THE EARTHQUAKE.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 4, 20 June 1929, Page 7

THE EARTHQUAKE.

At 10.19 last Monday morning the Hutt Valley experienced the most severe earthquake felt for many years. Fortunatly no serious damage was reported probably owing to the fact that the movement which was from S.W. to N.E. was more or less even and la-eked that sudden upheaval so commonly experienced. Several, of the buildings on the western side of the main stteet have parted company with their next door neighbours. The most noticeable is the wooden building next to Slinn and Sons' where there is now a spaqe of about six. inches between the two walls;

-Everybody immediately rushed out of -doors and, spellbound, watched the extraordinary antics of the 'quake. A curious sequel to .'the'first; shock was the ; roaring noises which came from the direction of Cook Straits. The streets rose and fell, standing motor cars swayed too and fro, -the , trees seemed to dance and the big glass windows in the shops looked as though nothing Would prevent them crashing into the street. '

The old Hutt bridge which is covered with sheets of iron over the superstructure, swayed in a .most alarming manner, accompanied by loud noises caused by the iron covering. Eye witnesses declare that it swayed two feet out of its alignment, T>he bell of the Post Office clock sounded a.note with every. tremor. Onlookers were alarmed for the safety of .the spire of the Catholic Church and quite ; expected to see it crash to earth. This it did not do, but the cross was twisted round so that instead of facing cast it now looks to the N.E.

The' report that the spire of St. James's Church was thrown out of plumb is riot correct, as thi3 defect has existed for many years.

. Eleven minutes after the first shake a second disturbance was felt, but this being mild in comparison to the first nof much notice' was taken of it, and general satisfaction was expressed that the incident had passed without seti-

ous resMts.