EARTHQUAKE AT ROTORUA

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1426, 10 April 1905, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE AT ROTORUA

SAID TO HAVE BEEN FORTY SHOOKS. The New Zealand Herald gives the following additional information concerning the shooks of earthquake at Rotorua on Thursday night:— At 25 minutes past 9 a very severe shock occurred, causing the buildings to sway to and fro, and tho windows to vibrato to quite an alarming extent. This was followed by another, though not of quite so pronounced a character. The fourteenth shook, an extra severe one, occurred at half-past 9, and was followed 12 minutes later by anothor of a milder nature, while in six minutes yet another took place. Shortly after 10 o’olook one equal to the first occurred, which was followed by another of a decided character, but not quite so severe.

Others took place throughout the night and during the early hours of Friday morning. At 25 minutes to 6 the severest and longest in duration occurred, and this was followed by a somewhat mild one at a quarter to 7. So repeated and decided were the. shocks that some visitors, and, indeed, the residents, were'somewhat seared. The direction of the shocks was from south-east to north-west, and those who were in the '• streets on Thursday night when the severest of the shocks took place declared they heard a rumbling noise on the hills around Whakavewarewo before they felt the shocks. I

The Maoris at Wbakarawarewa were much conoerned, many of them leaving their whares and taking up their abode in Nelson’s Hill, opposite the Geyser Hotel, A gentleman, who was out throughout the night, states, the shocks oconrred at short intervals all night. He estimates that there were fully 40 altogether. A rambling noise, he says, preceded each, and it sounded as if it was travelling along the hills at„the baok of Whakarewarewa.

The shooks are the severest experienced for seven years. Tbe European visitors at Ohinemutu were not a little scared, 4 and souse took their departure this morning. News from Waimangu to day was to the effect that the earthquakes had not been felt there.

An old identity declares that there was no such. thing as an earthquake, but merely earth tremors. There has been no indication of Bven a tremor eince seven o’clock this morning. The shocks were not felt at Okere.