“NOTHING LIKE IT BEFORE”

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1929, Page 12

“NOTHING LIKE IT BEFORE”

EARTHQUAKE EXPLOSIONS. KARAMEA SETTLER’S RECORD. “What we have been through must have been experienced to be believed,” said Mr. Charles Lineham, a resident of Arapito, five miles east of Karamea, writing on June 25, nearly a fortnight after'the great earthquake. Regarding the repeated earthquake shocks and noises, Mr. Lineham said: — “I can safely say that nothing like it has ever occurred in the history of the Dominion. The repeated explosions appear to come from the west-south-west, right out at sea. Whenever there are explosions the shakes are less severe, and when they come without warning they generally give us something that makes us start for the open air. This is now the twelfth day, and we have not had our clothes off to sleep. ‘‘Some shocks are like jerks, as if one was at the end of a rope. Some are jars, as if a battering ram was at work. The rumbles are distinct explosions, apparently, like blasting. In addition to these there is at intervals a regular waving motion of the earth. A three-days’ record of shocks felt will give some idea of what we are going through. “Tuesday, 25th.—7.30 p.m.,_ sight •shake; 7.40, heavy shake; 9.15, sharp and prolonged shake. “Wednesday, 26th.—1.40 p.m., heavy double shake; 1.50, slight tremor; 1.a7, slight tremor; 2.10, slight shake; -.a > slight shake; 7, shake with rumble; 7.30, rumble with sharp jar; 7.32, rumble with shake; 8.40, shake; B.oa, rumble and shake; 10.50, rumble and shake. “Thursday, 27th. —12.40 a.m., rum e with shake, heavy thunderstorms; L4a, 0.12, 6.32, rumbles and shakes; p.m., slight shake; 6.50, fair shakd; 8.45, heavy double shake, . pio 01 j° e ’ 9.10, slight shake; 10.45, slight shake. “Friday, 28th.—2.45 a.m., report and shake; 3.20, report and shake, two .hg shakes; 3.40, shake; 4.20, 4.21, rumble and shakes; 5.30, two reports and a shake; 5.50, report with shake, 6 , tremor; 6.15, report with shake, 6Ab, 6.17, 6.18, loud explosions; 6.34, sudden jar; 6.55, report with shake; • , shake; 9.5, sudden jar; 11.40, shake, 12.20 p.m., jar.”