EARTHQUAKE SHOCK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23685, 17 December 1938, Page 16

EARTHQUAKE SHOCK

HAWKE'S BAY VISITATION MOST SEVERE SINCE 1931 NO SERIOUS DAMAGE REPORTED (Per United Press Association) WAIPUKURAU, Dec. 16. Considered the most severe earthquake since 1931, the visitation felt in Waipukurau at 9.10 last night was preceded by a rumbling noise, the tremor of the swinging motion ending with a violent jolt lasting over a minute. It caused concern among the residents, but no structural damage is reported bevond a large reserve water tank at the isolation block of the district hospital, which burst, creating damage. One wall was cracked, and quantities of plaster fell from the ceilings of the hospital buildings, but the nursing staff exercised control among the patients, and there was no panic. In the town the plate-glass windows in two shops were cracked, and in all grocers, as well as several other firms, quantities of stock and g.'assware were thrown to the floor. The windows of a number of homes were cracked, while several chimneys are reported twisted. Few houses escaped having their crockery broken, but -there was no serious damage. The tremor created alarm in the Presbyterian Church during choir practice. The building swaved alarmingly, and a hurried exit was made. In one residence a woman descending the stairs missed her footing and was thrown down and across the floor. Electrical and telephonic services were uninterrupted, although several telephone lines were temporarily out of order through contacting by twisting. The town clock was stopped by the tremor. At Porangahau the earthquake is reported to be of a force of 8 on the Rossi-Forel scale, stronger than elsewhere. Tanks were overthrown and chimneys are down in that area. It is nearly five years since the Dominion had an earthquake force of 8. One of that intensity occurred in the same area in March, 1934. NO MAJOR DAMAGE CENTRE TO SOUTH OF HAWKE'S BAY WELLINGTON NOT AFFECTED (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. The severe earthquake last evening was felt over the whole of the southern half of the North Island and north-western portion of the South. Although alarm was caused in parts of Hawke's Bay and Manawatu, no major damage has been reported, but,a considerable amount of minor damage appears to have been done. The shock started nine seconds before 9.12 p.m., but the records traced-by, the seismographs at Kelburn Observatory are stated by the officials to be rather difficult to interpret until records are received for purposes of comparison from other recording centres. From preliminary observation and calculation, however, it is conjectured that the centre was well to the south of Hawke's Bay, probably somewhere between Dannevirke and Cape Turnagain. It was apparently of shallow origin. Waipukurau, Woodville, and Dannevirke seem to have felt it as severely as any places, and the force there on the Rossi-Fdrel scale was easily 7. It was not felt greatly at Wellington; indeed, some people were unaware of it, including most of those at places of entertainment. The rolling motion and absence of jolt indicated that it was far away. DISTURBANCE AT DANNEVIRKE PLATE GLASS WINDOWS CRACKED (Peb United Press Association) DANNEVIRKE, Dec. 16. Despite the severity of the earthquake at 9.12 i'clock last night (7 on the Rossi-Forel scale), the damage in Dannevirke is not extensive, consisting of cracks in five or six plateglass windows and the smashing of glass and chinaware displayed in 'shop windows. The disturbance was particularly severe in the coastal area, and a number of chimneys are down. In some places residents vacated their houses and the patrons of places of amusement made for the streets. PUBLICITY DEPRECATED UNNECESSARY ALARM CAUSED (Per United Press Association! WELLINGTON, Dec. 16. Members of the Wellington Fire Board deprecate the publicity given by the press of New Zealand to earthquakes. The chairman (Mr S. Dean) said that such publicity was regrettable . Mr Marcus Marks said that an Australian woman told him she would not visit New Zealand, even if her fare were paid and she were given £SO. Mr S. G. C. Edwards remarked that Japan did not advertise its earthquakes.