EARTHQUAKES AT ROTORUA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5558, 8 April 1905, Page 5

EARTHQUAKES AT ROTORUA.

A BUSY NIGHT. PRESS ASSOCIATION. v ROTORUA, April 7. A severe earthquake was experienced last nirrht at 8.20 o’clock. This was followed by others not quite so decided, ten in all occurring in an hour. At 9.25 a very severe one occurred, immediately followed by another light one —the fourteenth. An extra heavy one took place at 9.30, which lasted several seconds. Another decided shook took place at 9.42, and six minutes later another. Shortly after 10 o’clock two followed each other in quick succession, and during the night and the early hours of this morning several shocks were felt. At 4.35 the severest shock of all was felt. Many of the shocks were accompanied by a rumbling noise. Twenty-three distinct shocks occurred between 8.20 last night and 7 this morning. A message was received in Wellington yesterday ■ morning stating that numerous sharp earthquakes were experienced at Rotorua throughout the previous night. The last shock was felt as late as 5 o’clock yesterday morning. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the volcanic belt that almost surrounds the Pacific Ocean-—of which New Zealand is a link—is at the present time in an eruptive humour, for. only two days ago cable advice was received from India, stating that a series of violent earthquakes had created a panic amongst the native population of Lahore, and other-cities of Hindustan in that locality.