TREMORS IN GREY DISTRICT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 8

TREMORS IN GREY DISTRICT

OFFICIAL RECORDINGS AT KAIMATA From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, June 27. Commencing shortly after midnight and continuing until after 9 o’clock this morning, the Grey district experienced a record number of earth tremors for one day. A total of about 20 shocks were recorded, with the main quake at 12.35. Various homes and buildings were subjected to severe jolting. Most of the residents were awakened and some alarm was experienced. No serious damage was caused, except the crashing of one chimney in the Marsden road area at Greymouth and another chimney top at South Beach. Reporting on the earthquake, Mr Roger Sullivan, official recorder at the scientific and industrial research station at said the main quake occurred at 12.35 a.m. and was preceded by a minor one at 12.12 J a.m. The main quake had the maximum intensity over a period of three minutes, the vibrations diminishing until 12.54, when another minor quake occurred. A sharp quake of one minute’s duration occurred at 1.18 a.m. Altogether, he said, about 20 shocks of more or less minor intensity were recorded, the last one at 9.19 a.m. He had assessed the main quake at 4 on the improved scale.

Many residents to-day considered there were further minor shakes, but until a further reading is taken on the seismograph in another 48 hours, at 10.30 a-m. on Saturday, this cannot be verified definitely. This is the greatest group of earthquakes recorded on the West Coast, and the main shock is graded as being on scale 4. This assessment is not being made instrumentally, but is being calculated on the basis of damage. Reports From Other Centres No damage is reported at Reefton, though the shake was sufficiently heavy to wake most residents. The most severe shock had an upward movement.

At Westport the earthquake com* menced with a gentle swaying movement and ended with a sharp jolt. For more than an hour afterwards there were lesser shales, and many residents were apprehensive, having in mind the disastrous earthquake of June 17, 1929. which caused considerable damage throughout the Buller district. No damage has been reported locally. No damage was reported at Hokitika, although buildings shook violently. The shock was accompanied by an exceptionally high tide. TWO-TON BOULDER DISLODGED A large boulder, weighing about two tons, crashed from a cutting above the Rakaia Gorge bridge on to the road. This boulder, as ’well as many smaller rocks which were shaken loose by the earthquake, was removed by workmen of the Ashburton County Council’s staff. No damage was reported. The first tremors were followed by a lighter shock some 40 minutes later. At Hanmer Springs, no damage has been reported, though windows and doors rattled. WELLINGTON RECORD (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 27. The earthquake reported from South Island towns was felt here at 12.35 a.m. The Dominion Observatory reports that vibrations were recorded for an hour. The centre was apparently 300 miles from Wellington.—(PA.)