SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 6 March 1934, Page 5

SEVERE EARTHQUAKE.

* Throughout New Zealand. WAIRARAPA HEAVILY JOLTED. Considerable Properly Damage.

CARTERTON’S EXPERIENCE. CARTERTON, This Day. The most severe earthquake experienced in Carterton since 1904 occurred at 11.49 o ’clock last night. It commenced lightly but worked up to great intensity. The movement at first was slightly undulating, then rotary, and up and down with general move- , ment west to east, which is unusual in district, the general direction bowling from south-east to north-west. The goods in several shops were thrown from the shelves. A number of chimneys of private houses were damaged but no serious losses were reported. Grey town, Featherston and Martinborough suffered fallen chimneys. Mrs Len Grenthead, of Grey town, who had been suffering from heart trouble for some time past, collapsed ■during the terrifying experience and died at 3 o’clock. The whole district came through the ordeal very well indeed, the worst damage, besides chimneys, being hot water cisterns having water thrown out, thus spoiling ceiling papers. EKETAHUNA’S SEVEREST SHOCK. DAMAGE FAIRLY EXTENSIVE. EKETAHUNA, This Day. The severest shake was recorded last night at 11.45, with succeeding minor shocks through the night. The. damage was fairly extensive and included the Municipal Buildings, badly cracked, and the Power Board buildings, partly subsided at the rear. r It is estimated that fully 75 per cent, fc'of the town’s chimneys are down and ™ most of the remainder are more or less screwed round. Windows were broken and furniture in houses displaced. In many instances crockery, etc., was broken in a wholesale manner. The stock in Priest’s chemist shop is practically ruined, scarcely a bottle being left on the shelves. The schools are closed to-day o’u account of unsafe chimneys. The railway service is interrupted because of twisted rails between Woodville and Masterton. It is reported that there is damage to roads in several localities but no particulars are available yet.

PAHIATUA SUFFERS. GREAT DAMAGE. A TRAGIC HAPPENING. PAHIATUA, This Day. A terrifying earthquake, lasting nearly two minutes, shortly before midnight, was the worst in this disL trict.’s history. p In the business area the damage runs into thousands of pounds. Many firms were affected. Chimneys are down all over the eoimfry and the effect of the. quake is apparent in hundreds of homes. There were numerous other shakes at intervals. The whole district was plunged into ■darkness through disruption of electric power. Phone lines are partly down along either side of the main street. At the outset communication north of Palliatua was cut off and only with the greatest difficulty was »outside news gleaned. There was a tragic occurrence when. Mr Andrew Pringle, a leading business ■ man, who had been seriously ill,, was making a hurried exit from his resid- J once when he heard a crash, collapsed and died. The firms which suffered most are: W.F.C.A., merchants, Oxley Buildings, W. Hall Watson, dentist, A. K. Timms, chemist, L. Hartley, draper, Efl Badger, stationer, H. Taylor, hairdresser, W. 11. Murcli, ironmonger, shop owned by Mrs David Crewe, Yates and Co. stores, W. Woodward, chemist, A. Rnbinoyitz, L draper, W. H. Purdie, dentist, M ong Ilee, fruiterer, E. Cosford, tobacconist, B. Mills, secopd-hand dealer, S. Judd, proprietor Mayfair Hall, Tara run Power Board Offices, and Y. C. loung, fruiterer. SEVERE AT WOODVILLE. SLEEPERS THROWN FROM BEDS. WOODVILLE, This Day. Woodvillc was rocked by the w'orst earthquake in living memory last night. No one was injured, but the property damage runs into many thousands of pounds. The first shock, at 11.48 p.m., awakened all sleepers, throwing some from their beds. Practically every chimney in the town and district is down, while others are now unsound. Crockery was broken wholesale. The worst damage is in the business area, where stock was thrown from shelves and plate-glass windows were 3 smashed. Parapets have fallen, also brick walls, and some were rendered so unsafe that they will have to be removed. ‘lm The Club Hotel chimney crashed to the kitchen, which was com- / pletelv wrecked. A chimney of the Masonic Hotel went through the vestibule and roof of the Kosy Theatre adjoining. Grocers and chemists are the heaviest losers, practically everything moveable being thrown to the floor and smashed. The damaged stock is estimated at over £IOOO. Galbraith’s store had six plate glass windows cracked. Most of the other shops had windows cracked or broken. Reports from the country district state that chimneys and crockery were wrecked. Cracks have opened on some roads •and at bridge approaches. The borough water and gas services are intact. Grinlinton’s (furnishers) double chimney crashed through two floors, faking with it a wardrobe and embedding itself in the ground. Minor shocks followed the first earth-

