ALARMING EARTHQUAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1931, Page 4

ALARMING EARTHQUAKE

GISBORNE DISTRICT SHAKEN CHIMNEYS WRECKED AT NUHAKA. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE RECORDED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. An earthquake at 3.3 this morning was felt particularly in the country districts of Poverty Bay. At Gisborne buildings rocked alarmingly and much excitement was caused, 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 the shops, ' The arc of the earthquake was practically the same as that of the heavy shock on May 7, extending from Tokomaru Bay to below Wairoa. The centre of the disturbance is believed to have been near Nuhaka and Morere, 20 miles north of Wairoa toward Gisborne. Chimneys, tanks and crockery were Badly damaged in this locality. At Nuhaka the shake lasted 45 se?’ onds and oscillations continued until after 7 o’clock this morning. The shake is considered to be next in severity to that on February 3. At the Omana native pa, Nuhaka, the power lines were wrenched from the buildings. Heavy shakes were experienced in the Wharerata, Mangapoiki and Tiniroto districts, 28 or 30 miles inland from Gisborne. At Mangapoiki homesteads were shifted slightly on their blocks. At Hangaroa minor shakes followwing the 3 o’clock jolt continued all to-day, but as far as can be gathered there is very little damage beyond broken chimneys. Waingake reports that the shake w T as the worst yet experienced. No chimney is left standing in the district, and a number of windows broken. In some houses cooking ranges were movedHeavy losses in crockery are reported on all stations near Waingake. A prominent resident estimated that about 80 shakes had been experienced since the big shake on February 3, and from 6 to 7.45 to-night ten distinct shakes were experienced. ' A Wairoa message says a heavy and prolonged earthquake was experienced there. It roused people from sleep and greatly frightened them. Buildings rocked alarmingly for some time. IMinor shakes at frequent intervals followed for four hours. No damage is reported.