SEVERE SHAKES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23860, 10 January 1941, Page 6

SEVERE SHAKES

BAY OF PLENTY BUILDINGS ROCKED DAMAGE IN HOUSES SLIP ON RAILWAY Centred on the line from Whakatane to Taneatua and Ruatoki, what was described as the worst earthquake since the Napier disaster in 1931 rocked buildings and sent people rushing outside in many parts of the central Bay of Plenty area yesterday afternoon. No persons have been reported injured, and property damage was confided mainly to broken household articles, windows and chimneys, with a few isolated slips on communication routes, but the severity of the jolt was the greatest some of the areas have experienced.

The earthquake did not reach as far as Rotorua to the west, Taupo to the south, or Gisborne to the east, and seems mainly to have been confined with varying intensity to the area roughly bounded by Roto Ma, the Opouraio Valley in the Ruatoki area, and Opotiki. It did not touch Hawke's Bay. The time at which it was felt varied from about 2.35 to 2.45, and it was generally estimated that the actual shock lasted for about one minute. Origin at Sea Intensity was greatest in the Whaka-tane-Taneatua-B.uatoki line, and diminished as the shock spread east and west. It was felt only slightly at Te Puke and Tauranga, and also in districts east of Opotiki. The general opinion was that it came from somewhere out at sea, and interest was focussed on White Island, but low clouds obscured it from view.

Several of tho districts, including Whakatane and Opotiki, reported lighter earthquakes at other times of the day. Opotiki felt one at 2 a.m. yesterday, and several alter tho severe shock, while Whakatane experienced a slight recurrence at 4.50 p.m. People Rush Into Streets

Whakatane people rushed into the streets when a dull roar from the sea was followed by a shock which violently swayed buildings and trees from east to west, and then dwindled off into a series of lateral waves.

A slip was brought down on the railway lino between Whakatane West and Pekatahi, and telephone communication was briefly interrupted at the railway station. The slip covered 11 yards of the line, and delayed the arrival of the Tanoat.ua bound express from Auckland and also a goods train. The siip was cleared early last evening, but tho site was still dangerous to train traffic.

Conditions at Ohope Beach Another slip fell about half a mile from Ohope Peach on tho road to Whakatane. A traffic lane was quickly cleared through the spoil and little delay was caused to holiday traffic. At Ohope Peach goods in both the stores were thrown to the ground and damaged. In the camp store some perishable foodstuffs were destroyed through jars breaking. .Heavy objects were dislodged in the houses, and at least two windows were broken. it was also reported from Ohope Peach that a loud report from the sea preceded the initial shock, „ Taneatua also suffered the worst of the shock. Chimneys which were not well braced were brought down and there was widespread damage to household objects. Shop Stocks Suffer Display goods in shops were thrown on to the floor. At Maitland's bakery shop most of the shelves were swept clear of goods and there were many breakages. Mr. V. .Mead, of Mead's General Store, was working on a truck under a hoist, and he saw his building sway so far out of alignment that he thought it was going to fall flat. Then it went back with a jolt, and 50 per cent of the goods on counters and shelves fell on the floor.

The shop was closed for the rest of the day to enable the staff to clear away the debris, which included broken glass, crockery, electric light bulbs and paint which had spilled out of tins when their lids burst open on impact with the floor. Two large tanks serving the Taneat.ua Hotel burst, and the contents of tho bar were thrown on the floor. Farmers' Experiences The shock was felt throughout the Opouraio Valley, and farmers had the experience of seeing the earthquake waves come toward them across the paddocks in a north to south direction. Farmers working on top of haystacks also had unpleasant experiences, and one was thrown from the top of a 40ft. ladder. A four-ton cheese vat at Ruatoki was shifted an inch and a-lialf out of position by the jolt. Waitnana shared the disturbance. As was the case in the Taneatua and Huatoki area, almost all homes and shops had articles jerked on to the floor ami suffered breakages. Several chimneys were brought down. Increased Intensity At Opotiki the earthquake began at 2.37 with slight movement which suddenly increased in intensity and became the strongest felt since the Napier earthquake. Buildings rocked alarmingly and electric light wires anil telephone lines swayed for long after the shock had ceased, hi the town itself only a few articles were dislodged and broken, but in the country districts reports of household breakages were numerous. The shock was felt very strongly in the Waiotahi Valley and in areas generally to tho west of Opotiki, but its intensity was obviously decreasing as it struck the town, and it was felt with diminishing force to tho eastward.