WANGANUI ROCKED

BUILDINGS DAM AGE D

quake. Manv people walked the Streets throughout the night. RAILWAY HOLD-UP. * - NORTH OF MASTERTON. WELLINGTON, This Day. The only serious hold-up of railway traffic, it is stated by the Railway Department, is on that portion of the track between Masterton and Woodville, and at 10.40 this morning the Department was unable to give any definite information of when traffic would be resumed, though it is not anticipated it will be long. This is the only portion of the track on which the train running is actually suspended. The track between Paraparaumu and Waikanae, on the Wellington-Palmers-ton line, was affected at the time of the quake and goods trains were held up, but the line was clear for the Limited this morning. There was slight damage to the approach of the bridge'near the Manawatu Gorge but it was anticipated that this line would be clear within an hour.

It is reported that the southern approach to the Kopua viaduct has sunk six inches.

The ganger reports that a small bridge near Mauricevillc has sunk and the track is suspended in the air for about half a chain.

There have been several small slips and buckling of the lines in several places between Mangatainoka and llukanui. WELLINGTON ALARMED. WELLINGTON, Monday. An extremely severe earthquake shock was experienced in Wellington at 1.50 to-night. Buildings rocked alarmingly but so far as ascertainable at present there is little damage. — (P-A.) CIRCULAR MOVEMENT. QUAKE GENERAL. WELLINGTON, Monday. In the centre of the city some windows arc reported smashed and crockery damaged. The earthquake seemed to have a circular movement and was not preceded by any smaller shocks. The lights flickered in Wellington, but the power supply did not fail. Napier and Hastings felt the shock but no damage is reported. The quake was felt as far north as Auckland and in the South Island, but onlv slightly. The Telegraph Office reports that it has been in communication with most centres by telephone and beyond a few chimneys down and minor damage, the effect of the shake was not severe. Telegraph communication, however, is interrupted in the north and difficulty is being experienced in getting messages tlirorugh. — (F.A.) ALARM IN PALMERSTON. PEOPLE RUSH INTO STREETS. PALMERSTON NORTH, Monday. The severest shake in the history of Palmerston North was felt at 11.47. It was a most terrifying experience. The whole population rushed into the streets. The Square was crowded with cars, people besieging the Post Office and the morning newspaper office. There has been damage to chimneys and to shop interiors, but the full extent will not be known till the morning.—(P.A.)

WANGANUI, Monday

-V violent earthquake rocked A\ nngamii at 11.46 o’clock to-night, causing some damage to buildings, bringing down numerous chimneys and blocking the main street in parts with -broken tramway power lines. No loss of life is reported. The main centre of the damn;; appears to be at the Rutland Hotel corner where a portion of the verandah collapsed and the building cracked m front. , . ... The college buildings and hospital are reported to be all safe.—(F.A.j SERIES OF SHAKES. FEILDING'S EXPERIENCE. FEILDING, This Day. The most severe earthquake in Fending’s history occurred at twelve minutes before midnight. . . | Though onlv minor personal injuries were received by one resident very ’ considerable damage was done to buildings. . , ' The quake began with no previous 'warning, and quickly developed into an ; alarming fore and aft movement, which continued for probably a minute. I AH the electric lights failed immediatelv, though only for a couple of minutes. , , I A second shake quite as severe tolI lowed. These continued till this morning with considerable bumps at 3 a.in. land 9 a.m. 1 Dozens of chimneys are down at residences. , I The principal damage m the business 'area was when a parapet of the .Tubiliee Buildings (owned by the Borough I Council) collapsed through the verani dali. The debris scattered right across the street. , Part of the parapet ot Hastie s Hotel fell right on to the fire escape ladIder. Fortunately no one was attempting to escape that way at the moPart of the parapet of the Salvation Army citadel was also thrown into the I plate glass windows of shops 'were broken. Residents were greatly alarmed and rushed to the streets, later spending a most uncomfortable night

