THE EARTHQUAKES IN THE AMURI DISTRICT.

Colonist, Volume XXXI, Issue 5313, 7 September 1888, Page 4

THE EARTHQUAKES IN THE AMURI DISTRICT.

AN AWFUL NIGHT AT WOODBANK. (From the «Lyttelton Times.') Mr W. Atkinson writes :*-" At a quarter past four on Satarday morning the inmates at Woodbank residence, Hanrner Piains, were awoke by a most severe shock of earthquake, and it was only with difficulty that they managed, after tramping over a quantity of broken glass, bricks. &c, and almost deafenocl by the rumbling noise and falling debris, to find, escape, nearly all the entrances being blocked by wreckage from the brick portion cf the building, of which one eide and end completely fell out. The otb.6r side and end were supported by the verandah, wooden building, and staircase, which prevented the roof falling, thus allowing those in. the brick parfc to escape. All furniture, &c, ia a total wreck, and nothing tow remains but complete ruin. .The men's hut, a large, strong cob and iron building, is quite destroyed, one man being injured. Fires were lighted, and euoh blankets as were possible to obtain from the wooden building, were procured for those shivering from cold and fright. At daylight, with much difficulty, clothing was recovered from the ruins. It was a most disuial sight, and only those who unfortunately experienced it can have any conception of the dreadiul sentation caused through the upheaving aod incessant shocks which continued at intervals of five minutes up to the time of departure at 10 a.m." Our Waikari correspondent telegraphs:—l have just seen Mr Woa. Atkinson, junr, of Woodbank, who says that the road round Horseshoe Lake, going to Glyun Wye, has been thrown clean into the lake. ri he gas escaping through fissures at Hanmer Plains can be lighted with a match. In the Upper Waiau Gorge the ground is very much disturbed, the whole surface being altered. The wire netting on the rabbit fence crossing the Hanmer Plains, and between St. Helen's and Woodbank, was thrown clean away from the fence. Mr Atkinson's home is uninhabitable. The ground is still continually shaking. Daring the first shock on Satar. day loud reports, as if big guns were going off, were continually audible. He observed a light on the hills in the direction of Cannibal Gorge. The Horseshoe Lake is situate about a quarter of a mile from the Glynn ' Wye homestead, and i 3 about three acres in extent. It is a peculiarly constructed lake, as it has steep reeky Bides, and is in- most parts forty foot deep. The water is crystal clear, and when used /or drinking is found extremely palatable. Some years ago when a Commission, consisting of Messrs Eollea'on, C. Whiiefoord, J. T. JBrowu aad others, was proceeding to the Weefc Coast, they made an inpptcticn of the lake, and pronounced it an admirable place for the introduction ofthe Californian troot, and some steps were taken for their introduction, but it ia cot known whether they have been successfully carried out. The lake has, however, one exceptional peculiarity, in the shape of a floating island, bearing fruits, and native products. This is about thirty feet in length, by-tix or eight in breadth, and is guided in its location by the prevailing winds, ; fcitnate as it is about sixteen miles beyond the Upper Waiau ferry, it has not many visitors, but in any other portion of the world would be a great attraction. In any case the disfigurement of such a freak of nature is to bo regretted.