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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2681, 29 January 1916, Page 3

Officers of the steamer Marsina, which arrived in Sydney last week from l\abaul, were able to supply details of the - earthquake which occurred iu. the neighbourhood of New Britain on Now Year's Day. The Marsina was alongside a jetty at liabaul when the disturbance occurred 1 , about 11.30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Those aboard were startled'by a severe bump, and the vessel tossed as if she was "full speca ahead in a gale at sea. A tremendous sea sprang up, and at times-the ship was raised 10ft. above the-wharf, and dropped 20ft. below it as the swell receded. The wharf was swaying the whole time, and its destruction seemed imminent. Fortunately it withstood the strain, and tho Marsina was kept from breaking away. Oil land the damage was severe. Two mission-houses and two dwellings were thrown to tho ground, and the furniture. in all the houses Buffored badly. A causeway botween the island of Mat-api and tho mainland of New Britain, which was originally 10ft. out. of the water, is now 20ft. submerged. At 'foma there were numerous landslides, and bouses were thrown down. On leaving Itabaul tho Marsina ran into a heavy sea, but she roachcd AVoodlark Island m safety. Tiicro news was received that very bad tremors of tho earthquako had been felt. ■ The Touring Club of France, with its 135,000 members, used to be the largest club of its kind in the world. A bell which could be heard a distance of from throe to live miles 011 land would, If submerged in tho r.eu, be heard ? ,,fl r usixl® miles, .under the \Y&tar«