WAIRARAPA AGAIN HIT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 261, 3 August 1942, Page 6

WAIRARAPA AGAIN HIT

Damage Mounts ‘RAILWAY LINES BLOCKED Dominion Special Service. MASTERTON, August 2. Unheralded by the usual loud rumble, a long and severe earthquake last night added to the huge toll of damage in the Wairarapa by earthquake, flood and gale during the past six months. A few Masterton parapets which had survived the quake of June 24 and subsequent tremors tumbled down and a large number of rebuilt chimneys collapsed.. Cracks were opened in buildings previously showing little damage, and railway, telegraph, telephone, and electric power services were dislocated. Country districts along the fault line of the last heavy quake again suffered severe damage, particularly Mauriceville, Eketahuna, Tinui and Blairlogie, where losses in crockery and chimneys were as bad as in the first big quake.

Heavy jolts at 4.40 p.m. yesterday partially emptied theatres and caused alarm, though no damage was apparent in Masterton. However, at 12.37 a.m. a heavy series of jolts brought people out of their beds. Chimneys which had previously stood up to the quakes were brought down and one bricklayer alone in Masterton has already received notice of 38 rebuilt chimneys damaged. Power failed, but was soon restored. The quake had an intensity of quite 7i on the Rossi-Forel scale. Jolting continued for about one minute and then the movement settled into n long swinging for some time. The emergency fire service was called out, but there were no outbreaks. Windows in the Public Trust and many other buildings were smashed. The front parapet of the Wairarapa Aerated Water Co., Ltd., crashed on the footpath, and also the parapet of Fly and Young’s showroom and the building formerly occupied by the Social Security office. The fire station, now reduced to a single story, suffered considerably. Trust Lands Trust building, the borough council offices, and A.M.P. building were among the most seriously damaged. The borough engineer, Mr. C. A. Mabson, stated that many buildings in which slight cracks had previously appeared were now definitely damaged. An extraordinary freak of the quake was observed at the Bank of New Zealand building in Queen Street, where a large, section of the facade which had been settling forward as a result of the smaller shakes, last night settled back under the fractured portion so that the cracks have, almost closed. Grocery and chemist stores again suffered loss through falling stock, but not as extensively as in June. Traffic Held Up.

Early this morning the railway line was blocked both north and south of Masterton by slips and other damage, but by the afternoon communication with Wellington was established. From Masterton to Eketahuna the line has lifted in some places and settled in others. Bridges have also been affected No traffic ran north of Masterton today, and it is probable that it will not be running tomorrow. The railway line from Eketahuna to Woodville is clear. Mauriceville, Eketahuna, Tinui, Wangaehu, Blairlogie, and Bideford all appear to have received the full force of the disturbance. In Eketahuna buildings previously partially condemned are now definitely unsafe. The main street is cracked and other roads show the effects of the quake. The water supply, which was not affected by the June shake, was cut off and was not restored late this afternoon. The house occupied by the postmaster in Eketahuna was badly wrecked. Inside walls collapsed and much of the ceiling came down when the chimney fell. The kitchen range was flung into the centre of the room. In the Mauriceville district the impression is that the quake if not worse than that of June 24 was quite as bad. Few homes escaped losses. Windows in many were smashed and walls m some were twisted out of plumb.. Trouble was experienced at Castlepoint lighthouse, where the afternoon quake split the mercury in the light control. This was replaced, but was again split by the second quake. Districts south of Masterton also suffered, mainly through falling clnmU< No noticeable after-shakes have been felt. CHRISTCHURCH REPORT (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. An earthquake lasting several seconds was felt in Christchurch shortly before one o’clock this morning. It was preceded by rumbling. There are no reports of damage. FELT IN DUNEDIN (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, August 2. An earthquake was felt in the city at 12 35 o’clock this morning. It was a sharp jolt, but no damage is reported. HORSE’S PREMONITIONS Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS, August 2. An example of bow animals receive a strange premonition of subterranean disturbances was given by the actions o a light draught horse on a property in uu Pahiatua district last night. At about 4 30 p.m. the animal became noticeaolj restless, and a few minutes later was seen galloping about the paddock. At 4.50 p.m. the first earthquake occurred. The owner went out to the horse after the earthquake, but he would not allon the man to approach him, though normally be is very quiet. As the eveum„ advanced the horse became more restless, and the animal’s actions convinced the people on the farm that something further was to occur. A little while after midnight the horse again galloped round the paddock, and his neighing soon had the other stock on the farm in a state of commotion. After the earthquake at 12.35, the horse was trembling violently, but he soon quieted, and this morning he was quite normal.