EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXX, Issue 8451, 16 May 1906, Page 5

EXTRAORDINARY PHENOMENON.

___ ♦—— : Subterranean Subsidence at Newcastle. Three Hundred Acres Affected. Brick-built Residences Seriously Damaged. Alarm among the Inhabitants. Residences Evacuated. Injury to Forts and Gun Mountings. Water and Gas Mains Twisted and Broken. Water Escaping from the Main Reservoir. (Received To-day, at 9JO a.m.) Sydney, This Day. A sensational subsidence occurred at Newcastle, last night, on Shepherd's Hill, which forms one of the most favoured residential sites, and occupies a position adjacent, to tho underground workings of the Sea coal pit. It is surmised that a " creep " has taken place in some portion of the workings, causing the surface to be rent and buckled. About three hundred acres havo suffered. Terrace-street is considerably affected by the subsidence. The houses are mostly of brick and every one of them is more or less damaged, while the water and gas-mains are twisted and broken. The residonts of the Hill felt the earth trembling, the effect being most severe about half way up Terrace-street. The walls of the houses were thrown out of plumb, the cracks ranging up to two inches wide. The lawns and back-yards aro lined with crevices. The residents quickly evacuated their homes, many seeking refuge with relatives or at hotels in the city. The masonry of the forts is cracked in places, and much injury has been caused to the gun mountings. Viewed from any point, it seems as if the whole hill has lost its foundation and subsided a couple of inches. Tho rupture of the water-mains drained a high-pressure tank, containing several thousand gallons, on the apex of the hill. The water has not come to the surface, but has found its way underground. A further subsidence is feared. The water is escaping fast from the main reservoir in the town, and a gang of men are endeavouring to stop the overflow.