AN EARTHQUAKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 January 1926, Page 5

AN EARTHQUAKE.

4 —•— ' PELT IN' MASTERTON. Yesterday afternoon, at 3.3?. o'clock, IMasterton experienced a prolonged •earth, tremor. The quake commenced mildly, then, earns a fairly severe movement, and, .after a pause of stillness, a mild treiiior earns again. No damage is repotted. . SEVEBE IN WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph —Pre93 Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. A Very sharp earthquake was experienced in Wellington to-day at 3.33 p.m. I.worst experienced for 20 years. It is estimated to be one of the It lasted from 10 to 15 seconds. There were two distinct movements, a mild shake serving as an introduction to a tremor. High buildings on Lambton Quay, Heatherst on street, Jervois Quay arid other quarters on reclaimed land were visibly rocked by the ’quake. , Workers on the top of the Gemma,l Pest Office had an .unpleasant experience, as the huge building showed considerable movement. The ground floor '•veiling cracked in' the sorting office, and 5n other places plaster fell to the floor. In the State Fire Buildings the shake caused some alarm. Pillars on the ground floor vibrated with the shock, and hanging lamps swayed for some time. The records of the Government Seismologist (Dr. A dams) .will not. be available until to-morrow. BINGING OF FIBEBELL. When !thc earthquake, was at its worst during the few seconds it lasted yesterday afternoon the fire bell rang in the Lower Hutt Fire Station, and the brigade, immediately dashed out with the new motor 'engine recently purchased by the borough. djMhere was no fire to quench, ' howthe bell having started to ring at the instigation of • the shaking ground. A CLOSE SHAVE. Turn detectives had a narrow escape in Tory street, Wellington, yesterday afternoon, when a chimney fell during the violent earth tremor and came crashing down suddenly at their feet. Detectives Murray and Thear were walking past at the time, but momentarily stopped ns the earth began to shake around them. The next thing they knew was a loud crash as bricks and mortar came whizzing down to the footpath in front of them. FELT IN OTHES PLACES. Wanganui reports that a long but mild shock was experienced there about .3 p.m. The tremors lasted fully a minute. • . ■ "between 3.15 and 3.35 three distinct Akt slight shocks were exper-eneed in jßuniarunui. The «adeks were only i’elt in residences, where steady croaking for two or three seconds on each -occasion warned the inmates. A sharp shock was felt at Greymouth at 3.35 p.m. A very slight shock was felt by a few people in Christchurch. Many city people were unaware that there was an earth.quake, but at- Sumne. the Presidents felt it more distinctly.