EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14386, 2 December 1908, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.

DISTURBANCE ON WHALE ISLAND.. v (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December/1. The Star's Whakatane correspondent wires that a violent earthquake, lasting about 30sec, followed by smaller tremors, was experienced "about 8.50 this morning. In. some shops packages- were.shaken off the shelves. The shake is said'to be heavier than those experienced at Whakatane during the Tarawera eruption, although not as long i» duration. Whale Island was enveloped in what appeared to be a cloud of dense dust, which gradually disappeared, and left the island in its normal condition. . ■ . The earthquake 'damaged■'.the shed erected, to hold material for the Whakatane Bridge to the extent -that,it had to be strengthened. Fishermen at sea at the time of the qwtke confirm the impression held at Whakatane that there was an eruption on Whale Island or a- tremendous landslide on the seaward side, which caused great clouds of dnsi' to ascend. Whale Island is only seven miles distant from Whakatane. ' , ■ '.' " (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, December 1. The earthquake shocks, at Whakatane are creating some' alarm along the Bay of Plenty frontage.. Whale Island is regarded with some dread, and- it is evident that some disturbance lias.-taken place there. ' The island is a mile and a-half' long by three-quarters of a mile wide, and from the coast of the mainland it seems to resemble an enormous whale. So far as is known Whale Island has never been in eruption, and disturbances,in that locality are usually attributed to .the immense foross finding vent at.White Island, Tho base of White Island crater is one and ahalf miles in circuit, ,and in the centre is a great boiling spring, sending a column of steam 2000 ft high.. '