AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12933, 28 March 1904, Page 5

AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

A heavy shock of earthquake was experienced in Dunedin at about 2.32 yesterday morning, which wa3 sufficient to arouso most of the residents of the city and suburbs. Tlio direelion was apparently from about S.E. to N.W. Tho ehock was sufficiently severe to rattle crockery on shelves and brass handles on drawers oC washstanils and dressing tables, etc. So far as could bo ascertained, no damage was caused. Tho quako caused some alarm' among tlio inmates of several of the leading hotels, those sleopins; upstairs in many instances rushing downstairs in tho belief that tho building was about to fall about their ears.

A correspondent in Hanover street gives tho time of the quako as 2.37, and state 3 that he felt two shocks—tho first a flight tremor and tho second a sharp shock from east to west. "A Resident of York Place" states that the shock was accompanied by a loud roar as of heavy wind, which appeared to continue for fully a minute. The wholo hotis& swayed and the windows rattled cs if shaken by a heavy hand. "1.M.1." writes that " the shock was most protracted, but not tire most seicro" lie lias experienced.

Our Port Chalmors representative writes: "A succession of earthquakes, trending from S.E, to N., were experienced at Port Chalmers at 2.45 a.m. yesterday. There wera some sovcm shocks in qll, and the time occupied was fully a * minute and aquarter." Tho shock was felt severely at Waihola, and some city men who spend the week-end in that district inform us that it aroused! them out of their sloop, and caused soma apprehension as to tho stability of their cottages, as it appeared as if the buildings would b6 removed from their foundations.

Our Naseby correspondent telegraphed:— "A prolonged shock of earthquake lyas experienced hero early this morning." Our Gore correspondent telographed:— "Gore was awakened out of its slumbora aliout 2.40 this morning by a violet shock' of earthquake. Those awake at that hour were startled by a peculiar rumbling noise, ooming from tlio direction of nor'-wost. Windows started (o rattle, and presently houses were violently shaken, to tho accompaniment of a loud rumbling noiso. As tho noiso died away in the' Dmith oaet a less violent shock followed, it being of inucli shorter duration than its predecessor. Those in the top of double-storeyed buildings were Rreatly startled by the loudness of tlio noise. Different articles in dwellings wore upset, but nothing was done in the way -oE damage."

An Invereargill Press Association telegram says:—"A'bronounead earth-tremor was folt hern at 2.33 this morning. It was of brieE duration, and tho movement seemed to be east to west. About the centra of tho shock I hero was a distinct upheaval or wavo disturbance. Tho shock awoke nearly tha entire community. It is soino 12 or 14 year? since a quako of equal force has bien felt here."