A SEVERE EARTHQUAKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22204, 6 March 1934, Page 10

A SEVERE EARTHQUAKE

WELLINGTON SHAKEN BUILDINGS ROCK ALARMINGLY (Ptx United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 5. An extremely severe earthquake shock was experienced in Wellington at 11.50 to-night. Buildings rocked alarmingly, but so far as Is sscertainable at present there has been little damage. THE COUNTRY DISTRICTS CHIMNEYS DOWN IN SEVERAL TOWNS ; TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED. (Extraordinary to Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March fc In the centre of the city eome windows are reported to have been smashed and crockery damaged through the violence of the tremor, which seemed to have a circular movement and was not precede)! by any smaller shocks. Lights flickered in the city, but the power supply did not i Reports from outside centres indicate that the shock was also felt severely in the Manawstu end- Wairarapa districts. In-Palmerston North some chimneys are down, and alarmed residents rushed into the streets, the electric power failing there for a time. There are also some chimneys down in Masterton, Woodville. and Levin. Napier and Hastings also felt the shock, but no damage is reported. The earthquake was felt as far. north as Auckland and in the South Island, but only slightly. . The Telegraph Office reports that it has been in communication with most centres by telephone, and'beyond s few chimneys down and minor damage the effect of the tremor was not severe. Telegraph communication, however, is interrupted in the north, and difficulty is being experienced in getting messages through. (Pn United Press Association.) WANGANUI, March 5. . A violent earthquake rocked Wanganui at 11.46 to-night, causing some damage to buildings, bringing down many chimneys, and blocking the main street in parts with broken tramway power lines. No loss of life is reported. The main centra of the damage appears to be at the Rutland Hotel corner, where s portion of the veranda has collapsed, and the building is cracked in front. The college buildings and the hospital are reported to be all safe. ■: (Pn UnittoPress Association.) PALMERSTON N., March 5. The most severe shake in the history of Palmerston North w*» felt at 11.17 pjn. It was a most terrifying experience. The whole population rushed into the streets. • The Square was crowded with cars, the people besieging the Post Office and the morning newspaper office. Chimneys and shop interiors have suffered,' but the full damage cannot be estimated till the morning. (Per United Press Association.) MASTERTON. March 5. A further survey of the earthquake da«niig» shows that Masterton escaped fairly lightly, although by daylight It is probable that additional damage will be revealed. ' Communication north of Fahiatua is cut off, and it is reported that chimneys there suffered severely. Langdab Valley, on the east coast near Masterton, is also reported to have felt the shake severely. In Masterton about six plate-glass windows were shattered. Small pieces of mMonyy were dislodged on the same buildings and a few chimneys are down. The contents of many shops , were dislodged, the breakages in chemists and other similar shops being fairly serious. No one is reported to have been injured. TWO SHOCKS AT MASTERTON MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED. - (Pn Untied Press Association.! MASTERTON, March 8. A very severe earthquake shock was felt here at 11.49, causing general alarm. The earthquake was of s swaying motion. Considerable damage of a minor nature is reported, a few plate glass windows being, shattered and . plaster falling in some buildings. Another heavy shake was recorded at 11.58. THE WEST COAST BLIGHT SHOCK FELT. (Per United Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, March 6. An earthquake lasting about 20 seconds ws# experienced here at 11.50 p.m. it was also felt in the Buller district. SHOCK FELT IN DUNEDIN A slight shock of earthquake waa felt in Dunedin at 11.60 p.m. RECORDED AT RIVERVIEW (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright,) SYDNEY, March 5. (Received March 6, at 2.15 a.m.) The Riverview Observatory late tonight recorded one of the most disastrous earthquakes in history, 1500 miles from Sydney, in the vicinity of New Zealand. The newspapers here are clamouring for news from New Zealand.