'QUAKE LAST NIGHT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 151, 14 July 1937, Page 4

'QUAKE LAST NIGHT

Momentary Alarm Felt By Residents RE'ACTION IN THEATRES A rather severe earthquake was felt in Hawke's Bay and even as far away as Palmerston North at about 10.25 o'clock last night, occasioning momentary alarm, particularly among theatfe goers in Hastings and Napier, where some performances were still in progress. The programmes in two of^the pictuie houses in Hastings had just concluded and the audience was beginning to hasten homewards. At one of the theatres, however, the picture had about 10 minutes to run to the end. The swaying of the seats suddenly wrenched the minds of the audience from the shadow drama to their own personal interests and several rose to their feet. One or two who were inclined to be excitable were soon reassured, but, with interest in the picture broken, the audience began to break np before tho final fade-ou't. At the Municipal Theatre, where a large company of amateurs are playing the Reveille extravaganza, there was also some passing auxiety. One of the choruses was just massing on the stage when the shako came. There was a brief pause and performers glanced quickly about. Some noise and alarm coming from the back of the stage added to the tension. Mrs W. A. Greer, one of the principals of the company, stepped from the wings and with the aid of the orchestra etruck up a'n impromptu song and the performance later resumed its lively sequence. In Napier two of the picture .theatres had not quite completed their performance, and here again, with the exception oi a few people who left their seats, the audiences allowed their entertainment to be interrupted but momentarily. The earthquake was the most distinct that has been felt for many months, and after the first shake left a swaying motion for nearly a minute. No damage of any kind has been reported.