a gradual easing that brought hope and fijint reLit;]:' to hundreds .of now nearly frantic huufieholds. But it brought, too, a circular swaying motion that was almost as upsetting. The nightwatchman only a few minutes;. before had noticed that the door a.b the rear of fates and Company's store was insecurely fastened. He acquainted the acting-manager of the fact and together they walked right through the shop. They switched off the lights, locked up and parted outside the door. Five later the store was ill total ruins. T.he dividing brick wall had crashed through the roof and the vhole interior hud caved in, burying everything.

Several Women Taint The phenomenal green sky was noted by neveral residents. They declared emphatically that what they imagined to tie green lightning flashes shot upward in tho direction of Mangaramarama Hill. They were accompanied by loud booming sounds a.s the earthquake died away. It is significant that the rear o:c Mr, Moriarty's house at Mangaramarama was completely wrecked. Guests and members of the staff at (Meoson's Hotel had an anxious time escaping from tbo building in the darkrieus;. Several women fainted and others hastening to safety had to check their flight to lend a helping hand. The township of Makuri, 20 miles out, fared worst of all. Huge fissures occurred in the road a chain long, and sis much as 2ft. deep in places. Tho interiors of homesteads were shattered, scarcely anything breakablo- remaining intact. The small creek in the liillii has gone dry. Serious slips in the Makuri Gorge necessitate long detours for settlers coming to town. All Bridges Passable Fiss ires also appeared in other parts of i;he country, but they are not so largo n§ those at. Makuri. One or two cracks appeared in the roads at Ba!lanco and Kaitawa, and on Birnie's Hill. An inspection this morning pro'-ed that all bridges are passable, only the fillings and some abutments lieirg tracked. L'p till this afternoon no trains were able to run owing to a fall of rock at the Muff between Pahiatua and Mailgatainoka, and to slightly twisted raili; tuere and between Newman and Ma iri oeville. .Gangs have been working firon an early hour, and expected to get be til expresses through. .

LOSSES AT WOOBVILLE

WORST SHOCK IN MEMORY

PEOPLE THROWN FROM BEDS

[BY TELEGRAPH- —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WOOBVILLE. Tuesday

! Wocdville was rocked by the worst earthquake in the memory of residents, lint no one was injured. The damage done 1o property in the business area exceeds £3OOO.

The first shock, at 11.45 p.m., awakened everyone from sleep, throwing s.anie from their beds. Practically every chimney in the town and district is down, and others are in an unsound eondit on. There have been widespread breakages of crockery. The worst damsige is in the business area, whei'e srfcoek has been thrown from tho shelves. Plate-glass windows havo been smashed, mid parapets have fallen from brick walls. Some walls are unsafe and will have i;o be removed.

The Club Hotel chimney crashed through the kitchen, which was completely wrecked. A chimney from tho Masonic Hotel went through the vestiInilo roof of the Kos.v Theatre adjoining. Grocers and chemists arc the heaviest losers, practically everything movable and breakable being thrown on the floor and smashed. The damage to stock is estimated at over £IOOO in Ualbn) itli's store, and six plate-glass windows arc cranked. Most of thb other shops have windows cracked or broken. At Grinlinton's, furnishers,-a double chimney crashed through two floors, taking with it a wardrobe and embedding itself in the ground. Cracks have opened in some of the roads and bridge approaches to the borough. An inspection of the back country shows that minor damage has occurred from slips and cracks on practically every road. The cracks arc particularly noticeable at Kumeroa, where the houses suffered badly. Nearly all the chimneys are down in this district and crockery losses aro heavy, in addition. to structural damage. One house has been rendered .unfit for habitation. Residents of Woodville spent a busy day removing damaged chimneys and making their houses habitable. Most-of tho debris was moved from tho business area. A further slight shock was felt this afternoon.

lIOTiEL GUEST'S DILEMMA CAUGHT IN OWN CLOTHING [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] PAIIIATUA, Tuesday Although tragedy was over imminent, the situation was not without its humorous side. The plight of an elderly raan, a. hotel guest, who grabbed a pair cf trousers and in trying to don .them iu tho dark pushed both feet down through one trouser leg, capped everything. Securely imprisoned he fitrugglod feverishly to extricate himfieilf irom a predicament that had jj;rown doubly awkward. A boarder in i), neighbouring room finally came to his assistance..