IN PALMERSTON NORTH

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

IN PALMERSTON NORTH

PARAPETS HOLE ROOFS FALL FROM CHURCH CROSS BUNNYTHORPE'S EXPERIENCE [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Tuesday While last night's earthquake caused much damage in Palmerston North, tho amount was considerably less than It would have been had many people not learned the lesson of tho Napier earthquake, and had buildings strengthened on modern lines. Most damage was dono among the older buildings, while a very largo number of chimneys suffered fairly considerably. Tho most serious damage to city business premises, apart from the smashed plate-glass windows of Pegdons, Limited, was the wrecking of a large corner portion of the premises of Colliiison and Son. Fifty feet of tho parapet wall separating this shop from the adjoining one of Collinson and Cunninghame, Limited, crashed down on the roof of tho hardware shop, bursting tho coiling and piling a heap of broken brickwork along the counter and fixtures.

The cement fastening the cross in. position on the central and topmost spire of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Broadway, wag sent hurtling to the ground. The rod holding the cross lies bent loose in its socket, but there is little danger of its falling. Bottled Liquor Smashed

Through breaking the parapet along tho top of the boundary wall, bricks fell through skylights into the premises of Watchorns, Limited,- and Blandfords, Limited. Crockery was smashed in the former shop, and a £7O model shattered in the latter. Woolworths, Limited, suffered fairly heavy loss from smashed crockery. Other shops suffered similarly. Hotels in practically all instances suffered heavily duo to tho smashing of bottles of liquor, a typical case being that of the Carlton Hotel, which suffered to the extent of £SO.

In other parts of the city the southern end suffered the greatest damage. In several cases bricks came tumbling into sleeping rooms. Milson railway settlement suffered to a certain extent, 20 chimneys having been damaged and bottles, preserves and liquids thrown from the shelves and shattered.

Extensive damage was suffered in the Bunnythorpe area, no fewer than forty chimneys being completely levelled in the township. Mr. A. B. Duthie had five chimneys fractured and the front of his house damaged, while other residences had similar experiences. The licensee of the Bunnythorpe Hotel suffered considerable loss, the whole of his bottle stock of liquor being destroyed. Seismograph Off Ohart The brickwork of the electricity substation was shattered and the foundations cracked, but the steel work put in as reinforcement after the Napier visitation held the building together. The first big shock threw the recording instrument of the seismograph at Bunnythorpe sub-station clean off the chart. It swung to the limit both ways, showing tho earthquake to be of the first magnitude, equivalent to nine oh the Rossi-Forrel scale. Over a dozen substantial shocks of varying intensity were subsequently recorded up to 8 a.m.

SHOP WINDOWS BROKEN EXPERIENCE AT MASTERTON COLLAPSE OF BRICKWORK [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION*] MASTERTON. Tuesday In Queen Street, Masterton, over 30 plate-glass windows were broken by the earthquake, and buildings were bodily cracked in a number of instances, while in a number of premises brickwork came away. A portion of the rear part of the Opera House came down, while, the Post Office clock was damaged and there were cracks in the walls. Some parts of the residential area escaped damage, while in others the chimneys collapsed and household articles were scattered in all directions.

At To Oreore, Wnhaeliu and toward the East Coast damage was fuirly heavy, many chimneys being down. In some areas the conditions were made worse by tho electric light failing.

RELIEF IN AUSTRALIA FREEDOM FROM CASUALTIES OFFICIAL MESSAGE RECEIVED (Received March 6, 7.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 6 Considerable relief was felt in Australia to-day when it was learned that the effects of the earthquake in New Zealand were only minor ones having regard to the violent records on the .seismographs reported here last night. Mr. L. J. Schmitt, New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Australia, received tho following brief message today from the Dominion Government which he published:— " The earthquake last night was generally in the southern .portion of the North Island. A certain amount of minor damage was done to property. Nobody was injured."

INCIDENTS IN AUCKLAND CLOCK STOPPED BY TREMORS • People in various Auckland suburbs report having experienced tremors on Monday night. Several residents who did not retire until a late hour were amazed when the household electric lights began to swing. A Remuera resident was awakened by one of his children who had been disturbed, and ho was puzzled to see a door open slightly and shut several times. A grandfather clock in another Pemuera residence stopped during the tremors. TRAINS ARRIVE LATE INSPECTION OF TRACKS An inspection of tho railway tracks and tunnels on sections likely to have been effected by tho earthquake was carried out by surfacemen before trains were allowed to proceed and as a result expresses between Auckland and Wellington were delayed. Tho express which left Auckland at 3 p.m. on Monday was not held up as it had already passed through the arfea most affected, but the Limited express to Wellington was delayed for 50 minutes at Ongarue. Both expresses from Wellington arrived late at Auckland yesterday. Tho first express, which was delayed 43 minutes botwaen National Park and Taumarunui, arrived at 7.49 a.m., and the Limited express, which ivas delayed 22 minutes at Utiku, arrived at 9.58 a.m.-, hfiviug mado up seven minutes ou the way.