VIOLENT SHOCKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11247, 27 June 1922, Page 7

VIOLENT SHOCKS

EARTHQUAKES AT TAUPO HOUSES ROCKED ABOUT LIKE BOATS AT SEA. THIRTY” ’QUAKES IN AN HOUR. PES riTKS.S ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, June 26. A telegram from Taupo on Sunday stated:—-'“After a lull of comparative quietness, Taupo, Wairakei, and Oruanui were severely shaken by earthquakes during last- night and this. morning. The shocks surpassed in violence those of last Sunday night, and were quite the worst experienced since the earthquakes began nearly seven weeks ago. Between 12.30 and 1.30 o’clock this morning there were no fewer than 20 or 30 very severe shakes, besides many minor ones, the rate being about one a minute. At times the houses rocked about like boats. Some glassware fell from shelves and was broken. After 1.30 o’clock the earthquakes gradually slackened off. ’Shortly after 9 o’clock, when the people were thinking they were going to have a quiet day, two of tho most severe earthquakes of the whole period occurred. The first was at 9.10 a.m., the second at. 9.13. The first lasted about half a minute, and the second a minute. They shook, buildings so violently that lamps suspended from the ceilings swung, and various loose article® tumbled from tho shelves. After these two shocks the earthquakes decreased in number and severity, and up to 11 p.m. only small ones occurred. ROTORUA, June 25. Nows from Taupo says that there have been no further heavy shocks since Saturday. ROADS BLOCKED. The Secretary of the Post Office yesterday received the following message from the Postmaster, Taupo:— “Strongest earthquakes yet felt at Wairakei, Oruanui, and Taupo occurred on Sunday morning between 12.30 a.m. and 1.30 a.m., and on Sunday at 9.10 a.m. and 9.13 a.m. As usual, loose articles on shelves were brought down, and numerous small slips on roadside. In one case the slips brought down trees and blocked the road. Otherwise no material damage was done. The office clock was again stopped. The noises on this occasion were not so pronounced.” MISSING OFFICIALS NQ NEED FOR ALARM. PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION. TAUMARUNUI, June 20. It is considered locally that there is no need for excessive alarm over the non-arrival at Taupo of P. Keller, resident Pirblio Works engineer, Taumarunui, and J. Corlett, road overseer. Hie Maori guide, who returned to Waimiha on Friday night, produced a note on Sunday sent back by Keller, which the guide apparently forgot to deliver. This reads: “Keller and Corlett leave camp one and a half miles 5011th of Weraroa Creek on the morning of 23rd (Friday). Intend to make Weraroa, then a bee-line or first available track for Mokai.” It is believed here that Keller is making observations en route, and this, naturally, will take some time. The idea of their being lost is soouted, as Corlett formerly resided at Taupo for some time, and knows the district well. The facts of the oaee are that the party, with the Maori guide, Tiko, set out on Tuesday for Taupo from Waimrha, to attend the Railway Commission. They arrived on Thursday at the Ketemaringi end of the track, about fifteen miles from Taupo, and sent the Maori back on Friday, with, the horses, tent and fly, and most of the other equipment. Keller and Corlett intended to push on on foot, and they considered they had sufficient food to last for a week, also a pea-rifle, slasher, compass, and map. The Maori arrived back at Waimiha on Friday night, after a twelve hours’ journey. Both men are hardy and experienced in the bush. A search party, consisting of six experienced bushmen, is leaving Waimiha the morning. They anticipate no difficulty in following Keller’s trail, whioh ie well blazed. NO TRACE FOUND. A later Press Association message from Taumarunui last evening stated that so far there is no trace of the massing men (Keller and Corlett) from that end of the Waimiha-Taupo route.