THE LATE EARTHQUAKE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3042, 6 September 1870, Page 4

THE LATE EARTHQUAKE.

FrOU our southern files wo gather tho following particulars respecting the late earthquake shocks that were felt in various parts of the South Island, on the 30th ult. The " Lyttelton Times" says :— -Amongst tho most noticabio instances of damage in Christ-cbm-ck are the displacement o£ the stone cross on the oast end of tho roof of St. John's Church, and the opening of all tho old cracks in tho walls of the building. The general stability does not appear to be materially injured. At Avonsido j one or two chimneys have fallen, and that at tho Eailway Station. About three feet of the upper portion of one of tho chimneys has been slewed round out of the Bquare between two and three inches. Tho shock was severely felt in the Opawa district. * ! The Town Hall is reported uninjured, but tho committco have requested a rigid examination, j At the Canterbury Meat Preserving Company's works, on the Southern Railway lino, tho vibration of the eavth caused the tall brick chimney to sway to and fro. At Lyttelton a heavy gust of wind preceded the earthquake, and the people are described as being nearly demented for a short time. A chimnoy at the Rev. F. Knowlee' parsonago was thrown down, and fell on the roof of tho house, Buiashing the slates. Another chimney was turned half round, but did not fall. A chimney at Dr Rouse's and one at Mr Merson's wero thrown down. The bricks at tho Eailway Hotel came down' the chimneys in such quantities as to cause a general rush out of the house. Tho churches, fortunately, have not received any injury. The shocks were also felt at Dampier's Bay, but no damage resulted. Two violent shocks were felt at Kaiapoi in rapid ouccession, the last and most violent being two seconds after the first. Several chimneys wore damaged. Nearly all the clocks were stopped. At Woodend, Rangiora, FJaxlon, and Eyreton, the earthquake was felt in an equally demonstrative manner. Opinions as to tho directions of the wave aro numerous and conflicting, but the majority seem to agroo that it was fromSS.B. to tiXf'.W. At Saltwater Creek it commenced with a violent shaking of the earth, accompanied with a noiso resembling thunder, and ending with a rocking similar to tho roll of a ship from north to south. The vibration lasted threo seconds. There was a heavy fall of snow in this district. At Southbridgo tho shock was more severe than has been experienced for 20 years. At Selwyn Forks, the shock was of 30 eers. duration, and the current appeared to travel from W.N.W. to E.S.E. At Pigeon Bay the direction seems to have been from N.W. to S.E. though porsons living in tho gullies affirm that tho shock camo more from the opposite direction. Tho shock was severely felt in the upper parts of the Bay than at tho beach. Great excitement prevailed for several hours after. In some quarters two distinct shocks wero felt, while in others only one, which lasted eight seconds. Several chimneys were cracked, and rendered unfit for use. At Akaroa, two severe and separato shocks, were felt, the latter more especially. A resident for thirteen years gays that such severe shocks wero never before experienced in that locality. It was so sudden that it could not bo said if the motion were vertical or horizontal ; but it was thought, to be tho latter, and bearing east and west ; the shocks were perceptible by people out of doors, and the groaning of tho houses was fearful. The Dunedin people seem either to havo felt the shock but slightly or triod to make as little of it as possible. Tho following meagre account is all we can glean from our files : — It lasted for several seconds, and the direction of the motion appeared to bo from north to south. Wo have nob heard of any damage having been occasioned by it, the shock having apparently been , only strong enough to ring belle, jingle glasses, and give other harmless indications of its occurrence, i At Qreymouth and Hokitika the shock waa ' E. and W., lasted 30 . seconds, and appears to , have been only slight.