THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

FURTHER DETAILS. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, May 11. A curious feature ol the phenomenon in Christchurch was that the rockings of the earth set the Anglican Cathedral bells jangling, and the homo-go-ing crowds in the Square were amazed to hear confused chimes pealing with the swaying of the ground. A rather puzzling feature of the disturbance, and one which was erroneously thought by many people to he a, direct accompaniment of me earthquake, was a series of curious blue Hashes in the sky which lit up the darkness of the first series of shocks. This was caused by the arcing of electric current between high-power wires which were thrown against each other by the violent shaking of the earth’s surface, thus causing short circuits ol electric current. The shake was severe at Lyttelton, but from accounts received was not as bad as in Chrisclutrch. Seismograpliic 'records of the shocks at the Christchurch .Magnetic Observatory are available only up to a few mi nuts after midnight, but during the period fropi 10.50 p.m. to 12.5 a.m. three major shocks were recorded. The seismograpliic record showed that the first big shock was heralded by a, number of small vibrations. M hen xiic major- shock came, the “boom ol the seismograph swung right across the chart for a period of about lour minutes, the amplitude of the boom being restricted by the stops on each side of the instrument. Air H. E. Skey, Director of the Observatory. said that there was every reason to believe that the earthquake originated at Arthur’s Pass.

AT ARTHUR’S PASS. CHRISTCHURCH. March 11. Afore earth tremors were still occurring at Arthur’s Pass during to-day. with a heavier shock at 3.35 o’clock thi.s afternoon though it was not comparable in severity to the shock of Saturday night. There is still danger of dislodged rocks si ml boulders rolling down the hillside. The shake in Christchurch on Saturday was not severe. Air H. F. Skey (Director of the .Magnetic Observatory declares the earth movement did not exceed one millimetre. REPAIR WORK. CHRISTCHURCH. -March 12. At Arthur’s Pass the Railway Do partment is concent rating on gettinj the track in thorough repair and making- the houses of the workers liabi table again. During the night more shocks wen felt, hut none were severe. flu houses will not lie occupied for a week.

A VISITOR’S DESCRIPTIVE. AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE. Airs R. Lister of Cashmere Hills. wa? spending a holiday with - her two daughters having rented a house near Rough Creek at the entrance to Arthur’s Pass. It would appear that they were near the centre of the disturbance, and in an interview she gave some particulars of their alarming experience.

“Accompanied by a terrific roar from me intcriijr ol the bills,” said Airs Lister, ‘•there came without any preliminary warning a very sudden am! sharp shock, and the first indication we had that the earthquake was so severe was tiie furniture—chairs, tables, wardrobes and pictures—living ill all directions. A door leading on to the verandah, which was locked, was snapped clean off and fell right but. The chimneys crashed right through the roof and to add to the general chaos and alarm the electric light system was put out of action. “We seem to have been right in the chick of it,” continued Airs Lister. •The tanks were overturned and water loured through the root. Our experience was typical of most of the places in the vicinity which consisted .if railway workers’ dwellings. Even llic stoves wore thrown out of place. There was one continual roar from the slips in the hills bringing great masses ol rock and forest crashing down all round.

“A dance was in progress in the social hall and men and women came running in terror to rescue their children from the houses. It was not safe to go inside the buildings again. ‘ In fact a good many of the roofs caved in, and the shocks still continued, though not so severe a.s the first one. which did all the damage. “About 30 or 10 men. women, and children from the neighbouring houses huddled together on the verandah of our house, all thought of sleep being banished for the night. It was bitterly cold and the men lit a bonfire for warmth. To add to the misery of the unfortunate people rain began to fall about midnight. “Wo lost all count of time,” said Airs Lister, “but when daylight came there was a general sign of relief. Jn addition to the damage to the houses, great fissures were noticeable in the roads and tiie whole place was a wreck. We were glad to get away in the relief train though we did have.to walk about a mile down the line from Arthur’s Bass station in pouring rain. When we got to Cass we wore told that there had been another sharp shock at Arthur’s. Pass. “It was a dreadful experience,” added Mrs Lister. “The noise was terrifying. Fortunately no one was hurt, though some of the men showed signs of cuts

oil their hands, and they were very grimy. We were very glad, indeed to get away. 1 think there are only about three women lelt in Arthur’s Pass. I he station master's wife stayed behind, also the wife of the Swiss guide, who arrived only last week from her native land. Estonia, and was married shortly alter her arrival. If was a new and very unpleasant experience for her. She'told mo she did not know there were such things as earthquakes.” ANOTHER- ACCOUNT. DEAFENING BOAR OF BOULDERS. The rumbling of tlie earth tremors; the deafening roar ol boulders crashing down the mountainside; the smash of crockery and furniture; and the heaving of the earth. This was the graphic picture given to a reporter by .Miss Annie Patrick anti Aliss E. Rich-, ards.ni, in an interview after their return by the relief train to Christchurch on Sunday. Aliss Pattriek, who is a director ot Blanket nursing, was in London during the Great War. She likened the noise of the earthquake to the air raids. “It was most terrifying.” she said. The electric power failed with the first shock, and to make matters worse, ttie night was pitch black. The two ladies were staying at tiie Hostel, and they warmly praised the hostel stall', who made everyone comfortable. gave unceasing service and lessened the panic. “With tbc first ’quake,” said Aliss Pattriek,, “furniture fell, pictures were thrown oil' the walls, and the crash of crockery, bottled jam and pickles, added to .the din.” Aliss Pattriek said that she saw the wardrobe in lief room falling, and was just ill time to push it hack.. She mentioned the case of another woman hoarder who lelt her bed a few seconds before a heavy wardrobe crashed across it. Some people were even tossed out ol -bed. The hostel guests, numbering about twelve, lost no time in getting out of their rooms, ami accommodation was arranged on the verandah. “I he community spirit was wonderful,” continued Aliss Patrick. “Some of the residents very kindly visited all the isolated houses, doing all possible to make conditions comfortable.” Aiiss Pattriek said that the ’quakes were very severe up to about 2 a.m., but after that hour the tremors subsided a great deal. One lady had stated that she counted up to 100 separate ’quakes, and then gave the task up. There was no panic, and after the first fe. ; w shakes people gave up talking about them. Aliss Richardson said that in the morning boulders had'to- be cleared off the road to allow the motor lorry to take people to the station. Large cracks in the earth were visible in places, and boulders wore piled up in the creek beds. “The deafening roar of boulders falling down the mountain sides was the most terrifying part of the affair,” said Aliss Richardson. Fortunately the houses lnul escaped their path. Passengers by the relief train were conveyed from the station on railway jiggers,i and all were thankful when, the train started for Christchurch.