SEVERE EARTHQUAKES

Hokitika Guardian, 8 March 1928, Page 2

SEVERE EARTHQUAKES

IN NEW PLYAIOUTH. By Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. NEW PLYAIOUTH. March 7. Damage amounting to many hundred pounds including a general demolition of chimney tops, resulted from a severe earthquake in New Plymouth at fi.fit) a.m. to-day. The shake was the most violent experienced here for many years. It lasted about 30 seconds, working up to a climax, and then suddenly dying away. Numbers of chimneys were destroyed. while many others arc cracked. oi- have their lops displaced, necessitating partial demolition for repairs.

In Elliot Street four houses in a row had the tops of chimneys dislodged. A tour ol the Borough discloses chimney pots nestling in all sorts of grotesque at litanies, on the top of rieketty piles of bricks, which were once substantial chimney (ops, and bricklayers are besieged with repair orders sufficient to keep them busy for a long lime. Shops and buildings have also suffered. many displays of chinaware having been dislodged and an occasional plate glass window cracked. The shelves in many homes collapsed and articles in all positions wore thrown on tile floor.

Several minor slips occurred, quantities of earth being dislodged from several high hanks. One house suffered more than most. The whole lop of one chimney snapped clean off near the roof and turned 45 degrees round, settling down again on the rest of the chimney diagonally. Nearly all the piles were wrenched out of the ground, and settled again. The whole contents of the pantry were precipitated in a jumbled mass on the floor. Pictures, glass and shattered hooks from hook eases, were hurled right across the room, and other minor damage was done. Inglewood. Waitara. Stratford, and llawera all report having experienced a shake, though no damage occurred. In New Plymouth, the shock was much greater on the seaward side of file suburb of Fil/.rny and in the locality near Pukekura Park, than anywhere else.