THE EARTHQUAKE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1932, Page 6

THE EARTHQUAKE

», SHOCKS AT. WELLINGTON

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association )

WELLINGTON, May 6.

Although felt but very lightly in Wellington, the shake loft a very good record on the instruments in the Dominion Observatory. It began at 7.51 p.in., and the preliminary determination' of the ©piceritric shows that the origin was twenty miles east of Cape Kidnappers, the locality which was the centre of! many after shocks of the big shake in February of last year. Furthei) observations, however, may alter 1 this determination, and another and slighter shock from the same direction was recorded at 11.3: p.nl.

CONDITIONS NORMAL TO-DAY. NAPIER, May 6. Although the electric fight was cut out, tlie gas supply was maintained at normal. The water and sewer systems are undamaged, but a low telephones were disconnected. All work was resumed this morning. FURTHER REPORT. r; ... HASTINGS, May 6. ' A •'survey of: the-'-effects of the earthquake confirms the report that damage in Hastings and' adjacent ureas is only, No damage to buildings is i.T&ported. Tlie.-worst effect is on the minds of the people who have king .felt they were now to lie immune from such experiences. The intensity ot the"quake was exaggerated. Buildings grorjned iand freaked and there was considerable motion in the ground motion uplift, rather than a- swing, which probably accounts for the smallness of the damage. The people behaved with much coolness.

The Hastings automatic telephone system was interrupted by the crossing of wires, as a result of the earthquake’s motion, but is being rapidly restored. The power house, staffs were successful in providing light from the Borough standby plant when the hydro system failed, and did much to allay the fears of the people. The seismograph shows a movement was perceptible almost continuously for ninety minutes after the first tremor. Five sharp shocks followed throughout the night, the last being at 4.3 this morning.

DAMAGE SMALL. NAPIER. May 6. Last night’s shake lasted about a quarter of a minute and was followed by many tremors, and one fairly heavy ■shake before midjuight.,- Some chimneys wore brought down ~ at Napierr Taradale,* Greeiiniead,owsv- and Men nee, and crockery in some places suffered, but the damage was neither serious nor expensive. Most of the people rap out of doors. The loss "o?" High for 2f> minutes made conditions appear worse. The restoration however, created miicfi confidence. Outside the loss of a fejv chimneys, the material loss is very small, ■■•••£■ :