with repeated shakes. In one case the chimney bricks fell through a skylight on to the bed occupied by a lady who received minor injuries.—(P.A.) FOXTON BADLY SHAKEN. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. FOXTON, This Day. The severest earthquake in the history of Foxton occurred at 11.48 o’clock last night. Considerable damage was done to house chimneys and contents. No injuries are reported. The business area is strewn with glass from plate glass windoys, hardly a shop escaping damage. . The Town Ilall is seriously damaged, the top of the back brick wall being cracked and crumpled. The railway line is t*wisted and the rails snapped in several places. The goods shed has dropped about a foot on the west side. Cracks occurred along the wharf frontage at the beach and blow holes occurred on the river flat, where sand and debris were blown out. The flat is now unsafe for traffic. One car was bogged. Some campers had an unenviable experience. The water swept up the old river flat within a few seconds, forcing the to seek refuge on the sand hills where they spent the night. Houses are not greatly damaged but their occupants had a terrifying experience.

The Wliirokino bridge, on the Wel-lington-Auckland Main Highway, is unsafe for traffic.

The approaches to Shannon bridge on the Foxton-Shanon Highway, have been raised six inches but the bridge is safe for traffic. ■*

DAMAGE AT PORANGAHAU. WAIPUKURAU, This Day. A severe earthquake was experienced in the Waipukurau district at 11.45 o ’clock last night, of fairly lengthy duration, with a swaying motion and an absence of the jolting characteristic of 1931; consequently there was no damage. People were .considerably alarmed. There was another quake, of lesser sevreity, ten minutes later, also minor tremors, one notably at 5 o’clock. The Porangahau area suffered damage. A number of chimneys arc down, while others arc cracked. Tanks were upset and burst and crockery was broken. MILD AT NAPIER. ' NO DAMAGE. NAPIER, This Day. • Last night’s earthquake did no damage at Napier. The motion was slow and the period of the movement was about thirty seconds. WAIKATO SHAKEN. ARAPUNI UNDAMAGED. HAMILTON, This Day. One of the most severe and prolonged shocks for many years.was experienced in the Waikato district at 11.49 o’clock last evening. Many residents were wakened by the noise of windows and fixtures rattling. No material damage is reported.

Reports from Awapuni state that a severe shock was felt at the dam and power house and falls. They were inspected to-day, but no damage is evident. DANNEVIRKE’S ANXIOUS NIGHT. MANY HOMES VACATED. DANNEVIRKE, This Day. From twelve minutes to midnight Dannevirke and surrounding districts spent an anxious night, due to a series of quakes, varying in intensity. The first shock was the worst and was very severe and lasted a long time, the movement being very violent and the noise in the buildings very alarming. Many residents temporarily vacated their homes. Fortunately no individuals, so far as is known, suffered injury. It was fortunate that the quake occurred when the streets were practically deserted, otherwise the probabilities are that there would have been narrow escapes, if not fatalities.; Early this morning a survey of the town disclosed widespread structural damage, though comparatively not severe.

The parapet of the ‘‘Evening News” building, which successfully withstood the earthquake of 1931, crashed into the parapet of the Do Luxe Dance Hall in Gordon Street, which came down through the balcony and littered the footpath. Part of the parapet of the National Bank fell on a garden seat in the Post Office Square, and smashed into pieces this popular rendezvous during daytime.

