YESTERDAY'S HEAVY' QUAKE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 256, 10 January 1941, Page 5

YESTERDAY'S HEAVY' QUAKE

WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE

TANEATUA SHOPS SUFFER

The most severe earthquake shock felt in Whakatane for many years occurred at 2.42 p.m '.yesterday, and was felt withi varying intensity in all centres throughout the Bay of Plenty. The phenomena was preceded by a dull roar from the direction of the sea, and was immediately followed by a shock which swayed buildings and trees andl sent dozens of people in haste to the open. The motion was definitely from east to west and after the first jolt dwindled off in a series) o>l lesser waves. damage was •<lone ■gyWhakatane itself, Tanw eatua and Waimana did! not escape so lightly and in both districts chimneys are down and there are many reports of dam* : age to houses and their contents. Residents who have been : here for many yea I rs declare that the 'quake was equal to that felt in this .diistrict at the time of the Napier disaster in 1931. Rush for the Streets. In Whakatane the swaying of the "buildings was the signal for dozens of businessmen and shop assistants to rush into the streets from which point it was possible to see the shops and offices moving heavily from side to side. In most cartes' i -goods on display were thrown from shelves but surprisingly little-dam-age was suffered and only minor breakages are reported. Mr J. W. Baxter of Messrs Cutlers Hardware Avho was; at the rear of the premises at the time said he heard • a distinct rumble and estimated when the buildings were rocked that thev moved from a foot to six inches. Only a few small articles fell in the shop. The above experience was typical «of most of the Whakatane shops. ©hope Stores Suffer. The movement was apparently felt to greater intensity at Ohope where in both Kennedy's and Mahy's stores goods were thrown to the floor and damaged. In the Gamp store some perishable goods were destroyed and many jars and crockery broken. Residents claim that in the houses heavy objects were dislodged and in at least two instances, windows broke Ainder the strain, and-chimneys fell. 'The sea was calm at the time and because of the murk it was impossible to see White Island. Tanks Burst at Taneatua. im Two large tanks serving the Tan■•eatua Hotel burst, and in the bar itself many bottles beeamc dislodged and fell to the floor though few were broken,. There are many chimneys down ■hoxVever including those serving the school residence and Gbddards. At the station there was further damage resulting in cutting off telephonic communication for some time. Maitland's bakery shop perhaps suffered most severely of all, the shelves being swept clear of goods, many breakages occurring. The building being of concrete blocks received the full force and it Is claimed by one of the attendants, shook like a leaf. An Eight-foot Cant. • Mr V. Mead, of Mead's Bargain Storesigp a singular experience. "At l h<r th v.e iJ the shock he was working under the hoist where a heavy International truck was raised. He states that his first intimation that anything was amiss came with a heavy blow on the head. Looking towards the store, he saw the whole building give a lurch which he claims took it eight feet Out of alignment. Almost immediately the structure sprang back to its normal position, and pump, hoist and all gearing is now working as normally as ever. The scene inside the shop however was such that it was necessary to close up for the rest of the day in order to clear the floors of debris and brpken glass. At a rough estimate Mr Mead considers his loss at £20 in crockery and glassware, but apart from this a large stock of electric globes fell and many pots of paint several of which burst their lids and added to the general con-

fusion. Fuily 50 per cent of the whole of the stock carried by the shop were dislodged. Felt at Waimana. The home of Mr R. A. Ward.law, Waimana, apparently felt the full force of the visitation. There was much damage to crockery and household belongings, jars of preserves being smashed and chin aware lost. At Messrs >3el 1 and Hodgson's store slight damage was done to a few odd articles which were shaken down,. Several chimneys are down however including Messrs Addison's and Wardlaw's. No Injuries Reported. It is pleasing to report that despite the widespread nature of the cjuake, no injuries were sustained by any persons ii\ the vicinity) of building's or shops. There are still answers to enquiries to come in from more distant centres but as far as this district" is concerned there is a clean slate as far as accidents are concerned.