SEVERE SHAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 February 1931, Page 9

SEVERE SHAKE

FEW MINOR CASUALTIES WEAKENED WALLS TOTTER SOME NARROW ESCAPES FURTHER FALLS OF LAND By Telegraph.-—Press Association. 1 Napier, Laat Night. The severest shake since the one that de/astated Napier and Hastings was recorded at. 1.30 p.m,. to-day. The shake was slow and more gentle than the first, but it lasted over a minute. It brought down a further large portion of Bluff Hill and caused walls in the ruined business area to totter. Several minor injuries are reported affecting men working in tho city area. Several men were sent to a dressing station.

Dr. Moore’s hospital took a further backward cant. All the work of clearing the town stopped temporarily, but was resumed after a period. Many narrow escapes from falling walls and buildings are reported. Tho whole coast southward was buried in clouds of dust.

Waipukurau reports an exceptionally heavy shake. The buildings rocked ominously. There were no casualties. The municipal theatre is still a source of danger. Chimneys which have mostly been re-built since the fateful Tuesday are safe. Minor damage was caused to tradesmen’s stock.

Waipawa was apparently lees fortunate, a number of chimneys being razed. Tho Wanstead district was severely shaken. The pupils of the primary and secondary schools at Waipukurau safely evacuated the buildings. The residents were terrified but there was no unseemly panic. In the opinion of many the shake was worse than that on Febrmry 3. Following the big quake at 1.30 sev-’ eral minor siiocks were recorded at Napier, but they did not cause alarm. L'olenso Hill was affected, a fair-sized slip occurring. The telegraphic services and electric supply were severed for a time but they were restored late in the afternoon. A large number of residents, including a fair proportion of women, returned o to-day, although the authorities continue to discourage the return of women and children. A particularly sharp but short shock was i experienced at 9 o’clock to-night but the movement was not heavy enough to do material damaged . • The employees of the Napier Gas Company had a narrow escape in the' big earthquake to-day in the company’s Hastings Street building. They had just got out ' of the building when the walls caved in. „ Wairoa reports a particularly ■ severe shock at 1.30 p.m. It was almost as heavy as that of last week but was of shorter duration. Several of less intensity followed. The 'people were. <»rcatly alarmed and rushed into the streets but little damage was done. The hydro-electric branch of the Public Works Department reports that the Taradale sub-station reported that pow-. er from Waikaremoana, which was restored yesterday afternoon, ceased to-, day shortly after 1.30. The shake at Taradale was severe. The Railway Department reports: ‘‘No 'communication north of Orinpndville. Wires are interrupted and information is that this shake has extended over a wider area than the former one.” Although the Waikaremoana power failed just after 1.30 p.m. to-day the break was attacked expeditiously and the Public Works advised late to-night that the power had been restored at 9 p.m. -