The Do Luxe picture theatre sustained some damage to the parapets at its back portion, and buildings in the business portion of the main thoroughfare suffered in various ways, some being cracked, some apparently slightly tilted, and others having windows broken. Many articles in various places were thrown from shelves and the contents littered on the floors. The building which seems to have suffered most seriously is the Town Hall, a big brick building. DARKNESS AT BLENHEIM. NO DAMAGE REPORTED. BLENHEIM, This Day. Last night’s earthquake was felt here. The quake stopped the town clock and plunged the province into darkness for a quarter of an hour, but no damage is NO DAMAGE AT NELSON. NELSON, This Day. The earthquake caused no damage here but the Post Office clock stopped. FELT IN WESTLAND. IN NO WAY VIOLENT. GREYMOUTII, Monday. An earthquake lasting about twenty seconds but in nowise violent was experienced at Greymouth at. 11.50 p.m. The ’quake was also felt in the Duller district. — (P.A.) ASHBURTON MILDLY SURPRISED. ASHBURTON, This Day. Most people got a surprise this morning when they found that the town clock had stopped, and learned that all clocks in jewellers’ shops had been stopped at’ 11.50 o’clock last night.

TERRIFIC SHOCKS RECORDED. (Received Tuesday, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The seismograph at the Riverview Observatory began to register earthquake shocks at 9.52 last night. The needle was almost torn off the face of the instrument, and continued to register until after midnight. Father O’Leary was forced to stand by the instrument in order to prevent the terrific shocks causing damage to it. He said: “If an earthquake occurred in anv populated area, great loss and widespread damage would result.” RECORDED IN SYDNEY.

"MOST DISASTROUS IN HISTORY” SYDNEY, Monday. The Riverview Observatory late _ tonight recorded one of the most disastrous earthquakes in history, 1500 miles from Sydney, in the vicinity of New Zealand. The newspapers are. clamouring for news from New Zealand. - . DAMAGE IN MASTERTON. CHIMNEYS CRASH. BUILDINGS CRACKED. WINDOWS BROKEN IN QUEEN ST. At 11.50 o’clock last night Masterton experienced the worst earthquake recorded during the past thirty years. It was of such violence that residents generally expected that the business portion "of the town would collapse in ruins, and that there would be a scene of desolation equal to that of the Napier disaster. The sensation was like riding on a tractor over rough country. It is probable that no one in the district, except those who were residents of Napier at the time of the upheaval there, ever experienced a more terrorimposing ordeal. The first shock lasted the best part of a minute, and was followed a little later by two other shocks of lesser violence and duration. Everywhere throughout the borough lights were switched on or lighted, and people in a large number of cases hurried out into the open. Business men rushed into town, expecting the worst. Queen Street was alive with people in a short while, and considerable relief was felt when it was ascertained that the damage was not as great as many expected. Several shops in the street suffered damage, and the footpath in places was strewn with glass and fragments of brickwork and cement. Several of the large plate-glass windows in the shop front of Messrs Hugo and Shearer, Ltd., were broken, while shop windows in Messrs Elliott and Co.’s and the Polar Fur Co.’s premises were badly cracked, as was also one window in the premises of Messrs S. A. Mills and Sou. In Wood’s Pharmacy a considerable ■ quantity of goods wei;e shaken from -the shelves. Windows m the premises of Messrs 11. E. Pither, Watson and Co., and J. V. Gordon, were also smashed. The back portion of Messrs Elliott and Co.’s building was badly cracked, and a portion of the brickwork at the rear of the H.B. building collapsed. The peculiar part of the window damage is that, with the exception of one shop, all the breakages in the business section occurred on the cast side of Queen Street. Part of a brick partition wall at the back of the machine room in ‘‘The Age” office collapsed, and some bales of paper and other heavy articles aacio thrown down. A heavy piece of ornamental brickwork on the parapet of Page’s building crashed in fragments to the footpath. Tke parapet on Allan’s building on one side fell on to the fire escape of the Empire Hotel, and there are cracks in Watson’s building over the doorway. ’ - A portion of the brickwork at the rear of the Opera House came down, crashing through the wooden part: at the rear. The Masterton Post Office clock stopped at exactly 11.50 p.m., and a subsequent inspection disclosed that the force of the shock had swung the pendulum out of plumb and badly bent the gravity arm. The. clock was again put in operation by Mr Bradbury a little after noon. In the Post Office itself there are some cracks in the walls, while plaster came down in some of the rooms. The wisencss of the policy of strengthening the clock tower was demonstrated by the way it withstood the strain which was certainly the most severe that the tower has had to withstand. In Church Street the wash-house copper in one house was whirled out of its setting by the force of the shake and hurled ten feet away. The. chimney, however, withstood the shake. Two large statues in the Convent Chapel at Masterton were broken, but otherwise no damage was done. In Essex Street one cnimney partly collapsed? The worst constructional damage appears to have been done to the top portion of the building at the corner rf Queen and Perry Streets, owned by Mrs B. R. Bunny. While the interior of the shop below, ’ occupied by Mr Bert Page, escaped without a single bottle being broken or article displaced, and with no damage to the bottom portion of the building, the top part contains several large cracks, and the building has been roped off. The back portion of the business piemiscs of Mr W. Saunders received a severe wrench, and there are several bad cracks in the back portion of the building. The telephone staff at the Masterton Post Office was kept going at lightning pace this morning. Five operators, working coolly and with remarkable quickness, answered all inquiries and gave a, service to a somewhat impatient public, desiring to get in touch with relatives or friends in other districts. in a manner that did them infinite credit and demonstrated that the service can rise to the occasion and prove its undoubted worth in a time of emergency. A number of the plate glass windows which were smashed in Queen Street were insured but it is stated that some were not covered. A DESOLATE SCENE.

