WESTLAND EARTHQUAKE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 545, 26 February 1913, Page 5

WESTLAND EARTHQUAKE.

<> A RECORD SHAKE. a HIGH TIDES EXPERIENCED. FOURTEEN SHOCKS FELT. [ltY TELEGRAPH. —I'KESS ASSOCIATION'.] Westport, Sunday. The earthquake shock at 12.36 caused great excitement and alarm. The earthquake commenced with a sound as of a loud explosion, or blast, in the direction of from west to east. The big earthquake was succeeded by a series of minor shocks, one at 3 p.m. being accompanied by a loud cannonlike explosion. The first was the most severe in the history of Westport. Business places suffered considerable damae, and few houses escaped without something in the nature of crockery, pictures, flower vases or clocks being broken. Numerous chimneys were partially destroyed, but the chief damage was done in the business centre. The recently-erected large brick post and telegraph office creceived a severe shaking, and is cracked in all directions. The southern wing has been bodily shifted about half-an-inch. The metal downpipe on the back of this portion of the building bent with the moving building. Inside almost all the gas mantles were destroyed, and a good deal ol plaster work on the ceiling and walls came down. The post and telegraph staff got a fright, and speedily made their exit on to the road.

Along the Buller road a good deal of loose rock and earth came down, impeding the progress of the motor and coach service.

Considering the severity of the shock it is considered rather remarkable that no loss of life occurred. Some buildings must have been close to the collapsing stage. Thousands of pounds' worth of goods on shelves were just hanging in the balance when the shock ended. Business people, being generally of the opinion that things might have been very much worse, are taking their losses philosophically. A report from the country shows that the shocks were severely felt there, but the damage appears to be confined mainly to collapsing chimneys.

Reports round town show that in some houses almost all the crockery and glassware was broken, while others close beside them escaped with but slight damage. The tops of many chimneys were broken off, the bricks in several cases falling down inside the chimneys, and doing damage to ranges. Some households suffered loss of almost all their season's jams through bottles being thrown violently off shelves on to the floor. The shocks were felt in surrounding distrits more or less severely, with accompanyiing breakages in houses, but Westport Bsems to have fared worst. Shocks continued through the night, and right up to half-past five o'clock this afternoon, totalling 14 in number, but of less severity.

The highest tide for some years were reported at Karamea, and a party camping on North Beach, Westport, was compelled to shift from quarters hitherto considered safe from the encroachment of the sea. Westport, Monday.

The earthquake shocks were practically continuous from 12.36 on Saturday till 8 a.m. to-day. Pronounced shakes at 3.30 a.m., 7.30, and 7.45 to-day were accompanied by a noise similar to car jading. No damage has bees; done since the first big shock. The women and younger portion of the population are in a state of apprehension. In three or four places in the district narrow fissures have opened in the ground, but mostly in "made" ground. Some headstones have become displaced in the cemetery. Scores of gas mantles have been broken in the town. Quite a "sea" raged in the river. All hands below on the steamer Karori rushed on deck. It is somewhat strange that arriving steamers report no disturbance at sea. It is almost impossible to ascertain the number of chimneys damaged. Nearly every household in the district had articles thrown down, with extensive breakages. In many places the men inside the collieries report a terrifying experience. It seemed as if a general collapse were imminent, but no actual damage to the mines resulted. MORE SHOCKS FELT. NO FURTHER DAMAGE. Westport, Tuesday. From eight o'clock yesterday morning till 11.30 last night the com munity was undisturbed by earth shocks. Then came a repetition of the dull boom with little vibration. At 12.17 a.m. another cannonade was heard, followed by very pronounced shaking. No damage was done by any of the numerous shocks since the lively couple of minutes at 12,36 on Saturday. The origin of the disturbances is plainly to the south-east west of Westport, and it must be relatively close to, as no damage was done a Greymouth on one side, and only the initial shock was felt at Karamea on the other side. Coliliors describe Saturday's experience as pandemonium let loose. Children and women throughout the district are unnerved.