THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1929, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

SHOCK AT CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, July 16. Air H. F. Skey, Director of the Magnetic Observatory, stated that the first shock last evening, which was a little more violent than the two experienced at 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 23rd, commenced at 2S minutes 39 seconds past 8, the transverse wave arriving 18 seconds later. The maximum motion was at 31 minutes 10 seconds past 8, but the movements continued for 34 minutes after the first oscillation. A second distinct earthquake occurred at 36 minutes 40 seconds past 8, but it was less violent than the first one.- , “They almost certainly had the same origin as the big earthquake of June 17th,” remarked Mr Skey. “ People should not rebuild their brick chimneys yet,” said Mr Skey, “or rather, they should not reconstruct them in concrete for a while. They should get along with iron chim-. neys for the present.” He said he did not think there, would be' any damage locally. An . officer -of the Railway Department advised that Arthur’s Pass and Otira. had been rocked. At Ilangiora the shock was severe, •and-was accompanied by a loud roar. There was no panic, although many .nished into the streets. A feeling sim--ilar to- sea-sickness was experienced yby many people. to"•' • - .. • When the shocks occurred;-some of the- refugees • and a number of other i-West Coasters, were in the Strand Theatre, and- they lost no time in leaving the building. Unlike the less experienced Christchurch residents patronising the various theatres,’' who] were sufficiently alarmed to leave the buildings, they did not return. Some of the patrons of Everybody’s Theatre complained of nausea after the movements ceased.

Captain Jim was in the act of making love to Rio Rita at the Opera House last night when the building began to rock. People in the dress circle looked startled, but nobody moved.

MATAKITAKI REFUGEES

CHRISTCHURCH, July 16

Three "families of refugees from the Matakitaki remain’in Christchurch hut •some will return to the West Coast by Thursday’s train k'. ' It was anticipated that a-large number of refugees from Corby vale would be arriving in Christchurch, but to date advice has been reoeived of only one child coming to Christchurch. ‘Owing to the generous response made by the public, the City Council’s depot for second-hand clothing 'is overloaded, and it is.-asked'-‘that gifts- of j clothing,, books, :< and . perambulators should, cease for Hie time being. There is still: raddeniantl for' fruit',- cutlery, sheets,. -pillow-slips, and steeping qlothes for- children; : ’.. UNION,CHEQUE FOR. £IOO. . . .WELLINGTON’,. July ~16. As a . further . .result,,of his lecture in th? Hall recently. ]Mi\ H, E. Holland, ALP. lias' just received a cheque for £IOO for the Earthquake Relief Fund from the Auckland Tramways’ -nion, with an intimation chat tiie money was to- be distributed •is Mr Holland .thought fit. He has 'sent the cheque on to the Treasurer of the Central Fund with a request that the amount be used for the relief of the most necessitous cases in- the stricKen areas. In transmitting the •lieq ! '(>, the Secretary asked Air Holland to convey to the sufferers in the earthquake areas the sincere' sympathy of the Auckland Tramway Work- . v. -y ors.

Donations towards the col lection taken at Air Holland’s meeting are still icpming in, and the amount directly received as the result of that meeting- is now in the vicinity, of £350. The latest ’donation received was a cheque for three guineas sent by a resident of Kaitaia, north of Auckland, who hoard the lecture over the air.