SHARP EARTHQUAKE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1723, 14 April 1913, Page 5

SHARP EARTHQUAKE.

$ LAD KILLED AT MASTERTON. MANY CHIMNEYS LEVELLED. AI: 7.12 p.m. on Saturday n. sharp, but brief, pnrthqunkn \rns fell, in Wellington and over llio soulhonv portion of llio North Island. There worn two shakes .in llio city, r.loso together, a,nd of a heavier character .than lis.ve been, recorded hero for Mimo years. Tho shock appears lo havo been severest in. the vicinity of MasterloD, where many chimneys were levelled and where unfortunately a Maori youth ivas killed by a. piece of falling masonry. No damago was reported in llio city, though in eon'io rases light articles aro stated to ha ve been shaken off I he. shelves on which they wore resting. Tim shock was severe in the Manawatu district, but light in Hawke's Bay. UASTERTON'S SEVERE "SHAKE.' NATIVE KILLED IN THE STREET. (By Telegraph.—Hrccial Correspondent.) Masierlon, April 12. The most: violent, earthquake felt in Masterton for many years-was experienced at. ten minutes past seven this evf-ning. The direction of. tho .shako appeared to bo from cast lo west. A loud rumbling noiso was followed by a. minor shake, and the people had hardly recovered from this when a terrific shock occurred, causing buildings to way to and fro, and crockery to rattle and clocks to stop. Thk} inhabitants were panic-stricken, and rushed into'the streets; the shops wcro o.tso speedily emptied. At tho post office, Hailing masonry rattled on tho roof, and tho officials ra.n out. Tho shake lasted for nearly thirty seconds. A young Native of Hamua, eighteen years of age, was, standing in. front of the post office when a largo piece of masonry rell, striking him oil the head and killing him instantly. The name of the Native was Hoani Ngawhiro Marakaia. Aniiv quest will bo held to-morrow morning.; The unfortunate youth's skull was badly fractured, and he was otherwise injured. Ho was the grandson of tho late Harnua, chief of the Nireaha. His mother and father were in Wellington when the fataljtj; occurred. Inquiries made to-day show- that considerable damage has been done by the earth convulsion in both town and country. The shake appears to have been as severe as that of nine years ago on tho western side of ';he town, where several chimneys were thrown down and crockery smashed. At Gladstone many chimneys were brought down, not one being lott standing at tho homes of Messrs. D. and 3. Buchanan, To Whanga. At Otatuaho, chimneys wcro cracked and crockery smashed, while at Upper Plain one or two chimneys came down. At Tinui, Bidford, and on the East Coast tho shake, though very severe, does not appear to havo done much damage. At Carterton and Greytown peoplo were very agitated and rushed into the streets. The damage in those places 6eems to have been confined to crockery,, No reports aro to hand from Eketahuna and Aliredton. Another slight shock was experienced at 3.4 p.m. to-day, but was of 6hort duration, IN OTHER DISTRICTS, (By Telegrapa.—Press Association.) Palmcrston N., April 13. A heavy and prolonged shock of earthquake occurred Jiere on Saturday evening at 7.11. It was. the heaviest for some years. No damage is reported. Foxton, April 13. One of tho severest earthquakes felt here for some pears occurred at 7.10 last night. No serious i damage is recorded. "Wanflanui, April 13. A eovcro and prolonged earthquake was felt here about 7.10 on Saturday evening. No damage is reported. Napier, April 13. A Blight earthquake 'was felt hero at 7.10 last night. EFFECT IN HUTT VALLEY. At 7.10 on Saturday night two earth-, tremors were felt in Petone and Lower Hutt. The second shake was of long duration and very- severe. Many shoppers and business peoplo in both places rushed into the street. The direction was from south to north. • No damago is roported. ■ MASTERTON POST OFFICE. The Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department received a message from the Postmaster at Masterton to tho effect that the upper portion of the tower of tho Masterton Post Office 1 was a ' good deal cracked by Saturday night's shake. However, only ono piece of masonry was dislodged, and that killed tho Maori whoso ■death is referred to in tho Press telegram published above. The other portions of the building wero not harmed.