Earthquake.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 340, 10 December 1897, Page 2

Earthquake.

On Wednesday, at 2,41 a.m., a very severe shock of earthquake was felt in Opunake, which roused nearly everyone from sleep. Mr Brame, our local postmaster, who takes precise observations of such phenomena, informs us that the primary direction was from east to west, and the secondary shock from north to south, and the duration about 20 seconds. The oscillation was violent and the tremor prolonged. The shock was so severe that some people experienced nausea. There was no damage reported in the immediate vicinity.

The Star says : Considering the violence of the shock, the damage done was much les* than most people anticipated it would be. The large brick buildings in the town it might have been expected would show effects, but so far it has not been discovered that they have suffered material damage. The upper rooms of the post office building are badly cracked, both in the ceiling and in the walls at the corners ; but until further examination has been made it cannot be said whether it is the brickwork or merely the plaster which has suffered. A number of shopkeepers in town suffered slight loss owing to goods being thrown off the shelves, Mr Quin being the heaviest loser. A chimney at Mr McAloine's residence was thrown down, and at the Empire Hotel some little damage was done in this way. Four gas lamps at the church of England were thrown down. At Normanbv a few chimDies were cracked ; one at Jury's very nearly came down. The undulatory motion of the quake is generally remarked upon by old residents as resembling a charaaterintio of the visitations which oocurred twenty-five or thirty years ago. A little anxiety was felt about the results in Wellington, for the wires were down south of Wanganui, and it was feared that this might be due to serious results of the shock. However, about midday communication was restored, and it is understood nothing serious happened. At W< llington a prolonged and severa 6hock of earthquake was felt about 2-10 on Wednesday morning, and occasioned considerable alarm, being one of the heaviest felt here for years. At first a slight tremor was noticed, which developed into a voilent disturbance lasting several seconds, and when this subsidised gentle vibrations of the earthquake could be felt. Buildings swayed to and fro, several doors at the Post Office wore .burst open, and bells were set ringing. The Government Life Insurance buildings escaped altogether this time, and so did the Free Public Library. At Palmerstou a heavy shock was felt at 2.40 on "Wednesday morning. The shock was" of a prolongod nature, but without upheaval, and therefore no damage was caused in business establishments, A chimney at the railway engine shed was thrown down. At Wanganui the shock was the severest felt since 1855, lasting two minutes. Considerable damage was done in business premises by breaking crockery, glassware, &c, Keith and Lennard losing £7O ia this way, whilst others report damages totalling several hundreds. Chimneys were levelled in all directions, and the main water supply is stopped. Fissures are reported in various parts and a subsidence near the town railway station. A house was burned down in the suburbs through the occupants rushing outside after the shake and leaving a lamp standing alight on the table which was shaken down. Mrs Morrow was also seriously injured through being struck with bricks coming through the roof of Ler house. Press telegrams from New Plymouth, Carterton. Woodvilie, Auckland, Pahiatua, and Masterton all report heavy shocks, and on the East Coast it was especially severe, but without damage. In the South Island it was most severe in Blenheim, whilst at Christchurch the shock was comparitively slight.