At the residence of Mrs (J. C. Eamsden (Rangitumau) considerable damage was done, the chimneys being down, and as an occupant stated they had to dig their way into the kitchen through bricks, wrecked furniture, broken jam jars and smashed crockery. It is stated that every chimney in the Rangitumau district except two or three are down. The early morning train novla «his 'morning was held up owing to damage to a bridge at Mnuriceville. CHIMNEYS COLLAPSE. In the suburban area a number of chimneys collapsed and other damage 'of a minor degree was done. In Lincoln Road ten chimneys at least are

down. In scores of cases crockeryivare and ornaments Avere not CA y en disturbed from the shelves. The violence of the shake caused hot Avater cisterns to overflotv and damage ceiling paper. Large numbers of people tvho motored, cycled or Avalked into town Avere agreeably surprised to see the business buildings still standing. At one residence three chimneys came doAvn, and at another tAVO chimneys, the bricks from one falling through into a bedroom. TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES. The shock Avas severely felt at To Ore Ore, Avhere considerable damage Avas done to chimneys ancl the contents of houses. Mr and Mrs S. Cooper and family had a terrifying experience, chimneys collapsing and the contents of the.house being throAvn in all directions, while, to make matters worse, the electric light failed. In the Mauriceville and Wangachu districts considerable damage Avas done to chimneys and to household goods. There are cracks in tAvo or three places on the road from Ihuraua to Mauriceville, and also in roads in various parts of the district to the north of Masterton. At Wangaeliu a settler Avas throAvn out of bed, and there arc chimneys doAvn everyAvhere, as Avell as Avater-tanks. At Honiebush the shock Avas very severe, and did minor damage. The electric light failing made matters Avorse. The shock Avas very long and severe in the Gladstone district. Most of the chimneys and tanks are down, and many roofs damaged through the falling bricks. It is reported that the shock was not felt at Tupurupuru. All the chimneys Avere broken off by the earthquake at ‘‘Waipipi, ” the residence of Mr O. A. Bunny, of Opaki. SEVERE AT KAITUNA.

