SEVERE ’QUAKE

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18440, 22 September 1931, Page 7

SEVERE ’QUAKE

SLIGHT DAMAGE DONE. RESIDENTS GREATLY ALARMED. FELT IN HAWKE’S tBAY. NAPIER, Tuesday. An earthquake occurred early this morning, the shock 'being one of the most alarming 'Since the big shake. HASTINGS, Tuesday. A fairly severe earthquake shock was felt here at 1.15 a.m., lasting about three minutes. The shake began with a heavy jolt, then developed into a swaying movement, which increased in intensity and half-way through Its duration produced another severe jolt. People were awakened throughout the town, some running into the streets, fearing that worse was to follow, BEVERE AND PROLONGED. EXPERIENCE AT GISBORNE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) GISBORNE, Tuesday. An earthquake, severe and fairly prolonged, occurred at 1.5 this morning. -s .No damage is reported. FELT AT WANGANUI. WANGANUI, Tuesday. A fairly severe earthquake shook was felt at Wanganui at 1.8 this morning. No damage was done. The effect on iron roofs of houses was ourlous, the rumbling of the roofing being similar to that caused by a hailstorm. AT ROTORUA. •bells set ringing. / ROTORUA, Tuesday. A fairly severe earthquake shook was felt in Rotorua at IT o'clock this morning. The bells in the post office tower wore set ringing.

DAMAGE AT OPOTIKI. PEOPLE RUSH INTO STREETS. OPOTIKI, Tuesday. The most violent earthquake shock felt In the Opotlkl district ocourred at 1.6 o’clock this morning. The earth moved with a severe jolt, which threw -crockery from the shelves in many homes. People rushed into the . streets In alarm. Cattle In the paddocks in the neighbourhood of the town rushed about madly, bellowing with fright. Although the shake was not as prolonged as the earthquake ..which .destroyed Napier and Hastings, it was muobi sharper In intensity. Movable articles in houses suffered severely., IN THE SOUTH IBLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. There was an earthquake tremor in Chris tohurch at i. 7 this morning, but it was not sufficient to cause any damage. FURTHER PARTICULARS. HASTINGS SEVERELY SHAKEN. ACTION VERY ALARMING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, Tuesday. Hastings was again severly shaken by an earthquake, which began at 1.5 this morning and lasted a fraction less than three minutes. 'Because of the hour Its action was particularly alarming, and the climax of the movement was suoh as to give fears that It was about to develop Into something more or less like one of the three major earthquakes in February. According to 'Mr Henry Dedenne’s seismograph the earthquake was of less than three minutes duration and of an intensity about equal to that of the earthquake on September 12, which lasted over four minutes. Mr Dedenee says the movement was looal. Its point of origin lies somewhere about 20 or 25 miles from Hastings and Napier. People who were awake report that the quake began with a fairly severe Jolt, then after about half a minute of swinging motion it developed another jolt, and the same motions were repeated before the movement died away. There aro no reports of any material damage in Hastings. A TWO SHOCKS AT WAIROA. PEOPLE GREATLY ALARMED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WAIROA, Tuesday. One of tho heaviest earthquakes experienced here slnco the February disaster occurred shortly after one ■o’clock 'this morning, consisting of two heavy shocks in close succession. People were greatly alarmed, and rushed out In their night attire. No damage is reported. PRECEDED BY RUMBLE. SUDDEN LIFTING MOTION. IN POVERTY BAY DISTRICT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Tuesday. The indications arc that the earth movement this morning radiated from some centre not. far* from the IC.t• *. C.ape. to the seaward. The shock was preceded by a subterranean rumble, culminating in a sudden lifting motion, the oscillations being too short, however, for heavy weights lo acquire momentum. This fact probably accounted for the small amount of damage even among goods In shop windows and on shelves. No structural damage Is reported from any centre on the coast or south of Gisborne, though all reports iiulii cate that this was the most severe V -.-. an (Continued in next column.)

shake since February 3, excepting that on May 9. The townships in Walpu county report that It was the worst earthquake felt for years, these areas having been outside the zone Influenced by the Hawke's Bay quake In February. Roads, bridges and railways were not damaged, and there was no renewal In the Wairoa and Mohaka area of cracks In the hillsides. Telephonio reports from Bay of Plenty townships Indicate that the worst effect was felt at Waiotahl, whereas Waimana escaped lightly. IN OTHER PLACES. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.) THAMES, Tuesday. A short but very sharp earthquake was felt here at 1.5 this morning, the direction being from east to west. DANNEVIRKE, Tuesday. A noisy, prolonged, and severe earthquake occurred at 1.10 a.m. It oommenced gently and practically subsided, then Increased in intensity and gave the town and country a vigorous shaking. Had It been daylight there would have been a scamper for the open, but most people stayed In bed and 'hoped for the best. The earthquake lasted unusually long, and considering Its severity it Is surprising that no damage is reported. WAIPUKURAU, Tuesday. An earthquake was felt hire this morning at 1.5. It was mainly characterised by noise. The vibration commenced with .a slight shock, which woke most people. Then there was a pause, followed by a noise which preceded a second shako of greater Intensity and length. Though clocks stopped no damage is reported In the Waipawa, W.ilpukurau and Porangahau districts. The general opinion is that the shake was not so severe as that on the 12th. BTOOKB IN SHOPS DAMAGED. GOODS SHAKEN FROM SHELVES. (By Telegraph.—press Association.) WHAKATANE, Tuesday. An earthquake of more than usual severity occurred at 1.5 this morning, preceeded by loud rumbling. The shock lasted about 40 seconds. Stocks In shops at Taneatua were damaged, crockery and bottles wero shaken off shelves, and several water tanks .were damaged. Ne damage is reported elsewhere Li the drict. ORIGIN OF THE EARTHQUAKE. RECORDS AT WELLINGTON. FELT OVER WIDE AREA. (By Telegraph.—Pres3 Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Records made by the earthquake at the Dominion Observatory at Kelburn show that the origin was about 240 miles from Wellington. It was probably of a very deep focus, hence the wider area over which it was felt. In Wellington the shock was felt as distinctly north to south. The effect was a pronounced jolt, being followed by g prolonged tremor which lasted for from 20 to 30 seconds before finally dying down. No damage was dono locally. Accompanying the beginning of the earthquake was a distinct subterannean rumbling. FELT AT HAMILTON. SOME SLEEPERS AWAKENED. CLOCKS AND WATCHES STOP. Most Hamilton residents were unconscious of windows rattling and electric lights swinging as a result of a fairly severe earth tremor shortly after 1 o’clock this morning. People awake at Hie time, however," report feeling the ’quake. In some eases sleepers were disturbed by the movement, which was of a slow, swaying nature. Several clocks and watches slopped during the night. N’c damage is reported in tho town .and district.