SEVERE ’QUAKE

Southland Times, Issue 21428, 24 June 1931, Page 8

SEVERE ’QUAKE

GISBORNE ROCKED VERY LITTLE DAMAGE ALARM AMONG PEOPLE TREMORS IN COUNTRY (Per United Press Association.) Gisborne, June 22. An early morning earthquake at 3.3 o’clock to day was felt particularly in the country districts of Poverty Bay. In Gisborne the buildings rocked alarmingly and inuch excitement was caused, the people rushing out into the streets in their night attire. Practically no damage was done in the business area except minor losses of stock in shops. The area of the earthquake was practically the same as the heavy shock on May 7, extending from Tokomaru Bay to below Wairoa. The centre of the disturbance is believed to be near Nuhaka and Morere, some 20 miles north of Wairoa towards Gisborne. Chimneys, tanks and crockery were badly damage!! in this locality. At Nuhaka the shake lasted 45 seconds and the oscillations continued until after 7 o’clock this morning. The shake is considered next in severity to that of February 3. At the Omana native pa the Nuhaka • power lines were wrenched from buildings. Heavy shakes were experienced in the Wharerata, Mangapoike and Tiniroto districts some 20 or 30 miles inland from Gisborne. At Mangapoike homesteads were shifted slightly on their blocks. At Hangaroa minor shakes following the 3 o’clock jolt continued all to-day, but as far as can be gathered there was very little damage beyond broken chimneys. Waingate reports that the shake was the worst yet experienced. No chimney is standing in the district and a number of windows were broken and in some houses cooking ranges were shifted. Heavy losses in crockery are reported on all stations near Waingate. A prominent resident estimated that about SO shakes have been experienced since the big shake on February 3, and from 6 to 7.45 to-night ten distinct shakes were experienced. WAIROA SHAKEN BUILDINGS ROCK ALARMINGLY. NO DAMAGE REPORTED. Wairoa, June 23. A heavy and prolonged earthquake was experienced at 3.7 a.m. to-day, rousing the people from their sleep and greatly frightening them. The buildings rocked alarmingly for some time. Minor shakes at frequent intervals followed for four hours. No damage is reported.