THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 July 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

EXPLOSION AT SEA. NEAR FAREWELL SPIT. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 13. The Acting-Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department has been advised as follows by the Postmaster at Collingwood: “The lighthouse keeper at Farewell Spit reports that at 2.15 n.lll. a heavy explosion occurred out at sea, about 4 miles north-west of Farewell Spit. “A huge, column of water and black smoke shot into the air, and then travelled very rapidly in the direction of tne French Pass, passing. close to the lighthouse. There was no damage done to the lighthouse.”

SYDNEY CONCERN. RADIO REPORT PICKED UP. SYDNEY, July 14. The La Perouse wireless station last night heard a portion of a message bein transmitted from Hobart to Mclliourne. which caused some concern, as the operator was unable to discover the source of the words picked up. These read,: “Loud, explosion heard at -.15 p.m,. 1$ miles north-west, of the lighthouse. : ~A.. coliuiui of smoke was then. seen, drifting in the direction ;of Stephens’ Inland.” .It,.is thought here that the explosion mentioned is probably connected, with the. earthquake disturbances in New Zealand. , . Note—Probably the above refers to the Farewell - Spit report of Saturday:

LONDON FUND. A GOOD RESPONSE. ' ' LONDON, July 13. Sir James Parr has opened a fund, at the request of London New Zealanders ,to a leviate the distress in the earthquake areas. There have been excellent responses and a splendid total is indicated. KARAMEA’S NEED. NE\f. SAPPING SERVICE. .WELLINGTON, July 13. In the ‘douse, M-r.G. C. Black, stat‘ed lie received the following telegram from Karainea : Aj 1 stock and farm products inust bv . s ea for a Jong time to come, and if freights are too. high ive may just [as well leave the district.' 'The Fair burn will be fully engaged takil' Mf ’H 1 1 ,-!•> » |i') ' • * . * mg' timber out and cannot do justice to tlie travelling public.., The Nile is quite out of the’question, having been ‘condemned two years [ago. We deserve a suitable vessel with passenger accommodation. Mails alone will not suffice. We must be. allowed to put our products on the market at a most reasonable rate, niore so now tillin' ever,"'if we are to remain in, this most '•isolated district.'’ Mr Black .is asking the Postmaster General whether lie will issue instructions to ensure that tenders Are being'galled lor the Karariiea malT'contract,' 1 if careful consideration iviU be given to the freight schedule, : aiul also tile'matter of passenger accomniddatioh. I'’ 1 '’ , Jf. • " LEvSEo’N .OF ’QUAKES. ni- ,!• r>?no "• ■ ■ " '• ’ ,! ’ WELLINGTON, July 14: ' . i!l ‘ One of'tlie •‘impressions gained by Dr E. E. Adiilbs, Government Seismologist, from his visit to the earth-quake-affected area is that the towns of West-port and Nelson were about equally hard-hit by the earthquake, in some of the structures damaged by the earthquake, it seemed to him as if the possibility of a big ’quake had been ignored by tliose responsible for building. Architects, he suggests, would be well advised to be more in touch with the geologists, more cobpo ... ...it all rodiid being desirable. He said that one of the most amazing reaturos was the twisting, without breaking' of the ,railway lines. I . S aid he was unable to substantiate' the' story of tlic seii-bot-tom being uplifted off Karamen, as he was uliable to visit that district.

Experiments are now being made, Dr Adams says, in the timing of the shocks and observations’ at Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika,, and elsewhere are being co-ordinated for this purpose. Some valuable information, it is hoped, will be deducted from these experiments, which arc being entere I into with zest hv officers of the Posr and Telegraph Department. The most fruitful course of investigation at present, thinks Dr Adams, will be that done by geologists, especially when tlfo Ivaramea district, is investigated.

NELSON WEATHER. NELSON, July 15. A fierce northerly gale accompanied by heavy rain is raging. Rivers are flooded and service care are held up on all routes. There is a washout on the railway line at Brightwater.

NORTHERN ADVOCATE’S FUND

WHANG AREI, July 15

The “Northern Advocates” earthquake relief fund lias attained £6OO, with more in prospect.