EARTH TREMORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22887, 16 November 1937, Page 8

EARTH TREMORS

NORTH ISLAND AREAS

HAWKE'S BAY SHAKEN

NO DAMAGE REPORTED Slight in intensity but of fairly long duration, an earthquake shock was experienced in the central and eastern districts of the North island at 2.18 yesterday afternoon. Reports received from Herald correspondents last night indicated that the full severity of the disturbance was probably located in Central Hawke's Bay and the tremor was less apparent in other localities No damage was caused, but the fact that the shock was the greatest felt for some time resulted in alarm being felt throughout Hawke's Bay. At first the movement was extremely sharp, but it was followed by a lougoj- period ot gentle swaying that was sufficient to set bells in the clock towers clanging. Calm of Audiences A number of people went out into the streets at Hastings, but they were quite orderly, and there was no sign of extreme concern. At picture theatres, where matinees were in progress, there was little alarm, one manager stating that patrons continued to enter the building during the tremor and that the lew who went (jut into the lobby returned almost immediately.

Tin* earthquake \v:.s felt most severely in I lie I'orangnhaii district, indicating tliiit the centre of the distfirhancc was probably in that area. I'"or snine tinu' the telephone service was disrupted, hut it was speedily restored. Articles on shelves at Waipukurau and in houses between this centre and Porangahau were shaken down. However, the damage was reported to he negligible.

A\'hile the tremor was in progress several women in in ted in Hastings and at one of the primary schools the children were dismissed alter the tremor subsided. One resident ol' Napier regarded the shock as the worst experienced for at least three years. Severe Jolt in Manawatu At I'alinerston North. Keilding and I'a liiat.ua the earthquake commenced with a slight quiver, rising in intensity until a severe jolt was registered. Then the movement gradually died away. A less obvious tremor, which lasted only several seconds, was experienced at (iisliorne and no disturbance was noticeable at .Masterton. Taupo residents felt a slight hut prolonged shake extending

over about seven seconds. The disturbance was noticed to be travelling from north-east to south-west at Ta ill apt*, where its duration was recorded as 15 seconds, although the shock was only feeble. However, it was sufficient to displace crockery and to set doors and windows creaking.