Severe Earthquake Shocks.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 19 August 1895, Page 2

Severe Earthquake Shocks.

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE AT TAUPO. THE INHABITANTS ALARM KD. i Considerable diimage by ;■ >••<;:'•.■< ol severe earthquakes mi. T:M!p > n-. Saturday evening au<i :<::i!ay is reported. The first intimation was contained in the following telegram from the postmaster at Taupo (Mr Park) to the Secretary of the General Post Office at Wellington (Mr V\ r . Gray) on Saturday evening : — " We are having a succession of tremendous earthquakes. Tho first one occurred at 6.27 p m., and smashed a Jot of crockery. They arc by far the heaviest shocks I havo ever felt. I expect they will throw wires in contact, as the direction is east to west. A swinging iamp suspended 7ft from a coiling swung until it almost touched tbe roof." Later Mr Park telegraphed again as follows : — " 9 30 p.m. —The shocks still oontiime, but are not t;o severe. Rotorua has not felt th<m at all. All the chimneys here are down pxeopt mine and two at Lake Hotel. My battery jars are half emptied and in a great mess. The wires arc in contact as I anticipated. All residents here are camping out. Tho local store is in a great mess between broken bottles, castor oil, blankets, prints, \c." Yesterday Mr Park telegraphed as follows : — " The earthquakes lasted till midday to-day. Only rive chimneys arc uninjured. At the Terrace Hotel very little j crockery or glassware is left. All tho bottles in the hotel were thrown down. The earthquakes were severe over an area commencing at Wairakoi and extending to MclJae's Hotel. The inhabitants camped out all night." Another telogram from the same gentleman received yesterday evening says : — " The kitchen dresser at the Terrace Hotel was thrown on the floor, the kitchen range, was shitted out several feet, the whole of the bottles in the bar were thrown on to tho floor and smashed ; while cases wore moved so as to block doors. This is also the case at all hotels, more or less, while the local storekeeper's goods arc all thrown on the iloor, mixing up castor oil, ladies' finery, vinegar, curry, blankets, \c. The road where cuttings exist is blocked by large slips, which have occurred all 1 round the lake. We can see hundreds as far as the eye can reach. The Tokaanu mail could not go to-day owing to these slips. There is nothing special at Wairakei. They keep ringing us up and wero in great fear, but as my people preferred the outside to the inside we bad to leave thorn. All families but mine camped out in tents.'' The last telegram received from Mr Park at G.O p.m yesterday says : — ! " G. 7 p.m. — There is another severe shake." ; Mr Hebberlev, of Tarawcra, telegraphed yestcrdaj- evening as follows : " A very sharp earthquake was felt here last night at (3.:>0. Tho shocks ; continued until 10 o'clock to-day. No damage was done." GisiionxK, This Day. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here on Saturday evening. No damage was done. Wei.linutox, August 18. A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced in AVollingfcon at about 6.21 p.m. ou Saturday. A prolonged earthquake was felt here on Saturday afternoon commencing at (5.25 and continuing for about 90 seconds The motiou was at first from side to side, and then it changed direction so as to bo almost rotatory judging by hanging lamps and tire water in a bath. No accidents have been reported. It was the heaviest we have felt for sornq years. An earthquake shock was experienced in Martou at about 6.30 ou Saturday night.