THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1929, Page 3

THE EARTHQUAKE

A SHARP SHOCK. There was another very sharp carth- ■ quake shock experienced locally last •night at 8.35 o’clock. It lasted fully 30 seconds and was as severe as that of a week ago. Buildings creaked badly and the ground heaved, causing many to make their way into the open. The ’quake appeared to come from the north till'd its duration assisted to adto the alarm, though after the first good rattle the shock was not so intense. It was sufficient, however, to ! cause much alarm. Some five minutes afterwards there was another shock but this was much shorter and nine! lighter. There was a good audience at tie Theatre at the time and many of those present made their way to the doors but there was no rush, though a number made their way outside, a majority returning to their seats as soon as the shock had passed by. There was another light shock at 9.19 p.m. During the night there were several perceptible tremors, with a fairly heavy shock about 4.10 a.m. AT GREYMOUTH. A lengthy shock was cxperonced in Greymouth last night] It began verygradually at 8.28 and after almost a cessation,, the tremors increased, ant) lasted altogether rather more than, half a minute. Several residents re-' ■port, that they, were preceded by a ! rumbling noise .which appeared to come, from the south-east of Greymouth, in the direction of Marsdcn Road. The direction of the shock was from north to south. Almost six minutes later there came a much shorter and milder ’quake. Tlfe electric lights in Greymouth were twice extinguished by last night’s shock, but on each occasion were very ,quickly restored again. At Colxlen a number of chimneys suffered as a result of the shock.

('1 Kg Isiaikijat’Westport. ;■ j t ' 1 • (By! Telegraph—Press Association). I \ Mill - .. : ; .WESTPORT, July. 15. ; j oi»q .pf the. biggest shakes since that, of ‘Juilw 17 th’. 'occulted at . 8.29 tonight: Tt -was 1 -folkWecl by . another, .Jess sustained, v six! minutes later, ij;

I i The j big/, shock to-night sent thq people ; in .into the streets! M' Houjever," ati.]S!t. ! f dtoice’s ..Catholil* Church, where mission services-are being held,' though'the edifice was rocking violently, all save about half a dozen of the congregation remained in tn'oir \seats. The Rev. Falthor McCarthy, the'Missioner, went, on calmly with his sermon.

GREAT LAND MOVEMENTS •T • REGION. If. r .L < - -v ;• WESTPORT. July loi : j Mr C. F: Schadick, Buller County Engineer, who has been inspecting the earthquake damage in the Kara-' men district.’ returned to Westport on. Friday'’even ing, after .Avall>:iJig along the sea Voast ;frojil Iva-ramea and to the Mdkihinui"River. . He reports that there have been great land movements between the Little Wanganui River and the Mokiliinui River. In some, cases these movements arc over a mile long, and they extend back for a mile inland. From a height of 1390 feet, Mr Schadick made a careful inspection of me raised sea floor in this locality. Inis movement extends for about three quarters of a mile in length, and is 15 chains wide, while it has an average height of 80 feet. Mr Schadick states that this section of the sea coast is probably on the ICongahu Fault-line, and the great movement of the Marl Cliffs, extending from a mile inland, has displaced the foreshore in a forward and upward movement along the fracture. Mr Schadick reports that the inland road is wiped out, and will never be used again. He estimated the cost of county restoration work in and-fabout Ivaramea at £25,090. Except for one family, Corbyvnle has been completely evacuated. The position so far as Seddonville is! concerned, is unaltered. An examination of the big dam shows it was 75 feet high and 25 feet off the top, and came away leaving a bank of 50 feet still standing. When the flood broke through part of the big dam, it carried away the minor dahis down the river, except one, about a mile above the township. , “A MINoR AFFAIR.” WESTPORT, July 12. The Management Committee of the Buller Rugby Union has resolved to wire the New Zealand Rugby Union a protest against the alleged remark of the All Blacks’ manager in Sydney, that the earthquake is a minor affair, it being stated tnat in its damage to public and private property, the earthquake has no parallel in New Zealand’s history. SHARP SHOCK AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH. July 15. A sharp shock of earthquake, the most severe since the big shake of June 17th. was felt at Christchurch, at 8.30 o’clock this evening. No dnjnage has been reported. It is improbable that the shock will have been severe enough to cause any damage to buildings.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 15. The Observatory records of the quake to-night show tnere were two distinct shocks, with a, movement continuing for thirty-four mmues afterwards. SCARE IN THEATRES , ' CHRISTCHURCH, July IS. When the earthquake came, some. People screamed in the theatres, and a few made for the exits. Some West Coast refugees at one picture theatre were the first to rush from the building. They did not return. FELT SEVERELY AT ARTHUR’S PASS. CHRISTCHURCH, July 15 The ’liiiaße was felt severely at Arthur’s Pass and at Otira, where Unpeople hastened to get out of the range of brick chimneys. None fell, however. FELT IN SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, July 15. A slight earthquake tremor was felt here at 8.30 this evening. AT MURCHISON. BRICKLAYERS AND CARPENTERS NEEDED. • ; ; ; M M MURCHISON, July , 13 : .

Although four weeks have elapsed since, the earthquake, With .its: devastating effect upon Murchison andMat q kit alii. !distrii;|s r: little; d'epapatioh work has been piijf in hand. Councillor M. E. -Lyons, representing ■ itlx-p- Christchurch - Oitr • v, Gojunei'l's Relief Committee; reached"Murchison' on Saturday, and found conditions rather depressing. The journey was made via Manna- Junction. It is possible to motor from Reefton to Matakitaki, but most of the interventin" eighteen miles on to Murchison is a foot journey, owing to slips. From Recfton over the Ruhui Saddle the car bald .to plough through twelv-e miles of snow fifteen inches deep. On Friday ’cyening .heavy rain commenced to fall, swelling! every little creek to a raging torrent, and tlie result-apt slush and mud arc a decided barrier

to' progress. . ' : ' , ' Murchison Women are. commencing to arrive here to chimneylpss and consequently: fireless homes, and; -w.ihh teaming rain;(falling, theconditions for them- Were not at all comfortable. There is an urgent call for gangs of bricklayers carpenters and plumbers for, the- jy’urehison district,, to- got fires and water supplies back to the,homes of the people. The need is immediate and insistent. A meeting lias been called for Monday afternoon, and this ,i s the first attempt at organisation since - the disaster. Councillor Lyons, in an interview with the county officials, said, the Christchurch City Council would-be ’ ont^ 1 too’willing, iPiU was Wcqnhsted 'to do so, to organise , ga,hgs of skilled workers,, to fiindertake the-, work .which has to be done. Public Works ‘Officials: are doing |splendid work in getting the roads in order and.it is expected that'the ma.il service frorri Nelson to W esport via tlie back, country road, will be resumed in a rfew days. > " -j ' A relief camp still operates in Murchison, land is. doing,good seoice, l»nt with the work of a few bricklayers, :thb. people will resume •*their- ordinary home life. In the Matakitaki district there is need for all the able-bodied men, and they have some repair work ahead of them before conditions will be fit f°' womenfolk. Some difficulty will bo experienced in negotiating the Mamin River for some days, due to the rain and heavy snowfall in the back country.