The shock Avas very severe at Kaituna, considerable damage being done through falling chimneys. At the residence of Mr J. Stempa all the crockery and other household goods of a fragile nature tvere thrown down by the shake and smashed. HOUSE TWISTED. Mr 11. McKenzie’s residence, ‘•Hillend,” at Bideford, was badly damaged. All the chimneys came doAvn and the house Avas twisted out of shape. A sleeping porch has broken away from the house, and the foundation of the chimneys haA-e sunk about three or four feet. . The pantry Avas a scene of desolation. An electric stove in the house Avas Avrenched out of its setting, and jams, crockery, eggs, etc., being mixed in indescribable confusion. SeA*cral slips occurred on the hillside and on the road. WORST IN MEMORY. At Taueru the shack Avas the Avorst felt in the memory of the residents. Many homes suffered considerable damage to furniture and crockery, partly through falling chimneys of Avliich there are A'ery feAV standing on the Masterton side of the Taueru. There are some deep cracks in the road and both ends of the Taueru bridge are cracked. BADLY DAMAGED. The premises occupied by Messrs Joy and Donald, tailors, Avere badly damaged at the back as the result of a chimney falling into the Avorkroom. It is fortunate that the shock occurred at night or otlierAvise there may haA'e been a tragedy in the Avorkroom. One large part of the chimney fell through the roof on to a chair Avliich is usually occupied by one of the Avorkers. reported. ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE.

It is computed that the damage done by the earthquake in the Masterton district amounts to many thousands of pounds. , LOSS OF STOCK.

The loss of stock in Masterton shops OAving to the earthquake amounts to a considerable sum, the inside of many of the shops being a scene of desolation, Avith broken bottles, glassAvare, etc.’ In. one joAveller’s AvindoAV some expensive china cups and saucers and other c-hina-Avnre and glassware Avere broken. CRACKS IN ROADS. The shock Avas seA'ere at Castlepoint, some chimneys being doAvn, but otlierAvise no damage is reported. At AVhakataki damage Avas caused by falling chimneys. There is no serious damage to the roads, except long cracks in the road adjacent to a creek about an inch Avide for seA’eral chains, through Avliich the water is oozing. POWER STATION WRECKED. The earthquake Avas A’ery seA'ere at Pongaroa, Avhere considerable damage is reported. There is not a chimney nor a tank left standing, and many people Avere shaken out of their beds. Mr Yeoman’s residence AA’as badly damaged by falling chimneys, and the Avails are Avarped. There Avere no casualties. The Akitio PoAver Station is a completc Avreek, and the Makuri Gorge is blocked. The road from Pongaroa for about tAvclA’O miles doAvn to Avhat is known as the Summit, is badly cracked and a number of slips are doAvn. The road further north and south does not show any signs of damage. The staff of the Pongaroa Post Office Avorked all night, and Avere most courteous and obliging to the enquiring residents. DAMAGE AT GLENDONALD. Considerable damage is reported from the Glendonald district, Avhere chimneys are down and houses damaged, while cracks have appeared in some of the roads. DAMAGE AT MARTINBOROUGH. A prolonged shake Avas felt at Martinborough and considerable minor damage Avas done to the business houses through crockery, goods, etc., fr.ling from the shelves. LONGBUSH SUFFERS.

There is not a chimney left standing at Longbush as a result of the earthquake, Avhich Avas the most seA’ere oaci felt in the district. The residence ot Mr K. Scott suffered severely, the furniture, crockery, etc., all being broken or damaged by the falling of the clnmnevs, and the Avails are Avarped. Messrs IV. 11. and George Budd also suffered considerable loss.. The roads at Longbush, in the Fcatherston County, have several cracks a foot wide for half a chain in Severn pieces. A heaA’y slip has come doAvn off the Foreman property and blocked the Whakaroa Creek. BROKEN WINDOWS. Forty-nine panes of glass Avere broken in the central portion of Queen Street by the earthquake. RESIDENCE DAMAGED. The residence of Mr J. James, of Wangachu, Avas badly damaged by the earthquake, through falling chimneys. Outbuildings AVOrO also damaged. ANOTHER SHOCK. A seA’ere but short jolt Avas felt at 9.3 o’clock this morning.-