AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 663, 13 November 1909, Page 6

AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK.

: shout:but sharp; ;, - : '■■■"'. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Wellington at; 9.30 o'clock last'. evening. It sra's •■WβV•■,^vβ^.■Bh^^tha^. ; here for'-'some years. ' Many.; people; rushed : .out of -,;.their... houses "in"; fear :that ■■• 'another' iind seveier..shock/ would: follow.,; ,■ A;'large' : number of;:Dlerks. wfio' were •worlßng.-in' Nathan's ,big building - in' Peatheiston \ Street' .poured' -out on .to • thfe-, stireet. 'Glassware T was upset! and broken.! in. some of.'the but "'no; serious damage\to..pr6perty.-.is; reported'.'' ' '. r ..".'.'■ The earthq-uake: caused considerable exoitement "and alarm.'.at: tho! Opera , - House, where' the-Anderson Dramatic Company ':was playing. came: just : as the';curtain"had been lowered, betweon the acts.' - Most -of the-;peo-ple- jumpedUo' their ; feet,'and 'some , made if rush, for the exits. Confusion'reigned, for ii snort Umo, but as ,thevshock" was iso...soon over the audience' settled down again 'ta enjoy, the closing scenee. of the. play. Jt is stated that, seven ladies fainted during .the eoare. Amember of the.:business/staff;of the company wa3 seenstampeding down the.staircase and but into the street.'.- With.commendable.presence of miud he had caught, up the cash bags'and carried them with- him.; ■:■" .■ ■ ■ ••''■■ -.- ■

.. The; members of- the ■Wellington Choral Society were attending a full rehearsal of ."The' Messiah" ; at the Town Hall when .tile earthquake arrived.' ' Mr.: Barnett (the conductor) was'at the grand; organ'.at : the-. tiihe, -and-'e*-per ienced a somewhat startling- .sensation. - The great organ;it.is stated;- swayed'/from side, to side,. wiia an ominous- crackling/sound,., while' the, plaster on the. walls in the'" immediate yicinr ■ity';";of-.-tlte ,, .instrument was "cracked-in-many , .places." ■ There.'.'wae'.some', little . ".excitement among' the-'ladics. of the chorus, but no'panic. p.ne\lady.,fainted. . The sensation experienced in. , the -body of .'.the hall wasrof: a r prolonged rumble,-. then' a sharp oscillation, which. lasted: for eome seconds} " . ; -""' v .';>" v. ;.:;'H'■'■ .'".' The:shock struck Parliament'during the'supper adjournment, and caused; a Ilittle.;. temporary excitement. No.damage was .done, and the Housegot to work again as .usual on. matterswhich, are not, so utterly beyond human, control. ,' ■.' y.. -. '"'■■' -.. ■",; '•.■'■: , .-: '/■ - The ."quake" upset..a kerosene lamp and caused an outbreak of fire,at-70 Kent Terrace. The Fire 'Brigade received; a-call at 3.32" p.m., and found that in a seven-roomed house, occupied by Mrs. Isabella Carter, , : and 'owned by Mr. Moato, the front bedroom, had been damaged. The contents were insured in-the Northern Office for JE120.: .....-.-;.■:..-. •;. -.'.--.. ;':■ '. ; ';:■ IN OTHER:CENTEES > ' ; .';' -.-•,.'.:. TeleeraDhfrPreaa :".";.. '-'.': a .' ~';'"'■ I' ''.Masterton;,'November'l2: ; ' An earthquake ehock'.was felt.here : to-iright at .-9.35: , '-:■.•■•-. ..V-. -' .- : -i.-\ : :S>-«::'<.•■'. -.■:■. '..-'. . '■'■' ..'■ '■'■.";' v .•-.■:': Nelson, November, 12.-,. i- A'-eevereiearthquaie , shook was felt -here s ''at 9.30..t0-night. :'.lt-:lasted 'about■ half;a<minute.