MORE QUAKES

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1931, Page 6

MORE QUAKES

IN POVERTY BAY. (By Teleyrciph,—Per Press Association J GISBORNE, June 23. The early morning earthquake at 3.3 o’clock to-day was felt particularly ill the country districts of Poverty Bay. In Gisborne the buildings rocked alarmingly, and much excitement was

caused. The people were rushing out into the streets in their night attiiv. Practically no damage was done in the business area, except for minor losses of stock in the shops. I The area of the quake was practically the. same as that of ithft, .heavy shock on May 7th, extending*'*’from Tokomaru Bay to below Wanna. The centre of the disturbance is believed to be near Nuhaka, and Morere, some, twenty miles north of Wairoa, towards' Gisborne.. The chimneys, tanks and crockery were badly damaged m this locality. At Nuhaka the shake lasted lov forty-five seconds, and th? osc'.llat pus continued until after 7 unlock tins morning. The shake is considered to be the next in severity to that of the great one on February 3rd. At Omana, a native pa, the Nuhaka power lines were wrenched from the buildings.

Heavy shakes were experienced in the Wharerata, Mangapoike and I iniroto districts, some 20 or 30 miles inland from Gisborne.

At Maiigapoike, the homesteads were shifted slightly on their blocks. At Hangaroa, minor shakes following the three o’clock jolt, have continued throughout to-day, but-, as far as can be gathered, there has been very little damage beyond the breaking of chimneys. ' Waingake. reports that the shake there was the worst that has yet been experienced. I here are no eh'mneys left standing in ■ the district, and a number of windows have been broken, while in some houses the cooking ranges were shifted.

Heavy losses in crockery are report' d on all of the stations near Wai-

ngake. A prominent resident has estimated that about eighty shakes have been experienced since the big shake on February 3.

From' 6 o’clock to 7.45 to-night, ten distinct shakes have been experienced. QUAKE .ACT CONDEMNED. WELLINGTON, June 23. ' A condemnation of the powers conferred upon the Minister of Finance by the Hawkes Bay Earthquake Act passed during the ’ emergency session of Parliament, was expressed by the Council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce this evening. The matter was referred to the Associated 'Chambers for action.