Earthquake at Westport

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 February 1913, Page 3

Earthquake at Westport

FURTHER DETAILS. PRESS ASSOCIATION.3 WESTPORT, This Day. Eathquako shocks liavo been practically continuous from 12.3G p.m. on Saturday until 8 a.m. to-day. There were pronounced shocks at 3.30 a.m.. 7.30 a.m., and 7.40 a.m., accompanied by a- noise similar to cannonading. No damago has been done since the first big shock, but the women and the younger portion of tho population are in a state of apprehension. In three or four places in the district narrow fissures have opened in the ground, mostly in "made" ground. Some headstones were displaced in the cemetery, and scores of gas mantles in the town destroyed. Quite a "sea" raged in the river. All hands below on the steamer Karori rushed to the deck. Arriving steamers report that no disturbance was experienced at sea. It is almost impossible to count the number of chimneys damaged. Nearly every household in the district has had articles thrown down, with extensive breakages in many places. Men inside, the collieries report a terrifying experience. Tt seemed as if a general collapse was imminent, but there was no actual damage to the mines. The chimney losses run into hundreds, and household breakages also are a eostlv feature.