THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 9305, 19 November 1901, Page 2

THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.

« FULL DETAILS OF THE GHEVIOT DISASTER. THE SHOCKS CONTINUE. RAIN ADDS TO DISCOMFORT OF EVICTED RESIDENTS. (Special to Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Shocks of earthquake were felt m G'hristchurch at 9.10 a.m. and 7.47 p.m. yesterday. Cheviot still continues to be the one topic of conversation throughout Canterbury. The deepest sympathy has been everywhere expressed for the> unhappy plight of the settlers. Hopes that the earthquakes had ceased were shattered yesterday, when several shocks almost as severe as the first were experienced, culminating m one at about ti o'clock last night which was as heavy as that, of Saturday morning. It did not do more damage, because there was little more to do. The shocks of the early morning proved the last straws for a number of people, and numbers left Cheviot until matters should have settled again into their wonted peacefulness. Interviews with refugees fully bear out all that has been said of the severity of the shocks and the panic-stricken condition of many of the people. Those who stayed m the district spent an uncomfortable day trying .to get their homes m order again, and last evening their apprehensions of another anxious, wakeful night were confirmed by the shock above referred to. The rain which was falling all day would do a great deal of good, but would inevitably add to the discomfort of the settlers who were camping out, because of the condition of their houses, or from fear of further earthquakes. There are reports of damage sustained m other districts. r . A mile from Mcßenzie a number of springs have started'up where there were hone before. All the drinking water m the township is milky. There are fissures everywhere. A bridge ,m the middle of the settlement is quite unsafe for traffic, though that over the Hurunui is still right. The damage done could be seen from the fact that a dray was Bent to remove debris from the ruins of Mr Frank A. Cooke's store, and the first dray-load contained glass alone the value of which before the breakage was • estimated at £100. There were several further dray-loads of ruins. It is said by those using the baths at Hanmcr that the waters since the earthquake have been more efficacious than before. A gentleman staying at Hanmer, who has been m Japan, - said the earthquake 1 on Saturday morning was quite equal m severity to any he had experienced m the East. News from Cheviot to-day states that rain has ceased, only to be replaced by a scorchiug sun. No further severe" shocks are reported. Each tremor is accompanied by a peculiar lifting -feeling. Photographs of the results of the earthquake show that the accounts sent have not been m the least exaggerated, but rather fail to convey the sensational nature of the upheaval. ■' ~ Last night's shock m Christchurch, as recorded oy the Magnetic Observatory, lasted over ten minutes. News from the various townships m Canterbury state's that more or less damage was done at each place. >^

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. A number of shocks occurred at Cheviot litst night after the heavy convulsion at eight o'clock, which caused a mild panic. Up to 11 this morning there had been no tremors to-day. The Hon. Mr Hall- Jones left this morning for Cheviot, and Sir Joseph Ward is expected to arrive there at daylight tomorrow. ; . WELLINGTON, this day. The postmaster at Cheviot telegraphs to the Secretary of the Department at 8 a.m. this morning, and says: — "I havo to report another depressing night. Since my last there have been a. number of minor disturbances, intermingled with one or two more severe and serious shocks. None have done any additional damage, chiefly because . practically all the damage from which the settlement can suffer has already been done. I regret to say that, after the promise of mlich-needed cooling rain hist night t the weather has again changed this . morning, and is oppressively close, with a scorching sun. This will add to the troubles of the ' farmers, whose land is parched, and crops are consequently m nearly all cases failures. "Christchnrch newspapers have already started a relief fund. It must hot be understood, however, that the settlers are destitute- v Ahnost without exception their, houses are badly damaged, and m some cases destroyed, while one or two business people m McKenzie itself who have no available capital have lost their all. It is these latter who will benefit by the relief fund, the chief use of which will not be to buy food, but to enable them to make another start. The impression abroad that, the people are absolutely destitute is incorrect, though several have been ruined." The Government are sending Mr Me-> Kay, the Geologist attached to the Mines Department, to Cheviot to report on the scientific aspect- of the disturbance.