SEVERE SHAKE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 56, 13 February 1931, Page 5

SEVERE SHAKE

ALARM IN STRATFORD QUAKE FELT ELSEWHERE PEOPLE LEAVE BUILDINGS POST OFFICE CLOCK STOPS SHOCK LASTS TWELVE MINUTES Stratford was startled at 1.29 p.m» to-day by another severe shake, which brought crowds out into Broadway. The quake was recorded by Mr. A. W. Bitrrell, who states that 12 before the waves died away. The direction was nortfr to south. Another shake was registered at 1.56 p.m., with a movement of a-quarter of an inch. Through excellent organisation the children at the Primary School were outside the building in 10 seconds. The shake was severe enough to stop the Post Office clock.

A visit to various business premises„failed to disclose that there had been any damage to stock, except at Barker's Emporium. • Here a display of. vases and crockery on glass shelves BimTTar to that which came to grief in the main shake on February 3rd, had been built up, but it fared better on this occasion, only part of it collapsing. . The broken crockery and glassware, however, was quite considerable.

In. several buildings cracks developed, the worst-looking being one in the front of the Bank of New South Wales, on the side next to the County Hotel. The crack extends for the test part of.the whole depth oi the Second storey, and is perhaps an inch wide. It runs practically straight down, and in places it is noticeable that. bricks have been broken through. An- existing crack in the front of Bellringer's Building appears to have further opened out. At the* head of the stairs leading to the second storey of Hannah's Building, where Messrs. Malone and King have their offices, there is a very decided crack. In Mr. W. A. Wilton's shop there Is a crack the depth of the wall, and this seems to run through the wall, a crack in a similar position appearing in Mr. K.,N. Neale's shop. A num> ber of other craclfs are to be seen ifi Mr. Wilton's shop.

The danger from the crack in the ferro-concrete buildings is probably very slight. In the back room of Mr. Neal's shop there is a crack which has been dated as having apr peared on February 21th, and this has not, been materially 1 increased by today's shake.

BLENHEIM FEELS SHOCK Press Association.—Copyright. BLENHEIM, This Day. A prolonged quake with a swaying movement was felt here at 1.29 p.m. It, had a north-south direction. ROLLING TYPE t Press, Association.—Copyright 'WELLINGTON, This Day. The Secretary of the General Post Office received a report from Waipukurau that a very heavy earthquake of the rolling type was experienced at 1.29 p.m. to-day. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY Press Association.—Copyright. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prime Minister's Fund is now '£55,891 14s sd. The Wellington Mayoral Fund is now £23,701 7s. The Governor-General has received the following message from the Legislative Council of New South Wales, through the Governor of that State: "This House desires to express its profound sorrow and sympathy with the Government and people of New Zealand in the appalling loss of life caused by the tragic earthquake in Napier and Hastings districts." Deep sympathy from Egypt has been extended through the Secretary of .State for Dominion Affairs. WELLINGTON SHAKE Press Association.—Copyright WELLINGTON, This Day. A prolonged shock of earthquake experienced to-day caused the lights in the "Evening Post's" building to swing- with greater intensity than the initial big shock at Napier last week. ALARM IN MASTERTON Press Association.—Copyright MASTERTON, This Day. A sharp shock lasting 20 seconds occurred at 1.30, causing much alarm. People rushed from brick buildings.

SHOCKS IN SOUTH ISLAND NO DAMAGE REPORTED Prejyi'Association.—Copyright This Day. The Secretary of the General Post Office reports that a slight earthquake, sh'ock was felt at 9.41 a.m. in certain districts of the South Island. Advice, has"* been received from the undermentioned offices: — Cromwell: —A slight earth tremor, duration about 3 sec, with an ease to west motion, was experienced at 9.41, a.m.j Pembroke:—A slight earthquake shock was felt at 9.411 a.m. by per-1 sons* indors, but not out of doors The ajmarent direction was east b;

west or west by east. Arrowtown: —A short sharp earthquake at 9.40 a.m. lasted approximately 10 sec. No damage is reported. Dunedin:—A slight earth tremor lasting for twd or three seconds occured at 9.41 a.m. Invercargill:—A slight earthquake occurred at 9.40 a.m. No damage is reported. ALL QUIET AT NAPIER COMMUNITY CHEERFUL . Press Association.— Copyright. NAPIER, This Day. The weather in Napier this morning cloudy but the sea is calm with a steady breeze. The district has enjoyed immunity from quakes of any magnitude since the heavy one yesterday morning, and the effect of this is noticeable in the general cheerful tone of the whole community. Legal offices in Napier opened this morning, numbers of firms combining for the present in offices least affected. The Health Department states there is still no sign of typhoid, but preventive precautions must not lessen. An additional official list of dead is:—Shirley, John Stanley, aged 21, second clerk in Napier Public Hospital, killed under archway; Taggart, William Thomas, senior clerk in Napier Public Hospital, aged 27, similarly killed. Both bodies were privately interred to-day. RECOMMENDATIONS, ADOPTED Press Association. —Copyright. HASTINGS, This Day. The following recommendations i made by the Hastings advisory committee to the Hastings Borough Council were adopted by the council at a special meeting this morning:— That it is desirable that the business people of the town should, where practicable, take immediate steps to recommence business in order that ordinary living may be resumed. That the public be notified through the Press that it is undesirable that women and children should return in the meantime. That the local authority views with disfavour the entry into the town of professional and business men outside Hastings, seeking business over the heads of local distressed citizens

whose businesses Have been disorganised. That public notifications be made to citizens that any appearance of profiteering will be dealt with by the continuation of the municipal store until such time as normal trading is sufficiently resumed to allow competition to ensure reasonable prices. That to facilitate the employment of local labour, the Government be approached to suspend the existing awards in the devastated area, and lay down a maximum wage not exceeding the present award rates, also that penalties be laid down to avoid offering or accepting of more than the maximum, also that less than the maximum may be legally offered and accepted. That the period of retention of temporary buildings be extended to two years. That an urgent wire be sent to the Native Minister asking what is to be done for the relief of natives in the country districts.

COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED NAPIER AND HASTINGS A wireless message received at 2.45 p.m. stated that the shock caused no additional casualties in Napier or Hastings. Teelgraph comunication with those centres is interrupted.

NAPIER AND HASTINGS The Postmaster at Hastings wired at 3.20 p.m.:—"Everything O.K. in Napier. Telegraph communication restored in a very short time. Two shakes were felt, one at 1.28 p.m. and 2.10 p.m.