EARTHQUAKE. SERIOUS DAMAGE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2897, 13 February 1893, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE.

SERIOUS DAMAGE.

At four luii.ub. s past i-,i«ht on Sunday inurniiii.- a sharp double shock of earth quake was felt in Ash burton. The first shock whs preceded by a low rumbling sound, and the shake was sufficient to set crockery ratil'ng. The second shockcame a fuw seconds later, and was of about equal seventy to the firnt. The vibration continued for nearly a. minute afterwards. The direction of the movement appeared to be from south to north. .No damage was done in this diatrbt, nor a^ Chiistchurch, Reefton, Hokitika, or Palmerston JSorth, where the shock was pretty smart. At Tiu.aru and Oamaru the shock was not as sharp, but it, will be seen by the follow Hg telegrams that some localities suffered seve: e'y. .

(PBK PBESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington; Fobruary 12 The most severe shuck of earthquake experienced here for years occutred at three minutes past eight o'clock this mo-ning. A low .rumbling sound was first heard ; then a slight shock wh'ch was followed by others more severe, the whole lasting several seconds and accompanied by a rumble resembling thunder. Uufldings shook violently, and 'he residents were greatly alarmed. The direction was from east to west, and thire was an upheaval movement. So far as ascertained to-']ay no serious damage has been occasioned. A few chimneys have been levelled, and. plate glass wir.dows broken or c acked in various parts of the city. The tree public library just completed, a building of brick and Oamaru stone, suffered. A number of joints at j the top of the structure where the stone jjined the bricks opsnel slightly, and small portions of the cornices fell away, hut nothing serious. Many articles were thrown from shelves. When warehouses ami shops are opened tc-morrow further damage may be reported. Wellington, February 18. The earthquake had a rotatory motion and was felt at \Vainui-Omata, across the hirhor, before* here, as the caretaker of the water dam was ringing up the telephone exchange to te)l the opuaors when the latter felt the shock themselves. A uiillurmi on his way to town s;:ys he ,saw flic whole city shaking. Ejcaggerafcid accounts of the damage to the public library got abrcad, and sent large crowds inspecting the building. Some of the grocers' shops have suffered. The large now building in c >urse of erection for the Government Insurance escaped without injury.

Blenheim, February 12 The most severe shock of earthquake for many years was experienced at ei^ht o'clock this burning and caused consicerablo alarm. Two distinct shocks were felt, but so close together as to be almost continuous. At 9.10 and 3.15 minor shocks were felt. Tha direction was south to norih. Man/ chimneys were injured and will have to be rebuilt. Messrs LitchSeld's and W. Barr's stocks of glassware and brie a-brac were considerably damaged. No damage is reported from the country 'Kelson, February 12. A severe shock of earthquake was experienced berea'.abfiut 5 minutes pa&tß this mcrning. Many chimneys have suffered, j and iv a number of houses articles were j thrown down and destroyed. At the ' Government buildings only one chimn y entirety escaped. The' top of one was slewed round, and in the.othera the brick work is shattered, cracked, or broken away. At (Julfrge Hill the bricks from a chimney fell on to the beds which weru occupied shortly before. At the college, hospital, gaol, asylum, and BishopdrJe, the chimneys are damaged, and in the froni pediment of iha Hunk of New Zealand the sroue-work is cra-'ked. The ppre of the Cathedral appeal s to be out of plumb, and in many shops the plate glass "windows A'eie broken or cracked. The interior of thj Nelson Club shows evidence of a movement of the stone building, and the next building is ra'her badly damaged.. In some stores a gord deal of damage was done, hut being Sunday it is impossible to estimate ihe"Vaiue. The mayor's house suffered a good deal. It is thought the loss will exceed £4000. No one was hurt.